Originally Posted By: Kestas
The braking system on my bicycle is the old center pull type against the rim. I get horrible squeal when braking. What's the trick to get rid of the noise?
I agree with the other posters about pad orientation and possible rubber deterioration.
I want to add, though, that those old centre-pull brakes can be very dangerous on the front - if brake cable coming down to the 'loop' that connects the two brake assemblies comes loose, the loop can be caught by the front tire and will apply the brakes full-on.
I found out the hard way - the bike flipped forward in an instant, smashing my helmet, breaking one front tooth, and taking a lot of skin off my face. That was in June of 2000, on my 1984 Norco Bigfoot.
Norco was sued by a number of people (not me) and almost went bankrupt over it. The solution? Easy - install a long bolt through the stem, which protrudes far enough to catch the loop if it drops toward the tire.