Squeaky Brakes: Irritating the Biker and Pedestrians

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I recently changed the pads of my V-brakes in my foldie.  The old pads were quickly depleted after a rainy commute home.  Water on the rims and brakes dramatically increases the wear on your pads.
Blue Jagwire Pads on the front brakes

I purchased 2 sets of Jagwire V-brake pads from Paulina's at Cartimar. They were twice the price of the local MOB brake pads. I was hoping for better performance with the "Jagwire" pads. "Jagwire" in quotes because I am in doubt if its genuine just a China rip off.

After cleaning the wheels and installing the new pads. There was a noticeable noise when braking from both the front and back brakes. It was so irritating that it was calling the attention of all the pedestrians I pass by. A loud metal screeching noise.

I tried a few things to eliminate the noise:

  1. Let normal use eliminate the noise. (FAILED)
    • 40 kilometers of commuting and the noise is still present and mocking me.
  2. Clean the wheels (FAILED)
    • I realized that mud and brake dust are still caked on my wheels so I cleaned them all hoping to eliminate the noise. After a few kilometers the dreaded sound surfaced again.
  3. Toe-in approach
    • I asked Google's help in solving my problem. A toe-in is where you adjust the position of the pads so that the leading edge is closer to the rim than the other edge. 
      Toe-in technique applied to rear squeaky brakes.
Hopefully, the brakes stay noise free for the days to come.

Just a few notes I learned from this:
  • Don't buy cheap brake pads. Brakes are essential for your safety. Don't skimp on it.
  • Upgrade to a double walled rim that is V-brake specific. My current stock rim has its paint scraped off by the brakes. I became uneven and may probably contribute to the uneven pad wear and possibly, brake noise.
  • Learn to properly install your pads. Proper alignment and positioning is crucial for best braking performance.

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