Do I need better "springs" on my disc brakes? After 20 years commuting on old/cheap bikes, I finally evolved up to a nice solid touring rig with cable disc brakes (Avid BB5).  I love the bike and the brakes.  They're much easier to maintain, replace, and adjust than my old rim brakes were (as a result, they are more effective more often).

However, recently I have been getting a periodic pad-on-disc noise that I have had difficulty getting rid of.  After the pads have been used a while and are say 1/2 worn, they seem to "stick" so that some part of a pad is touching the disc.  This is especially true after a session of braking hard (usually at the bottom of a hill).  Sometimes I can knock them loose by braking again or tapping the brake levers hard, other times, even that doesn't work.  Today, I actually dismounted and tried to work the pads apart by hand because the noise was really bugging me and I was worried that the disc would overheat.

Are those little springs that go between the pads the problem?  Can I make them stronger somehow?  

I've tried taking the springs out and bending them out before reinserting them, but no joy there either (at least not yet).
The problem may be in in your cables. If the cables are dragging inside the housing the pads may not fully release. You can isolate the problem by disconnecting the cable from the brake. Then manually cycle the arm on the caliper. If it doesn't drag or stick after you release it, the problem is the cable. You can try lubing the cables it may help. It may also be time for new cables.Are you adjusting for pad wear with the cable adjuster or with the adjust screw on the caliper. If you are using the cable adjuster you may be pulling the caliper arm to the point of binding.