Hope RX4 brakes

[lufbramatt]

Currently got Shimano GRX810 brakes on my CX bike. One of them has started leaking from the seals, so I'm hoping to get it replaced under warranty. Really not impressed that it only lasted 7 months.

Seems quite a common issue with Shimano calipers so I'm not sure I want them on the bike as it will probably happen again. So will probably sell them once I get the replacement and thinking of replacing them with Hope RX4 as I've run Hope brake on mountain bikes for years with no issues and there's much better spares support.

Any one have any experiences of the Hope RX4s and compatibility with the GRX brifters? I gather you can get the brakes with the correct seals for the Shimano mineral oil.

[Freakuk]

I can't comment other than like you I have run hope brakes on MTB's for years without any issues.

They're a UK company and I believe their support is really good and they will sell spares kits as needed, hopefully someone with first hand experience can comment.

[Sway]

I've not owned them, but have ridden a mate's bike with them (with the same GRX 810 brifters I have).

They're bloody superb - better feel, more than enough power and look sexy.

They're Hope, so they're gonna be great build quality and easy to service (although I hear they're a little tricky to bleed).

I want some, but can't find them in the colour I want at the same time as I have the spare cash...

[Ballistic]

I have just had RX4 fitted to my mtb along with braided hoses and they're brilliant - best brakes I've ever experienced.

Like you, I'm looking to fit them to my road bike, for the same reason.
I ordered two and only received one, which was the wrong type - now out of stock everywhere until god knows when.

[lufbramatt]

Good to hear positive stuff. Only downside seems to be fiddly setup and bleeding. But I’m sure I can work that out. Measured up the bike last night to work out what ones I needed (flat mount +20) but the challenge now is finding somewhere with them in stock. Ideally in Orange ....

[Sway]

lufbramatt said:

Good to hear positive stuff. Only downside seems to be fiddly setup and bleeding. But I’m sure I can work that out. Measured up the bike last night to work out what ones I needed (flat mount +20) but the challenge now is finding somewhere with them in stock. Ideally in Orange ....

I'll fight you for any orange flat mount stock...

Although I was considering black with orange piston cap.

[frisbee]

lufbramatt said:

Good to hear positive stuff. Only downside seems to be fiddly setup and bleeding. But I’m sure I can work that out. Measured up the bike last night to work out what ones I needed (flat mount +20) but the challenge now is finding somewhere with them in stock. Ideally in Orange ....

Keep an eye on ebay, lightly used ones come up every so often.

I was looking for a pair to replace my replacement post mount Shimano ones but the replacements haven't failed.

My tip for bleeding is to watch out for the dip in the hose under the bottom bracket, air can get trapped in there.

[lufbramatt]

Well, left the bike with LBS so they could do a warranty assessment on the GRX brakes. I'd previously left the brake for an hour or so with a bleed block in and the lever zip tied back and got what I thought was a drip of brake fluid on the bottom of the caliper. LBS did the same while I took Lufbramatt Jr. for a ride along the river and it was dry as a bone after 2 hours when I collected the bike.

Bought another set of pads, hopefully these won't end up contaminated again at £24 a go. Frustrating.

[d8mok]

My GRX810 have been faultless in 12 months and 6000 miles. Which seal is leaking?

[lufbramatt]

Not 100% sure. I have found some stuff online that suggests these calipers (and the ultegra equivalents) can leak from the seal on the transfer port between the two halves of the caliper.

The front brake started getting very noisy and less and less effective over a week or two after working really well for 6 months. No amount of cleaning or adjusting made any difference.

The back one seems fine.

[Simes205]

No direct experience of that model but I have a set of Hope minis on a bike 18 years old. They are still going well albeit serviced regularly.
Hope E4’s on both my other bikes....amazing things!

[frisbee]

I don't think it takes much to contaminate brake pads but I'm not sure how front ones get contaminated except by brake fluid.

[Sway]

Not my pic - but damn they're sexy...



I was worried it might be a bit too much orange on my bike - but I think they'd fit in just fine...

[lufbramatt]

They look class. Are they yours? Where did you find them?

Done some more investigation on my brake. It appears that it’s the outer piston seal that’s leaking. Left the brake handle tied back with a bleed block in the caliper for an hour. Can see a little drip of brake fluid on the bottom of the caliper. The inner piston seal appears to be ok:

[Sway]

No, not mine - I've not been able to track any down.

If I really, really want them, I'd give Enigma a shout who supplied my bike.

Second pic is my bike.

[smack]

Simes205 said:

No direct experience of that model but I have a set of Hope minis on a bike 18 years old. They are still going well albeit serviced regularly.
Hope E4’s on both my other bikes....amazing things!

Same, I have 3 bikes with Hope brakes, oldest being an early set of Mono Mini's, and have served me well.

lufbramatt said:

They look class. Are they yours? Where did you find them?

Done some more investigation on my brake. It appears that it’s the outer piston seal that’s leaking. Left the brake handle tied back with a bleed block in the caliper for an hour. Can see a little drip of brake fluid on the bottom of the caliper. The inner piston seal appears to be ok:

It only takes a bit of grit to get under seal to cause a leak. On my bike with the before mentioned Hope Mono Mini's was ignored for long layup at the back of the garage a few years back, and when I dug it out found a had no brake pressure in the front of back brakes, with paint stripped away on the bottom of forks and frame where it had leaked. Bled them and they where fine for the time being. Later in the summer when I got around to stripping them apart, I found 2 pistons scored, and 1 badly clearly been like that for a long time, but dirt/mud/water had been soaking up and washing away the fluid so I didn't notice.

I just took a photo of them, but my laptop and phone don't want to talk, and that is just too much of a PITA for a Friday afternoon to deal with!