Replacement MTB brakes - any recommendations?

[JQ]

I have a 2018 Trek Remedy 8 with SRAM Guide R hydraulic Disk brakes. I need new brakes but have absolutely no idea about MTB brakes and when I start down the rabbit hole of research I just end up going round in circles.

https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/mountain-...

Budget is up to £200, low I know, but am happy to buy off eBay or Marketplace an unused set that have been stripped off another bike, which seems to be quite common, or just buying an old model. My LBS has suggested switching to Shimano, but again I'm clueless as to what is any good and what would fit my bike.

Anyone got an good recommendations?

[Scoobyshue]

£200 is plenty. Set of Shimano XT brakes here: https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-xt-m8100-fron...

Personal preference is Shimano over SRAM for me when it comes to brakes.

I think the shifters on your bike will be bolted to the brake clamps, so yo make need some matchmakers so you can clamp your shifters to the bars if you go with Shimano brakes. Will still come in well under your 200 quid budget.

[SwissJonese]

Most people swap out SRAM as feel isn't great, and running Dot.1 brake fluid which is just such a pain to service. This is why you see so many for sale on ebay etc. Although we have used the new SRAM DB8's running mineral oil and they are pretty good.

However I have swapped most of my bikes from SRAM to Shimano, just prefer the feel and ease of maintenance with mineral oil. Look at 4-pot brakes, so much more braking power (get larger rotors) and braking feel.

£25 over budget gets you Shimano XT M8120 Front And Rear Disc Brake Set

[leyorkie]

These brakes get good reviews you probably wouldn't notice any difference to XTs
https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-mt401-mt410-f...

[TT1138]

Fairly easy to solve, £200 gets you some relatively decent brakes. DOT fluid is unfairly maligned and it’s a fairly meaningless argument. Both DOT fluid and mineral oil have their pros and cons.

Shimano - Deore M6100 4 piston. Perfectly good, decent lever feel, fairly on/off power delivery.

SRAM - Guide RE. Guide lever with old Code callipers. Loads of power without much fade (good enough for my brother at Dyfi, and he’s very, very proficient on a bike). Power delivered more gradually, with less initial grab.

Used you might be able to pick up some SRAM Codes or Shimano XTs. I’d be a little wary of buying higher end Shimano (Servo Wave) without a warranty though, as they all seem to give up eventually).

If you can find some in budget the Hope Tech 4 X2s (XC/Trail brake) are genuinely superb.

[nickfrog]

I have been running TRP Slate T4 for a year. So impressed compared to both Shimano and SRAM.

Plus they're so easy to install with the screw on barb/olive.

https://trpcycling.com/products/slate-t4-oem-packa...

£82 for the lot too! (that's front and rear).

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 3rd December 16:07

[bobbo89]

Shimano XT's as already mentioned are a really good solid brake, all the power you could need and dead easy to bleed, mineral oil too.

I also run some Hayes Dominion A4's that I think are awesome but use dot which I'm not a massive fan of.

Magura MT7's are a good brake too and although I think Magura calipers are awesome I'm not a huge fan of their levers, especially on their lower end models. One of my fave budget brake hacks is to get a set of MT5's cheap on e-bay, chop the levers off and stick some Shimano XT levers on instead.

Currently running some Lewis's on my big bike and if you can ignore the fact they're Chinese and are ripping off Trickstuff they're a really nice bit of kit.

Got no time for anything Sram and not used a Hope brake since some mono m4's in about 2007, might have to change that....

Those TRP's above look incredibly interesting, I run TRP Evo12 gearing and it's amazing, for the money they have to be worth a punt...

Edited by bobbo89 on Tuesday 3rd December 16:39

[GravelBen]

As far as I'm aware the only real advantage of Shimano XT over Deore brakes now is a small weight saving (insignificant to most people) and tool-free lever adjustment (vs allen key to adjust Deore lever position), the power is the same. SLX have the tool-free adjustment too.

I have Deore 4-pots (M6120) on one bike and they are really good for the price, plenty of stopping power.

Code RSC on the other bike are better (not much more power but easier to modulate and more adjustable) but would be double the price to replace and they certainly aren't twice as good.

I've had Guide R and Level TL on other bikes in the past - Levels were just awful, fade city. Guides were a bit fade-prone too on longer descents, but firm consistent lever feel and improved a lot with metallic sintered instead of resin pads.

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 3rd December 20:09

[nickfrog]

bobbo89 said:

Those TRP's above look incredibly interesting, I run TRP Evo12 gearing and it's amazing, for the money they have to be worth a punt...

I would still recommend them at twice the price! In terms of modulation they are exactly between Shimano's on/off feel and SRAM's mushy / dead travel feel. In other words, they're the best of both worlds.

[JQ]

Many thanks for all the recommendations, those TRP’s certainly look interesting and are currently looking favourite.

Now just got to get some new rotors.

[nickfrog]

^ I use £10 SRAM Centerline. Never needed anything else.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395693193261?mkcid=16&a...

Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 4th December 08:32

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

I also recommend the Slate Evos.

I'm a longtime XT user but at a certain point even XTs become problematic.

I've only put 500miles on my TRPs so far but I'm impressed with the power, lack of squeal etc.

[nickfrog]

They've gone up to £49 per end. Although there is 10% off the first order I think.

They were so cheap at £74 but still great at £88 after discount.

[bobbo89]

Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:

I'm a longtime XT user but at a certain point even XTs become problematic.

leaky levers, repaired and replaced a few

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Yup and phantom lack of pressure that needs the lever pumping first.

Shimanos seem to have become fit then bin brakes.

[JQ]

Hugo Stiglitz v2 said:

Yup and phantom lack of pressure that needs the lever pumping first.

Shimanos seem to have become fit then bin brakes.

That’s the problem I currently have - pressure drops during use. I spent the weekend at BPW and by the 2nd day my rear brake was giving up. It’s been back to my LBS several times and on the last visit he said they needed replacing if it continues as he can’t get it any better.

It doesn’t help that my kids are getting better and better, so after years of blues and technical reds they’ve progressed on to quite big gap jumps, which at the age of 50 means I have too , so we’re going faster and faster and I need brakes I can be confident of.

[Pablo16v]

I'm a long term Formula user currently running The Ones, R0's and Cura 4's on my three MTB's, but I'm tempted to give those TRP's a go on another build I have planned as I'm looking to keep costs down this time. Cheers for the heads up.

[Hugo Stiglitz v2]

Well my bike is a emtb Trek Fuel EXE.

500miles and I've just replaced the rear brake pads. Thats a combo of Surrey Hills sand, Peaks etc. I'm heavy but even so I'm not brake heavy. You'd think the combo of emtb and rider weight = brake pads eaten through.

For me brakes are there purely for the exact point that I would need them. If I'm not confident in brakes I'll drag, trail brake the rear.

What were those US brakes 20yrs ago that were literally ON or off. Soo much so that you'd only use them if you really needed them?

Just like a bike itself brakes can be highly subjective/personal taste though.

[JQ]

nickfrog said:

I have been running TRP Slate T4 for a year. So impressed compared to both Shimano and SRAM.

Plus they're so easy to install with the screw on barb/olive.

https://trpcycling.com/products/slate-t4-oem-packa...

£82 for the lot too! (that's front and rear).

Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 3rd December 16:07

Thank you, I've ordered a pair, and will also order the rotors once I check the sizing.

[PomBstard]

Bit late to the thread but I’ll add anyway for others that might be browsing.

Don’t think they’re made any more but Shimano Zee are basically Saints with a couple of fancy bits missing - same caliper but different lever, and no tool-free adjustment I think.

I’ve been running a set since about 2017 on a Yeti SB5.5 and they are just utterly reliable - not just in fit-and-forget, but also in the consistent strong performance.

A quick squiz on EBay looks like a set can be found for around £200’ish.