Mountain Biking - Avid Mech. Disc w/ 2004 XT/XTR Dual Control?

Can Avid mechanical disc brakes be used with the new 2004 XT or XTR Dual Control levers? Also, will you be able to fit any brand of disc on the new XT and XTR hubs or will the only fit the lockring Shimano brand?

Only the engineers at Shimano know for sure.

L8R

the xt and xtr dual control levers are for hydro brakes are they not? I would assume they cannot be used with cable actuated.

I have seen an XT brifter which is for cable brakes. I can't see why you can't use the Avid cable caliper with these shifters, but you would need to get the XT/XTR splined disc to suit the XT/XTR hub.

For 2004 Shimano XT and XTR comes in both hydro and cable. I have a set of 2003 Avid mechanical disc brakes and was curious if the XT or XTR lever would work as well as my current Avid levers (ie- will it pull enough cable, ect.).

As for the hubs, looks like I will have to go w/ a different brand or an older XT hub if I want to use the Avid discs. I was looking at the Mavic Crossmax that are spec'd on the 2004 Specialized top end bikes. The hub looks like it would fit an Avid disc yet the bikes are advertised as full Shimano (Dual control levers and hydo brakes). I assume they are using an adapter to make the Shimano discs fit? I can't find any info on either the Mavic or Specialized websites.

Actually, and correct me if I'm wrong. Shimano is making a 6-bolt ISO rotor that works with a standard ISO hubs that are compatible with their calipers.

My question that I honestly don't know is if a standard rotor, (like an Avid or Hayes) will work with an XT or XTR caliper.

L8R

I have not tried this myself, but I have been told that the Shimano XTR brake levers/calipers will work with the IS mount rotors. I've also been told that they also make a v-brake XTR version of the brake shifters. The Shimano website will show this, in fact I am interested in doing this on my next bike. Using XTR shifters and mechanical discs would be a very strange combo, why not just go ahead and use v-brakes? On most bikes that would be superior anyway...


Actually, and correct me if I'm wrong. Shimano is making a 6-bolt ISO rotor that works with a standard ISO hubs that are compatible with their calipers.

My question that I honestly don't know is if a standard rotor, (like an Avid or Hayes) will work with an XT or XTR caliper.

L8R

If you can afford a set of them, why would you cheap out on the brake set? I love my Avids, but I'd go hydro if I had that kind of bread to spend.

Avid rotors will not work well with the XTR or XT calipers. The outer diameter is the same but the profile of the rotor is too different from the discs that shimano makes. The shimano XT 6 bolt rotors are what people use on the mavic wheelsets, etc.

-Ryan

To clarify, using XTR dual control mechanical levers with Avid mechanical disc brakes (caliper and disc). Just curious as if anyone had used a similar setup. I appreciate the use of discs in wet conditions yet do not want the hassle of hydros. Cost is also an issue, not in the purchase price but in the maintainence that will follow. Parts availability is important as well. As I live in Taiwan, and Avid parts are readily available, I would prefer going this route if it were possible.

As far as I know, Avid mechs will work with any standard cable lever that will also work with V brakes, which presumably XT and XTR duals do. I seem to remember seeing an adaptor for splined Shimano hubs that allows the use of standard 6 bolt discs; if this is not a figment of my subconsious, I think it would solve your problem. I would suggest you email Shimano and ask them.