hooligan

Edit:
Guide RSs or old Avid X0 Trails? Any other 4 piston brakes to be had for under 250?

Trying to get a set of brakes to replace the shimano SLX and Deores on my bikes. I don't trust the Shimanos anymore, so I'll be getting rid of them (selling). Had a deore brake body snap on me during routine mounting/dismounting.

I want something with 4 pistons.

Options I've considered (not all of these are 4 piston):
- I nearly got Guide RSCs for 190 used, but I heard they have tons of problems.
- Can't really get many hope brakes for this price, and the ones that tI can, are like 10 years old.
- I always heard good things about Hayes HFX9s, but those are also super old now... I haven't been in the biking scene for a solid 5-7 years.
- Haven't seen Avid Codes for sale anywhere, so I've no idea what that's about.

Now I'm looking at SRAM X.0 Trail brakes from 2013-2015. Does anyone have any experience with these? It seems like getting a reliable brake with solid power is not an easy task. I really thought the GUIDE RSCs were going to be the answer but even in 2016, we're still getting problems from our disc brakes...

I prefer grabbier brakes with less modulation and more on-off feel. Let me know what you've got to recommend!

cobba

Over torque a bolt?

Post a photo.

Shimano's are known to be more on/off, you could get a set of Zee's for under $250.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/s...0-b-set-86999?

deex

The older guide RSC's had issues wit out of spec pistons that would make them stick. I got my RSC's replaced recently because of this issue. They are great brakes when they work correctly. I am two months in with the replacement ones and they are excellent. You can call SRAM with the serial number of the brakes and see if they fit the bad batch. They may well replace them, but you have to go through a LBS that is an authorized SRAM dealer.

hooligan

Slightly overtorqued, but definitely not by much. I had just got the body flush to the adaptor and done another 3/4ths turn, ish? Still, never had this happen with other brakes.


I was looking at Guide RS's and Avid X0 Trail brakes as well. I think the RSCs suffer from QC issues, so I'll have to avoid them.

cobba

Stick to Shimanos recommendations of 6 - 8 Nm / 53 - 69 in. lbs and you shouldn't have a problem.

gsa103

Unfortunately, the best budget options are all Shimano. The newer SRAM's do get good reviews, so I'd just bite the bullet on the reliability side.

The reason you can't find Avid Codes is that they got such a poor reputation for reliability that SRAM (which owns Avid) decided to basically kill the whole brand. The Guide series is the re-designed replacement for the Code, but Avid's reputation was so bad, SRAM decided to bring it over to the parent company (and also offer complete groups ala Shimano).

Tektro stuff isn't bad, but it's mostly lower end, and the feel isn't great. I had a pair on my mountain bike and they worked flawlessly for several years.

The UK sites have Hope stuff for ~$400/pair so you could always stretch the budget.

hooligan

Thanks for the advice. What do you use for bolt torquing for allen keys? I have torque wrenches that I use for my car stuff, but bike stuff is quite a bit smaller.

My sentiment wasn't supposed to be saying Shimano stuff sucks because I overtorqued it - it was to say that a very slight over torque can destroy the brake body. The safety factor is sort of low and I don't think I've observed this in any other caliper that I've owned - although I don't think I routinely over torque my my brakes.

Bikernator

Basically the same thing. Just make sure you get one in IN-lbs, not FT-lbs. Get an allen key set that accepts a 1/4" or 3/8" ratchet (or in this case, torque wrench) and you're good to go.

gsa103

Honestly, the best thing is a simple 5 N.m torque key with interchangeable heads.
https://www.amazon.com/CDI-Torque-TL...rds=torque+key
https://www.amazon.com/Ritchey-5Nm-6...rds=torque+key

They're inexpensive and compact enough that you can use it for tightening all the smaller bolts. Big torque wrenches are mostly useless, since they can't always fit in awkward spaces. 5 Nm works for almost all bike stuff. There's a few like the brake clamps that are 6 or 8 Nm but that stuff is almost always fine at 5 N.m.

slowride454

watch for take offs on craigslist, facebook, ebay, etc...


I've gotten awesome deals. I got a set of Avid XX front and rear for $125. I've gotten front and rear 400 series Shimano for $79 including shipping. I just saw a set of Avid DB3 with rotors for $110 shipped on the MTB parts facebook page.