Shimano 4-piston Brakes

Anyone here running any of the new Shimano XT or XTR 4-piston brake systems? The price between the two seem pretty comparable. Only a $20 difference at Jenson right now. I’ve run older XT and XTR but none of the new stuff.

I desperately need to replace the SRAM Level T brakes on my Chameleon. They work fine but aren’t enough brake for me it seems.

Trying to decide if the 4-piston brakes are worth the extra cost vs regular 2-piston. Thoughts?

Cheers,

Jordan

 

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If you ride your mtb correctly - climbing mountains - you don't really need 4-piston brakes.

 

I have been using 2 piston XT brakes, 180F/160R and have not run into a situation where I wished I had more brake.
I don't ride parks and I do not usually shuttle just for downhill.

 

I have Magura MT5 4 piston brakes and I love them. Mind you that I weigh 225 not geared up. Plus I planned on using this bike as a bikepacking rig and wanted the extra power.

 

Coming off level T, you might dislike the modulation of the 2 piston XT's. Good stopping power, just hate the on/off feeling coming from level T. Some people love it but I couldn't get use to it. I ended up putting 4 piston Zee calipers on my M7000 levers to get better modulation.

 

You ride chainless too? Well I ride brakeless foo....!

 

been running the same set of saint 810's for 7 years and they just will not die and perform flawlessly.

 

If you want to save some money, get the zee brake set. It appears to me the calipers from zee to xt m8020 is just rebadged. If your a weight weenie get the XTR 2 pistons. XTR's are different and has little to no servo wave.

Also mention above, Magura MT5 4 pistons at a really good price.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/magura-mt5-mtb-disc-brake/rp-prod156180

 

While I’m perfectly content with my 2 piston XT’s that are on all the bikes in the garage I wouldn’t hesitate in trying the new 4 piston brakes. Shimano stuff just works and is low maintenance and easier to work on at home.

 

If and when the Guides on my Hightower go bad.....I'll look into the XT 4-pots. I think they are too much for the Chameleon....at least for me. My SLX's work just fine.

Now for the tandem.....the Xt 4-pots might just be what I'm looking for to replace the old Magura Gustav's.

 

After looking at a bunch of different brakes recently, I ended up buying a set of regular XTs. At $90 ea they are too good of a deal to pass up. I don't love XT, but they are the devil I know.

 

Once I tried XT Ice Tech, I was spoiled forever. My new ride came with Sram and I hate everything about them except the modulation, to even include the brake fluid.

My XT's I love everything about them except the modulation, to even include the mineral oil brake fluid! Makes it so easy to work with. I can easily work with less modulation. But I also remedied my braking power by one uping my rear rotor size from 160 to 180. Now its 180 front and rear making it real easy to keep a rotor in stock. I weigh in geared up around 225 lbs. And there are those that can attest I am NOT easy on brakes.

I hesitate to go 4 piston as my Srams are 4 and I believe they do not modulate at the same rate. I believe it causes the horrible "turkey warble" sound that can resonate at times.
But like @Voodoo Tom stated, Shimano is pretty bullet proof. Whatever they make has been thoroughly tested to include safety.
4 piston is really going to have to prove itself before I will give up my Shimano 2 piston system.
I hope this helps.

 

Shimano has been making 4 piston brakes for a while with the Saint and Zee brakes. As someone else mentioned, the XT 4-pot looks to be the Zee caliper with a XT lever. No sure how they feel as I have not run the Saints or Zee’s.

I know the people we got our tandem from put Saint’s on their new tandem. So they should be strong enough for most single bike.

 

This is where I was at a couple of months ago. I broke a part of my SLX brake lever and thought now would be a good time to upgrade to the new 4 piston XTs. While pricing them I came across some M8000 XTs for $70 a set. Couldn't pass that up. I'm 200 pounds and a late braker and have never had a problem with the regular XTs. Maybe I'll try the four piston set up on my next build?

 

@Mikie, as you have discovered, upping the rear rotor gave your brakes more life and usefulness. Now, complete your journey to the Dark Side of The Force and up the front rotor to 203. My Remedy has XT M785s. Late last year, I jumped up the front from 180 to 203 and the increase in stopping power and stopping distance, and the decrease in break fade/squealing/overheating is notable.

 

Larger rotors are also harder to keep true. And they are heavier.
My Yeti 575 came with Juicy 3 brakes, 160 front and rear.
Total POS, non-stopping, noise making, finger numbing junk.
Tried to up the power with 180 rotors f/r. More power but worse noise. Went for a 203 up front and the forks shuddered and the brake whined but they still firmed up and stopped stopping.
Worst brakes ever.
Bigger rotors might help but you might run into peripheral problems. A well-designed brake set, including application specific rotors is best.
I recommend Shimano and Magura based on my personal experiences with each brand.
YMMV

 

I ran Zee brakes on my Ibis for a few years. Good brakes, same easy bleed as other shimanos. Honestly I can't really tell a difference in performance. I had XTs on a couple other bikes, and put XTs back on the Ibis mainly so that I didn't have to bother with different types of pads. The XTs/XTRs use different shape pads than Zee/Saint. Got a great deal on the XTs, which was also part of the reason.

 

I run 180 rotors on both my bikes, but with the MT5 brakes its a noticeable difference from my Formula brakes on the Devinci.

I ran the original Shimano 755-756 4 piston brakes for a long time and they don’t compare to the Magura’s. I also ran 160 rotors then, so that maybe a contributing factor in the difference in power.

 

IME, 180 rotors max on 32mm stanchions. Don't use 203s unless you've got at least 34mm stanchions otherwise your fork will become a "noodle" under breaking.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Loving where this thread is going. Most likely I’ll be buying a set of XT brakes with 180 ice rotors. Seems like a good combo for the chameleon. It’ll save some of my cash for bars, Wolf tooth dropper remote, etc.

If I still had my Hightower, I’d probably pony up for some 4P brakes. Because why not.

 

Couldn't agree more...

(No, really. No sarcasm. No jabs. The man speaks true.)

Edit: well, except it's "braking" but....

 

"Breaking" bad.

 

I do Not like my SRAM brake Sam I Am. They squeal, they warble, they are very difficult to adjust the brakes in any scenario. Replace the pads and I spend an hour adjusting and readjusting the calipers to NOT rub on the rotors. They use Dot brake fluid, yuk! Eats paint really well plus not environmentally friendly. I prefer mineral oil.

They do modulate really well though!

 

I think it had something to do with your modulation.

 

You've passed the test!

 

If you ride uphill it doesn't matter.

 

I've swapped in Shimano rotors and am mostly happy. Still a slight warble in the back, but 90% improvement over SRAM/AVID. Those Centerlines were an effing joke and Santa Cruz should be embarrassed to spec them.