Are SRAM level T brakes that bad?

I had some on a bike I bought in 2018. I read all the reviews that they were crap etc. Figured they'd be the first thing I'd replace. In the end I replaced the following bits first...

Generic handlebar -> Selcof carbon
SRAM NX crank -> Shimano XT crank and BB
SRAM NX casette mech and shifter -> Shimano Deore
Judy fork -> Revelation fork

Finally replaced the brakes in 2022 when some cheap SRAM 4 pot brakes became availabe.

This was on a 29er hardtail and I weigh around 15 stone in riding kit.

What’s she going to be riding?

For a beginner not throwing themselves down anything steep they’ll be fine.

I put them on a Hardtail and never had any issues with them.

I had Level TL (which is the next step up) on my proper bike and they were fine until I went to alps, then I went up to Guides.

Edit: actually the Hardtail got Levels without the T which is the base model.

Have the Level t brakes on my bike used for long distance rides. No issues at all with them. I’m quite light though as is the bike. But work fine, no fettling needed in the three or four years I’ve had them, just new pads etc.

They're fine. Just be sure to bed them in properly. I find the cheap pads from Decathlon are actually pretty quiet if you find the brakes a bit too noisy.

I bought a Giant Trance a couple of years ago that came with them. Changing them would be my first upgrade, I thought.
Turns out they're still fine. They managed to control my 92 kilos on a trip to Bike Park Wales this autumn.
My only gripe is that I need to slacken off the clamp to adjust the lever throw because I haven't invested £1.50 in an Allen key that gets in the tight space.

I haven't tried Level T brakes, but in my experience with Shimano and Hayes, low-end brakes just lack adjustability rather than lacking power. They generally (probably always) use the same size master cylinder and caliper pistons, so the leverage ratio is the same (which means that they can generate just as much braking power). High-end levers have much more adjustability so it's easier to tune them to your preferences.

If they're howling, changing pad compound or rotors will usually help. However, howling in the wet is pretty common with lots of brakes IME. I just see howling brakes as a benefit - it gives OAPs warning that death is imminent unless they look where they're going.

Mine were fine apart from the howling in the wet, which was so bad that I almost crashed on the cyclepath one time rather than give two old ladies a heart-attack with my howling brakes.

Just be sure to bed them in properly

I agree with this though, if by 'bed them in' you mean take them somewhere steep and PROPERLY use them. I only ever commuted on them and used them for gravel type riding so they never got a roasting on anything properly steep or sustained.

No problems with my level t brakes either.... off I head to see just how cheap they are... Very similar price to what I paid over 3yrs ago 😲. RRP is up significantly though.

Forget what I wrote, I was describing Guide T. Not the same thing.

Seem to work very well for me...no issues with them and they stop well. Changed pads to Uberbike and they don't seem to make any more noise than other brakes in the wet i.e. first couple of pulls on lever and then silence.

Are ok

My guide T brakes (4 pot) are great. But it looks like I’m answering the erring question

I don’t know how much the Levels are at the moment but Chain Reaction are doing Code Rs at the moment for about £55.

(I’ve just bought another set and the calipers will be getting used on my new bike with Guide RSC levers).

They're a basic 2-pot brake, they're not going to set the world on fire.

With the added fun of SRAM master cylinders that jam =, which is an easy-ish fix if you buy some metal pistons from China, but you do need a pair of long skinny needle nosed circlip pliers, I had to grind about 2/3 of the material off mine to reach the circlip in the barrel.

Based on that, unless she's really keen and likely to be outriding basic brakes I'd just get Tektro's or Clark's or something. I'd not discount a bike with SRAM brakes on it already, but I'd not buy them again.

@thisisnotaspoon I think they’ve fixed that issue haven’t they?

I’ve never had that problem on any of mine.

@thisisnotaspoon I think they’ve fixed that issue haven’t they?

Mine had a 2019 date code I think, so seemingly not. My previous few pairs of Sram brakes had been fine though, so it seems a bit hit and miss.

The new style ones like the ones you list are actually very good
Although I'd opt for the tektro Gemini in Merlin £70 the pair
Yes there 4 pot but there actually very good and for 70 notes an absolute steel

Have them on my hardtail and have no problems. I don't notice any less performance then the Guide R's on my other bikes. If anything, I prefer the Levels as they are easier to service with only 2 pistons on the caliper.

I had Level on my Whippet, which I assume are the base ones? They were okay, stopped well enough for what I used the bike for but were spongy and the finish scuffed very easily.

Was going to say if they are cheap enough they'll be fine but had a look at the price and I paid under £50 each end for 4 pot Deores from CRC so I'd be waiting for a deal on something better personally. Saying that, the terrible 2007 Avids on the bike I built for my wife are good enough for what she uses it for. Keep meaning to change them but then think what's the point as she's happy enough with the bike!

I'd take basic SRAM brakes in front of Shimano any day.
New Deore brakes for example work really well, until the point somewhere between month3 and month24 when they begin to weep tiny amounts of fluid at the piston seal. At which point they have to be binned, as Shimano don't sell service kits for them. SLX & XT brakes also leak, just less quickly and instead have issues over their variable bite point, a random affliction that some of us avoid completely and others have experienced frequently.
I'd be really cagey of Deore 4 pots; seems like twice the opportunity for the same failure to me but I've no direct experience.
I've a SRAM DB brake that is ten years old and still working, alongside Level TL on my Fatty, so worked hard in the winter. There's another 5 year old Level on my old hardtail, the 'work' bike, with years of hard commuting and teaching behind it.
All of which just work steadily; not exciting, not super duper; they just work until the pads wear out. You chuck in new pads and they keep on truckin'..

I was initially quite impressed with my level Ts, but on a steep descent had the front one fade badly, possibly a bad bleed from the factory, but I put them on ebay afterwards, as I'd lost confidence on them