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[Closed] Shimano Road hydro levers with MTB calipers?

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 rhid
Posts: 1292
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Topic starter
 

Is there a compatibility issue with Road levers and MTB brakes? I need post mount calipers and they are not easy to find and there are always plenty of MTB calipers going for sale 2nd hand.

A bit of googling suggest this should work but if anyone has real life experience of this then please let me know of said experience.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 8:58 am
Posts: 1877
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Run my rs685 levers with Deore post mount calipers, no probs at all. MTB calipers are compatible so you can take your pick.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 9:01 am
 rhid
Posts: 1292
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Topic starter
 

That is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to hear!


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 9:05 am
 scud
Posts: 4108
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Or if your funds allow, you can get the Hope RX4 callipers, expensive (bought mine from germany) but they are great, much better than the Shimano callipes they replaced being 4 pot design.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 11:09 am
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Can you use hope calipers with Shimano hydraulic STI given they run different fluid for starters?


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 11:24 am
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Yes RX4.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 11:48 am
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Can you use hope calipers with Shimano hydraulic STI given they run different fluid for starters?

Yes, they do a Shimano compatible version and a Sram compatible version.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 11:50 am
 cp
Posts: 8928
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Run my rs505 shifterd with XT 785 calipers- brilliant 🙂


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 12:22 pm
 PJay
Posts: 4818
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Just to be contrary, could I run the RX4-SH calipers with standard Shimano MTB levers (SLX)? I'd like a nice pair of silver calipers.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 1:43 pm
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Just to be contrary, could I run the RX4-SH calipers with standard Shimano MTB levers (SLX)? I’d like a nice pair of silver calipers.

Had been wondering this myself, I really don't see why not. Bear in mind though the RX4 uses smaller pistons than E4 so power probably be won't be as much.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 2:06 pm
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Make sure the hoses/olives are all the right size to talk to each other- Iirc some of the road setups came with skinnier hoses. Can't remember the details, sorry.

As far as mtb callipers go, crack on, I've had no trouble with it


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 2:13 pm
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The RX4’s are optimised for Shimano or SRAM road levers, down to having different sized pistons on one to the other.  I doubt you could plug them into MTB levers 100% successfully, Hope tried the X2 caliper on road levers and it was no good.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 7:21 pm
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I’ve got a set of Post Mount Shimano BR 785 callipers that I’m about to sell as my new frame and for is flat mount.

Email in profile if you’re interested.


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 9:10 pm
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Can you use RS685/785 levers with Shimano 4 pot brakes?


 
Posted : 25/10/2018 10:08 pm
 rhid
Posts: 1292
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Topic starter
 

I managed to get some 105 levers and my friend has promised me some slx calipers. With regard to hoses what do I need?

Do the lever require skinny road hoses or will mtb ones be OK? It's the first time with this set up so have no idea what to expect!


 
Posted : 27/10/2018 8:41 am

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