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XT M785 brakes. Came with resin finned pads, which seemed decent enough, but expensive so didn't replace with the same. Have tried Uberbike race matrix and sintered inserts on their finned backing plates. Wasn't overly impressed with the race matrix, and the noise from the sintered was unbearable. Put some non-finned Shimano resin pads in this week, seemed ok in the dry, but very wet last night and they were rubbish.
Everything gets a bit of bedding in - half a dozen hard stops - and rotors wiped with IPA for new pads.
What next? Are the expensive ones - EBC, SwissStop - worth a try? Or Shimano sintered?
Disco Ceramic ones for me (SLX brakes).
Superstar!
Some of their stuff gets, erm, 'iffy' reviews, but i've been using their pads for years without issue.
My favourite is the kevlar race pad, great power but can wear quickly depending where you ride (i've had no issues in either the Alps or Whistler). I use these on my trail and DH bikes regardless of conditions.
Sintered is also good if you fancy something that will last gritty conditions a bit longer.
Also, buy the 4 pack and they're SUPER cheap compared to OEM.
Where does ceramic sit on the spectrum of materials?
I've tried a few in deore's - avoid aztec sintered like the plague, very little bite, lots of squeal, and go off very quickly.
Shimano organic bite well from cold but that's about all you can say, they wear fast in the wet, and seem to contaminate/squeal easily.
Different manufacturers work differently in different brakes tbh because of pad shapes etc so you've got to be a wee bit careful about reviews... I really rate superstar kevlar for my formulas but I can't guarantee they'll be as good in XT.
Superstar kevlar in my 785s, nice balance of actually working and reasonable life.
Superstar kevlar in my 785s, nice balance of actually working and reasonable life.
I've used SS Kevlars for years, but have found they tend to glaze quite badly, takes a few decent stops to get the brakes working properly at the start of a ride!
Last batch I got Organics to see if they fared better, looks good so far.
FYI my superstars are in shimano saints and XTs.
Similar to organic apparently:
[i]Professional Grade Black Ceramic Compound
Also known as Compound C (Ceramic Pro)
These soft organic ceramic fiber disc brake pads are carbonized. The ceramic compound insulates the brake system from friction heat up to 400oC. The result is a very powerful, quiet pad with extremely low heat generation which all but eliminates the chances of brake fade.
Details
Upgrade on original fitted pads
DIN 79100 Standard Approved
Organic Compound contains no metal material
Reduces damage to rotor
Carbonized compound reduces brake fading
Ceramic Fiber insulates brake system from friction heat
Advantages: Excellent grip, Low noise, Low heat, Consistent in all conditions
Disadvantages: Short life span unless rider is light on brakes
Suitable For: DH, Dry XC, Ti Rotors
Conclusion: Best Performance, Short Life[/i]
EDIT: Have used SS Kevlar pads but they glazed. Use the organic compound too and its ok.
Thanks, a couple of options to try then.
Superstar kevlar in my 785s, nice balance of actually working and reasonable life.
+1
Edit : Probably plus two technically since I run them on two bikes with 785's. Just ordered them for the DH with Zee's but not fitted them yet.
MSP, have you used those Rahox pads? How were they?
Yep, I use the hyper speed ones (as I am 120kg and value brake performance over durability) far better than the original shimano ones, I really rate them.
I think it was the basquemtb guy who first recommended them, so I thought I would give them a go.
An excellent weight for a chap to be 🙂
And decent in the wet?
MSP, I do recommend the Rahox 🙂 I think they are really, really good. They are more expensive than the cheap ones, cheaper than the manufacturers ones and better than both. Good in wet and dry, last well, stopping is impressive and they don't need bedding in. Really good. The guy who makes them (designs, they're fabricated inJapan) lives in the same town as me. I've never met him and have no ties at all, I just like the pads!
Last batch I got Organics to see if they fared better, looks good so far.
Same here, seem to go well in new Shimano brakes.
Trying to brake less to offset potential faster pad wear.
Which version do you use doug?
(I'm a similar weight to MSP, and we get our share of rain up here in NW Scotland).
Can I ask what's wrong with the uberbike pads. I put some race matrix in my XT brakes and they seem decent to me. Just interested if there is better out there.
They seemed ok for the first few rides, but then it was as if they'd lost grip on the rotor and there was not much power. I wasn't paying enough attention to say the type of rides that were ok and the type that weren't I'm afraid.
I use Uberbike pads race matrix. I have found them to be very good, they have a 20% off week end this week end as well, just put in the code EXTRA20.
I haven't used SS pads for years, they may have improved, but the ones I had were poor fitting, the springs didn't fit and the sintered ones made a lot of noise.
howsyourdad1 - MemberCan I ask what's wrong with the uberbike pads.
I got the feeling it was just extended breaking that they couldn't deal with, I actually really liked them for the test rides I did at home, I think gletress red and inners offpiste, excellent. But then they shat the bed at les arcs IIRC.
Actually quite tempted to try them again in the xc bike though.
Going to try those Rahox pads when I next need to order a load as I've been told they are what the Nukeproof pads are really. Seeing as Nukeproof have changed from the Trail/Enduro/DH (yellow pained ones) to Resin/Semi/Sintered (black ones) they're not the same, nowhere near as much initial bite or control. Love the Enduro ones so looks like the Superspeed ones are the same by their description.
I'm using the middle one, is it super speed? I find it great. I get them wet often enough 🙂 I'm about 85kg with a 10kg pack normally.
I've ordered a set of Uberbike semi-metallic because that was just £8 with the discount, and I'll give those Rahox ones a try as well.
I stick with the Shimano resin pads, they work properly and last well. I buy them when cheap in sales.
You kind of answered your question with the first post! Buy the Shimano ones! Pads last for months unless you do a massive amount of miles, so it's not exactly a massive cost surely??
The sintered? Do you think they'll be less noisy than cheaper sintered? I don't care too much about the cost, I'll pay for strong but quiet braking!
Shimano XTR Sintered, from Halfords usually, when they have 20% off flash sales and then an extra 10% off for BC, makes them cheap