XTR Levers with Saint Calipers

Gman
Gman Posts: 7
edited March 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
This may sound crazy but can you combine XTR brake levers with Saint calipers?? I know Sam Hill's mech did a similar thing with his Avid setup a while ago. Wondering if an XTR lever would push enough fluid ratio wise to match the Saint caliper. (Just trying to cut down weight for 'all-mountain' work - want the 4-pot stopping power, but don't need that beefy a lever etc. :?: )

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    yes.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Have you tried it Nick?

    New XTR levers run on less fluid, with smaller diameter hoses. Shimano say it probably won't work.

    M975 levers will certainly work though, and M985/88 ones may well do!
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    njee20
    maybe Shimano have not updated their webby yet. But
    All Shimano hydraulic disc brake systems are interchangeable. Depending on the model of the brake lever and caliper, the connections may differ and could require replacing of the hose and/or the connection fitting, but the brake levers and calipers are fully compatible.

    but having less fluid will only be an issue if you wear your pads out.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Checking around suggests it does work, fair comment on pad wear, should be fine.
  • kevolution
    kevolution Posts: 70
    If you fill the master and slave cylinders correctly the narrower bore diameter will just give more direct fluid transfer. The piston surface area of the Saint compared to that of the XTR caliper will produce more power for a given force at the lever too.
  • mister p
    mister p Posts: 405
    I would still like to see this actually being done in the real world.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Mark, do you have the relevant surface areas of the pistons in this topic?

    ie, saint and XTR lever assys and Saint and XTR calipers?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • mister p
    mister p Posts: 405
    Nope, Shimano don't publish that in any of the literature I have seen and I have seen quite a lot of diagrams.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    got a vernier and some spares :wink:
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown

Categories