Upgrading brakes..shimano xt or alternative??

markyhud

OK so I'm fed up with my current Shimano m575s that are stock on my Trek 6500. Bled them loads of times, tried different pad compounds, aligned calipers, cleaned them up but they still feel a bit spongey and squeal like pigs. I am fancying some XT M775s (decent used set) or new M785s from Rose bikes. The reason being I have centrelock hubs and have already upgraded to XT rotors. However I would consider buying the adapters to switch back to 6 bolt if there another decent set of brakes anyone can recommend.

They have to be easy to set up, bleed, maintain and quiet. Can anyone recommend a "benchmark" brake that I could look at? I have also looked at Hope minis and Avid Elixirs (but have read they are noisy and a pain to bleed)

My only other experience of hydraulics were Hayes 9s. I know people say they are either on or off and therefore have no real modulation but I really liked them and they had awesome stopping power.

Any comments/suggestions would be great to help me decide.

supersonic

Don't see the point in buying a used set - you might run into all the same problems unless you know they are A1!

SLX are well priced at the minute, and would be my choice.

markyhud

Yeah I forgot to mention I had looked at those too. They get good write ups don't they

peter_booker2003

ive got a set of the SLX M666's and they are fantastic. I paid £150 for a set and havent looked back.

EH_Rob

You can get XTs for around £150 from bikediscount.de, I'm waiting on mine to arrive at the moment.

Chunkers1980

But you'll need to know how to swap the calipers or pay to get it done

EH_Rob

He's not wrong.

markyhud

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But you'll need to know how to swap the calipers or pay to get it done

is that coz the euros have the left and right the wrong way round for us brits?

EH_Rob

Yeah that's right, although apparently it's (relatively) easy to sort out:

viewtopic.php?f=10004&t=12854080

YeehaaMcgee

markyhud wrote:

The reason being I have centrelock hubs and have already upgraded to XT rotors.

Shimano rotors will work with any brake, apart from Hope's vented rotor brake, which I'm not sure stille exists even.

As for the XT brakes, the 785s are a totally different breed to their predecessor. However, due to the nature of the lever design, which increases leverage through the stroke, there is a lot of lever travel. It's not spongy, just very progressive, rather than on/off. If you're not a fan of such brakes, yo umay not get on with them too well.

supersonic

Some of the centrelock rotors are incompatible witj some brakes though - the caliper fouls the spider. Got that problem with the 160mm XT IceTech rotor and Hayes Stroker.

YeehaaMcgee

supersonic wrote:

Some of the centrelock rotors are incompatible witj some brakes though - the caliper fouls the spider. Got that problem with the 160mm XT IceTech rotor and Hayes Stroker.

Really? Wow, I'm amased at that. I have a 160mm rotor on tha back of mine, and the spider is a very long way inboard of the braking surface, not like the hope floating rotor, where the spider almost encroaches on the braking surface.
At least I think so, it might be a 180mm rotor. :?

supersonic

Yeah, the 180s have more space, the 160 is a barstard lol - got my deore rotor on, but might have to get Pete the File out and grind some off!

YeehaaMcgee

Pete the File :?:

supersonic

All my tools have names! MC Hammer, Alan Key, Dave the Plank, Pete O'File...

YeehaaMcgee

supersonic wrote:

All my tools have names! MC Hammer, Alan Key, Dave the Plank, Pete O'File...

I bet Pete's a bas**rd

markyhud

To be honest I really like the look of the M775s (I know looks aren't everything and I am a tart!!) and I nearly bid on some nearly new ones on ebay. I was prepared to go for around the £110 mark but......I've just been on rose bikes site and I can get brand new SLX m666s for £117 delivered.......looking good for them I think. Just gotta convince the wife now. :roll:

YeehaaMcgee

markyhud wrote:

To be honest I really like the look of the M775s (I know looks aren't everything and I am a tart!!) and I nearly bid on some nearly new ones on ebay. I was prepared to go for around the £110 mark but......I've just been on rose bikes site and I can get brand new SLX m666s for £117 delivered.......looking good for them I think. Just gotta convince the wife now. :roll:

Seriously, the newer Shimanos (XT epseically) are a world apart. The M785 I've got as a front brake, with the cooling fins is just a staggeringly awesome brake. I've not ridden anything that comes close - although people considerably richer than me tell me that the XTR of the same vintage are as good or better.

markyhud

What about noise? Any squeal? On my crappy 575s i have got ceramic pro from discobrakes in the rear and they squeal when they get hot or at the slightest drop of rain. Fronts are stock shimano and quiet in dry but squeal like pigs on honeymoon when wet.

YeehaaMcgee

markyhud wrote:

What about noise? Any squeal?

None.

markyhud

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

markyhud wrote:

What about noise? Any squeal?

None.

Well if you could sell me a product with one word.....that would be it.
I've heard that Rose bikes are not the most reliable. Any experiences anyone?

Kerbdog

I have just ordered a set of SLX from Rose on Friday night. They turned up yesterday (despite showing as out of stock on the website) complete with spare olives/inserts and a free bag! That pretty good service in my book.

Apparently you can get a further £10 off buy doing some jiggery pokery on facebook (im not on facebook and forgot to register to try this out).

markyhud

Nice one that. Can you confirm something for me. Where the SLX logo is on the lever, is this polished chrome or like a satin/brushed finish. There is no doubting the reviews and how good the brakes perform but if it's a chrome finish I don't know if this looks a bit bling/fake chrome spray look. You know what I mean?

markyhud

Well in a strange twist of fate I had decided to go for the SLX M666s and was going to start saving my pennies (married with 2 daughters = no hair and even less cash )....then I saw a good pair of M775s on STW classifieds and managed to bag them for a good price. Yes i do realise that I may be inheriting someone else's problems but I think people selling componenets through these kind of sites are all decent people. I think in the long term you have persuaded me to go for the new SLXs but in the short term I am going to see what these are like.
I don't mean to shun all your good advice and thanks for all your comments and input.

Chunkers1980

If cost was the same new, everyone would go for the XTs so you've not shunned anyone's advice. Just hope they turn out to be goodens

The Spiderman

M775s are generally pretty reliable and easy to fix.Sometimes the pistons can stick,or they might need bleeding but both are issues that are very easy to sort.

Lots of videos on you tube cover the servicing of these brakes and DIY bleed kits on ebay are available for 6 quid.

When set up right they work very well.

markyhud

The Spiderman wrote:

M775s are generally pretty reliable and easy to fix.Sometimes the pistons can stick,or they might need bleeding but both issues taht are very easy to sort.

Lots of videos on you tube cover the servicing of these brakes and DIY bleed kits on ebay are available for 6 quid.

When set up right they work very well.

Any advice on best pads to use. They come with new sintered ones

YeehaaMcgee

markyhud wrote:

The Spiderman wrote:

M775s are generally pretty reliable and easy to fix.Sometimes the pistons can stick,or they might need bleeding but both issues taht are very easy to sort.

Lots of videos on you tube cover the servicing of these brakes and DIY bleed kits on ebay are available for 6 quid.

When set up right they work very well.

Any advice on best pads to use. They come with new sintered ones

Well, use them then.

markyhud

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

markyhud wrote:

The Spiderman wrote:

M775s are generally pretty reliable and easy to fix.Sometimes the pistons can stick,or they might need bleeding but both issues taht are very easy to sort.

Lots of videos on you tube cover the servicing of these brakes and DIY bleed kits on ebay are available for 6 quid.

When set up right they work very well.

Any advice on best pads to use. They come with new sintered ones

Well, use them then.

And I was going to take them out and use bits of cardboard. LOL.
Rephrasing my question.....is there a certain compound that people prefer to give a better set up?

YeehaaMcgee

Just use what they come with, and replace when needed.

The Spiderman

Sintered tend to work best for UK condtions.Last longer particularly in mucky condtions.Resin have slightly more power but as we don`t tend to have long down hills here you may aswell just use the sintereds they come with.