Shimano SLX brakes

frankspencer1979

Am looking at upgrading my Elixir 3's (the lever's are literally falling a apart.) SLX looks the most sensible all round option to go for, and available for a good price from bike-discount once they're back in stock.

There seems to be a few types though and I'm not sure what to go for!? I have SRAM X7 shifters at the moment, but I'll be changing them at some point. Do the brakes just clamp to the bar or do they have to fit with a Shimano shifter? And how do I work out what adapters I need?

Oh, and I can use any rotors can't I!?

cooldad

Depends on the mounts on your bike/forks. But you can use the existing rotors.
The brakes just clamp to the bar.

thelonegroover

I had Avid Elixir 5's on a previous bike, they weren't bad but my current Shimano 596 Alivio's (very similar to SLX, but without tool free reach or finned pads) are much better.

frankspencer1979

cooldad wrote:

The brakes just clamp to the bar.

Ok, it's just they say they're compatible with I-spec shifters? I assume it means that's optional then and they can just be clamps to the bar in the normal fashion.

cooldad wrote:

Depends on the mounts on your bike/forks.

Yeah, I don't fully understand the difference between post mount/IS2000 etc'. Am gonna stick with 180/160. The brakes I have now came on my original bike and fortunately they just swapped straight over onto my new frame.

Rear brake looks like this on seat stay



Front brake

The Rookie

Front is post mount (2 posts!) rear is IS.

New callipers will bolt straight onto the adaptors WITHOUT the alignment washers, but you'll need shorter bolts.