Yes, I am a clydesdale, but the brakes should still be better

J

jerseyjeffr

New Member
Good morning all! Yesterday, I went for a ride at Dickerson Mine, and I spent far too much time feeling like I was in an overloaded truck and could not scrub speed as fast as I wanted too, I have a new ibis ripley af with the deore 6100 brakes (4 piston) The brake levers do not bottom out on the grips, but I do not feel the same sort of authority/grab/slow down as my old single piston brakes. I bled the brakes again last night and did not find any air in the lines, Tonight I am planning on really scrubbing the rotors with alcohol, and refreshing the pads on 320 grit on my sharpening plate (for woodworking planes), and then attempting to re-bed the brakes. I am absolutely thrilled with the bike, but really want it to get to stop with more confidence. I am probably about 240 in full kit with my overstuffed pack. Any thoughts on making it better? bigger front rotor? To date I have loved shimano brakes, even back to the v-brake days, and these brakes are meh.
 
Long time Shimano XT 2 piston user with Ice tech rotors 180/160 and metallic pads. From when I was a Clyde and now that I'm not, never had a complaint about stopping power. When I got my '22 Pivot T429 with SLX 4 piston and SLX 180 stamped rotors, had a very similar "not too confident" feeling when braking. Swapped the rotors to XT Ice Techs and metallic pads and it was back to the confident feeling like the XT 2 pistons.
 
jerseyjeffr said:
Good morning all! Yesterday, I went for a ride at Dickerson Mine, and I spent far too much time feeling like I was in an overloaded truck and could not scrub speed as fast as I wanted too, I have a new ibis ripley af with the deore 6100 brakes (4 piston) The brake levers do not bottom out on the grips, but I do not feel the same sort of authority/grab/slow down as my old single piston brakes. I bled the brakes again last night and did not find any air in the lines, Tonight I am planning on really scrubbing the rotors with alcohol, and refreshing the pads on 320 grit on my sharpening plate (for woodworking planes), and then attempting to re-bed the brakes. I am absolutely thrilled with the bike, but really want it to get to stop with more confidence. I am probably about 240 in full kit with my overstuffed pack. Any thoughts on making it better? bigger front rotor? To date I have loved shimano brakes, even back to the v-brake days, and these brakes are meh.
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What size rotors? Any squeaking?

Are pads metallic or organic? If organic, maybe try metallic.

Those brake should be plenty to stop you. I’d say something is off…

I think re-bedding is a good start. If that doesn’t work, try bigger rotors and metallic pads.
 
I run 200/180 and I'm in your range for weight (220 kitted). My XTRs don't do this, but the 8120 XTs did. Shimano calipers have a notorious reputation of bleeding past the seals. If when you pull the pads you see tell-tale signs of this in the form of wet circles of fluid on the back of the pads, this is likely the problem. I'd warranty the calipers, personally if that's the case.

If they're organic pads, I'd toss if contaminated. I've tried every technique in the book, including lighting them on fire with brake fluid after sanding. It never works for me. JMO.
 
Ejd said:
The Lost Co.

Mountain Bike Experts | MTB Parts & Tech Info | The Lost Co

The Lost Co specializes in performance mountain bike parts, accessories, service and technical knowledge while offering insanely good customer service.
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MTX Gold Label HD Brake Pads. These are brake pads for Clydesdales. I put them on my trail bike. What a big improvement.
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I have MTX pads in my bigger trail bike. They stop. Quietly.
 
I have more data, I scrubbed the rotors, brake kleen, then copious amounts of rubbing alcohol, The pads are metal pads, they seemed glazed, and cleaned up with sandpaper, brakekleen, and then lots of rubbing alcohol, I rebedded the pads, and the bike is definitely stopping better, but I think either 200 or 203 fronts with MTX pads are in my future!
 
jerseyjeffr said:
I have more data, I scrubbed the rotors, brake kleen, then copious amounts of rubbing alcohol, The pads are metal pads, they seemed glazed, and cleaned up with sandpaper, brakekleen, and then lots of rubbing alcohol, I rebedded the pads, and the bike is definitely stopping better, but I think either 200 or 203 fronts with MTX pads are in my future!
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To reiterate what others said, better pads and not only larger diameter 200mm rotors, but also try to find thicker rotors for increased heat dissapation. Stock shimano rotors will be 1.8mm thick but you can get 1.95-2.0mm rotors from Galfer, Magura, Hayes and Sram. You'll need to fully bottom your pistons, drain a little brake fluid from the ressy and get the centering just right but they can fit.
 
New as in picked up august, under 100 miles on the bike. I spent a bit of time talking to The Lost Co, and have adapters, 200 mm sram hs2 rotors (2mm) and MTX gold pads on route. I am thinking it should be better, there was no leaks around the pistons.
 
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