XT Brakes

[pkovo]

Have older XT 2 pot brakes with the cooling fins and they don’t stop hard at all and they squeal like a MFer. Like you can probably hear me at the bottom of the mtn.

I just tried brake kleen on the rotors and pads. Did it multi times and even used a clean rag to clean them up with brake kleen until they were dirt / soot free. Well, they are marginally better.

Before I buy new pads do you think a brake bleed will help? I cleaned the pads and rotor really good but I thinj once you get something on them (previous owner) they might be shot. Is mineral oil contamination different from DOT?

Thoughts? TIA

do at your own risk, but I hit the pad with a propane torch to burn off the contaminants, then light sand with 150 grit. Clean brakes/rotor with alcohol and paper towels. reinstall and go. It usually works. Sometimes I don't clean anything, just hit the pads with heat, run them over sandpaper and pop them back in and have success. I may have gotten this tip from someone on here....I cant recall.

I end up having to do this with most of our bikes that have Shimano brakes (older ones) if they sit unused for a while.

 

[stb222]

I actually just ordered a new front because of this issue. Found the whole assembly on ebay for $101.

 

[Red Mosquito]

I actually just ordered a new front because of this issue. Found the whole assembly on ebay for $101.

Yeah but it’s Shamano, be prepared to exercise your demons.

 

[jdog]

Is this still an issue with current offerings? Or just older models?

Up until the new versions they just released.

These new versions take a new fluid too for more confusion.

XT and Ultegra brakes get warranties like whoa.

 

[UtahJoe]

do at your own risk, but I hit the pad with a propane torch to burn off the contaminants,

everyone tells me to never do this, so I never do it and it certainly doesnt work 😜

I will say, I have 3 sets of XT/XTR's on my firebird, shuttle and my sons bike....have not experienced the leaky caliper issue thankfully

 

[Carson]

Bobzilla never uses the brakes.

 

[pkovo]

everyone tells me to never do this, so I never do it and it certainly doesnt work 😜

I will say, I have 3 sets of XT/XTR's on my firebird, shuttle and my sons bike....have not experienced the leaky caliper issue thankfully

I'm sure I've even hit the same set of pads with the torch multiple times. I have a lot of bikes in the garage that have the older 2 piston Shimano brakes, that sit for long periods of time. . The worst offenders are an old pair of XT brakes. I should probably just replace them at this point....they have lasted an impressively long time and owe me nothing.

I like a lot of things about the Shimano brakes better than SRAM; the ease of bleeding, the lever feel, the light pull needed for power etc.. I hate DOT fluid and dealing with multiple syringes, but the bikes I have in the fleet with SRAM brakes simply require less attention 🤷‍♂️