Shimano Tiagra BR-4700 Brake Calipers Performance
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If you do, then make sure it's what is recommended by the manufacturer as compatible with your brake levers or STI's. So likely your brakes and levers need to be from the same manufacturer. When you go off and do your own thing mixing and matching, then you are experimenting. It might work well or it might not.
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Yes sure thing, the Shimano br-r451 calipers mentioned above are among those recommended and apparently the only available for purchase. Curiously, they’re also labeled “New” super slr, like those incompatible I have, but have longer reach, maybe this makes them eligible. Anyway, think I’ll have no choice and they respect manufacturer recommendations, so I’ll go for those. Having said that, clearly Shimano is not making things simpler on this issue...
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https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...o/BR-R451.html
The vendor I’m looking at specifies a 47-57mm range, so the needed 51mm should be within. Unfortunately I can’t find more details, I’ll try to contact Shimano again.
Should the 47-57mm be confirmed, do you think such calipers could properly fit and provide adequate braking?
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The proof is in the pudding at this point. We've done as much due diligence as one could possibly hope to have a consumer do. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in this industry. There are claims, and there are results. The only way to verify those claims is to buy and test. Shimano tends to live up to their claims pretty often, though.
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The proof is in the pudding at this point. We've done as much due diligence as one could possibly hope to have a consumer do. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in this industry. There are claims, and there are results. The only way to verify those claims is to buy and test. Shimano tends to live up to their claims pretty often, though.
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There we are, the new compatible r451 calipers arrived. They’re labelled NEW SUPER SLR, just like the non-compatible r4700, which seems weird.
First I have to say that while waiting I fine-tuned the 4700 by getting the pads closer and more parallel to the rims, then tried again but on dry conditions only. Rear braking felt ok, with the wheel slowing and then quickly skidding. On the front it was better than before. Using both, the bike could stop in a reasonable distance, although my 26’’ v-brake mtb still did better.
Then I installed the new compatible calipers and gave them a try always on dry conditions. Rear braking was the same and if anything, not better. Front braking seemed marginally better, but cannot tell with certitude, the difference not being significant. So here are my conclusions:
- difference between non-compatible and compatible calipers is not tangible, at least on dry conditions, still needs to be checked on wet
- the extra 45$ spent on the new calipers are not worth if related to braking power only, but they at least bought some peace of mind when looking at Shimano compatibility recommendations
- Shimano compatibilities remain opaque to me, ok one has to stick to official guidelines, got it and will check them in the future before buying new components, but after having mixed levers/cranksets/derailleurs in the past which worked fine, and after this calipers experiment, I keep wondering if marketing weighs somehow on such guidelines...
Thank you all and hope this feedback might be useful...
First I have to say that while waiting I fine-tuned the 4700 by getting the pads closer and more parallel to the rims, then tried again but on dry conditions only. Rear braking felt ok, with the wheel slowing and then quickly skidding. On the front it was better than before. Using both, the bike could stop in a reasonable distance, although my 26’’ v-brake mtb still did better.
Then I installed the new compatible calipers and gave them a try always on dry conditions. Rear braking was the same and if anything, not better. Front braking seemed marginally better, but cannot tell with certitude, the difference not being significant. So here are my conclusions:
- difference between non-compatible and compatible calipers is not tangible, at least on dry conditions, still needs to be checked on wet
- the extra 45$ spent on the new calipers are not worth if related to braking power only, but they at least bought some peace of mind when looking at Shimano compatibility recommendations
- Shimano compatibilities remain opaque to me, ok one has to stick to official guidelines, got it and will check them in the future before buying new components, but after having mixed levers/cranksets/derailleurs in the past which worked fine, and after this calipers experiment, I keep wondering if marketing weighs somehow on such guidelines...
Thank you all and hope this feedback might be useful...