sapporoguy

Must hydraulic-brake lever and caliper be the same make/model to work together, or can some be mixed?
Has anyone tried a hack combining different makes?
For example, could I connect a TRP Hylex drop-bar lever to a Shimano Saint disc caliper or to a Magura HS33 rim-brake caliper?
I can imagine there might be not only mechanical connection issues but also hydraulic-pressure/volume issues with some, or all, combinations. But it seems like if the specs were the same or close, one could hack a mix.
A goofy idea, perhaps. I'm only interested in knowing if it's possible, not if I'm nuts!

ClydeClydeson

Unless you can find someone who has successfully tried it, assume the answer is no, for all the reasons you listed.

And even if someone claims to have done it successfully, you don't know their definition of 'successful' - maybe the calipers actuate but you have to pull five times harder on the lever. Maybe 1mm of lever movement will make the wheel lock up.
Similar experiments have been tried with pairing the various styles of cable actuated rim brakes with levers made for both long-pull (V and disc) and short pull (caliper and cantilever) brake levers, and claim to have been successful, but only because they don't seem to know how properly functioning brakes are meant to work or feel.

andrewclaus

With hydraulics, it's all about piston diameters. If piston diameters match, exactly, I'd try it (only for myself and very carefully).

This is the exact analog of cable pull mismatches on V-brakes versus cantis or road calipers. And I see a lot of those on donations in our non-profit shop. Somehow they work and people ride them.

jimc101

Realistically, stick with one brand, and don't mix and match brands or types of brakes.

You have a few major issues you have consider

Fluid type, there are 2 main fluids used for MTB brakes, DOT and Mineral oil, SRAM and Formula uses DOT fluid, Shimano, Tektro (TRP) and Margura use mineral, all of these can (and do) have different spec fluids, different types are total incompatible, and even if they use the same basic fluid type may not be compatible with each other.

Open and closed systems, All current disc brakes use an open system (i.e. one with a reservoir) Magura HS brakes use a closed system (no reservoir) and are not interchangeable with open systems.

Stick to the same brand and type and you should have no issues with them working, although mixing older and new systems, say with Shimano and different spec hoses may result in lower performance than if all designed to work together; research & try at your own risk.

Currently there are no options for hydraulic drop bar rim brakes like Magura HS brakes which is what you appear to be looking for? SRAM has a hydraulically actuated rim brake (may not be currently available, research this) Magura used to offer HS-66 brakes (drop bar hydraulic rim) but these have been out of production for 2+ decades

Darth Lefty 

First you would need to make sure they use the same type of oil. If you look at Hope RX4 calipers for instance they have different versions with different seal rings. Then you would need to make sure both brands fittings work on your hose. Finally you would have to tolerate whatever leverage you get

sjanzeir

I'm looking at a picture of Formula's Cura 4 caliper (from Formula's website) and it says "mineral oil" right there on the caliper body:

cxwrench

Nope. Tried this a couple times w/ parts laying around at the shop. Doesn't work. It wasn't the piston size at all, it was the connecting hardware. One example: Shimano XTR caliper/hose to a Tektro lever. The hose was too small and neither the Shimano nor Tektro barbs/olives would seal.

sjanzeir

So the hoses and fittings are not standardized across brands. That throws a wrench into the whole process. So I've got to be specific when I buy hosing for a swap or a project, then.

Kapusta

A number of people who like their Magura calipers but hate the crappy plastic POS levers swap them out for Shimano levers on their mountain bikes. “Shigura” setups supposedly work brilliantly.

So there is one combo that works.

cxwrench

Good to know.

79pmooney

I raced long before either brifters or dual pivots. Was taught that hands went to the drops in iffy situations (better bike control plus hands stay on even dropping into bottomless potholes). Modern brakes are way too powerful for good bike control for me. All my dual pivot and cantilever bikes now use Tektro V-brake levers. Only bikes that still sport regular levers are my two Mafac racer bikes. All my bikes are real stoppers and surprises are way down. (Might be dangerous for someone brought up on brifters but my DT shifters seem to keep them away!)

Now if I could only do the same with my Prius. I learned to drive in a Willis Jeep. Never saw power brakes until I was well into my 30s. Every car I buy has more power than the last. TG for anti-lock braking.