Brake Disc Questions
#1
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Brake Disc Questions
Hi all!
Getting new wheels soon, and as my old wheels are 6-bolt and the new wheels are center lock, I'm looking to zero in on new brake rotors. I don't think I saw any threads on this in my casual search, so here goes:
- Have 160mm rotors now, Ultegra calipers. Will any 160mm rotor work?
- Are Shimano IceTechs still considered the best with regards to heat dissipation? I already get rotor-zing after hard descents, wouldn't mind minimizing that.
Thanks for the help! And because pictures supposedly help, a pic of my new wheels:
Getting new wheels soon, and as my old wheels are 6-bolt and the new wheels are center lock, I'm looking to zero in on new brake rotors. I don't think I saw any threads on this in my casual search, so here goes:
- Have 160mm rotors now, Ultegra calipers. Will any 160mm rotor work?
- Are Shimano IceTechs still considered the best with regards to heat dissipation? I already get rotor-zing after hard descents, wouldn't mind minimizing that.
Thanks for the help! And because pictures supposedly help, a pic of my new wheels:
#2
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As long as the rotors are CenterLock and 160, they'll work. Or, they should. There are some oddballs like the Hope floating rotors that may or may not have clearance issues. Anything Shimano will be fine. You may need to re-align your calipers, though, which is a pretty simple operation.
#3
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When I built my bike ~6 months ago (maybe still the case?) using MT800/900 rotors was the thing. Lighter, cheaper, and more readily available than the roadie equivalents. Something to look into....
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some will mix the wide brake pads with the rotors designed for the narrow pads - but Shimano does not recommend this
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When rotors expand and warp after hard braking, and lightly scrape the brake calipers even after the brake levers are released, causing a metallic zing.
The new brake calipers that come with the Shimano 12 speed groupsets allegedly have more pads to rotor clearance to avoid this phenomenon.
The new brake calipers that come with the Shimano 12 speed groupsets allegedly have more pads to rotor clearance to avoid this phenomenon.
#7
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I think I read your thread when I was looking for information on this. I'll keep the MT rotors in mind, but I think I actually like how the road ones look a little bit better. Still have a little time to decide - the wheels are still on the slow boat across the Pacific...
#8
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How do I know which brake pads I have? I haven't changed out my brake pads yet, so that much is new to me.
#9
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When rotors expand and warp after hard braking, and lightly scrape the brake calipers even after the brake levers are released, causing a metallic zing.
The new brake calipers that come with the Shimano 12 speed groupsets allegedly have more pads to rotor clearance to avoid this phenomenon.
The new brake calipers that come with the Shimano 12 speed groupsets allegedly have more pads to rotor clearance to avoid this phenomenon.
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I don't care much for carbon wheels but those are pretty sexy
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#11
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I think I read your thread when I was looking for information on this. I'll keep the MT rotors in mind, but I think I actually like how the road ones look a little bit better. Still have a little time to decide - the wheels are still on the slow boat across the Pacific...
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basically - the majority of the low end Shimano hydraulic disc brake systems use the 'wide' track rotors and corresponding /compatible calipers and pads ; relatively cheap/stamped steel rotors and organic / resin pads (only) ...
the upper level Shimano systems use the 'narrow' track rotors and corresponding/compatible calipers and pads ; rotor choices include the top available Shimano models including machined steel and Ice-Tech 3 layer rotors and metal / sintered pads or organic / resin pads (including finned pads)
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#13
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As far as I can tell, the Shimano Road and Mountain disc rotors are functionally close enough that I wouldn't be able to feel a difference - so between the two, I'd likely pick based on aesthetics or availability, provided the cost were similar.
But part of me had been wondering if Shimano IceTech really was the best, and if there were any other rotors (cool looking or not) that would offer measurably better braking performance or resistance to warping, that were in the same price range. SRAM Centerlines have a cool aesthetic, and Hope rotors have the option for anodized carriers, but not switching if their performance is worse with Ultegra calipers.
But part of me had been wondering if Shimano IceTech really was the best, and if there were any other rotors (cool looking or not) that would offer measurably better braking performance or resistance to warping, that were in the same price range. SRAM Centerlines have a cool aesthetic, and Hope rotors have the option for anodized carriers, but not switching if their performance is worse with Ultegra calipers.
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As far as I can tell, the Shimano Road and Mountain disc rotors are functionally close enough that I wouldn't be able to feel a difference - so between the two, I'd likely pick based on aesthetics or availability, provided the cost were similar.
But part of me had been wondering if Shimano IceTech really was the best, and if there were any other rotors (cool looking or not) that would offer measurably better braking performance or resistance to warping, that were in the same price range. SRAM Centerlines have a cool aesthetic, and Hope rotors have the option for anodized carriers, but not switching if their performance is worse with Ultegra calipers.
But part of me had been wondering if Shimano IceTech really was the best, and if there were any other rotors (cool looking or not) that would offer measurably better braking performance or resistance to warping, that were in the same price range. SRAM Centerlines have a cool aesthetic, and Hope rotors have the option for anodized carriers, but not switching if their performance is worse with Ultegra calipers.
The other thing that I like about them is that they're easy to true - with the all steel rotors, you sometimes have to overshoot when trueing so that they spring back to the desired line.
I really love the bling of the Hope rotors, but they're expensive, hard to come by, and of questionable compatibility (I've heard that the rivets may interfere with some calipers). I'd love to try them, but that's about an $180 roll of the dice.
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I have XT (MT-800) rotors on one wheelset and cheaper Shimano RT-56 rotors on another. Both are used with GRX brakes - the only difference I notice is that the XT rotors are louder and have a bit more "bite", and make more of a loud "zing zing" after hard stops (which goes away after a few seconds).
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I've been running the Ultegra IceTech rotors on one of my bikes for about 11k miles, and no issues even under prolonged braking on long steep descents. I managed to locate a pair of them a few months ago just for my parts inventory.
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I have XT (MT-800) rotors on one wheelset and cheaper Shimano RT-56 rotors on another. Both are used with GRX brakes - the only difference I notice is that the XT rotors are louder and have a bit more "bite", and make more of a loud "zing zing" after hard stops (which goes away after a few seconds).
if the bike with the XT / MT800 rotors has metal / sintered pads - this could account for the additional sound (?)
I have prev gen XT (RT81) rotors on one bike and RT56 rotors on another bike - both with resin pads - and the XT / RT81 combo is quieter (and has much better feel / power )
Last edited by t2p; 06-29-22 at 12:08 PM.
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same type of pads on both bikes ? (should be resin on the bike with the RT56 rotors)
if the bike with the XT / MT800 rotors has metal / sintered pads - this could account for the additional sound (?)
I have old XT (RT81) rotors on one bike and RT56 rotors on another bike - both with resin pads - and the XT / RT81 combo is quieter (and has much better feel / power )
if the bike with the XT / MT800 rotors has metal / sintered pads - this could account for the additional sound (?)
I have old XT (RT81) rotors on one bike and RT56 rotors on another bike - both with resin pads - and the XT / RT81 combo is quieter (and has much better feel / power )
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and curious - why RT56 rotors on a GRX bike ? - I believe you can use the better rotors (RT6x etc)
(for my one bike - RT56 rotors are installed due to the calipers ... low end M396 or something like that)
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Clearance has always seemed to be a hydraulic brake issue - even the Magura rim brakes on my mountain bike back in the late 90s had trouble dealing with a wheel that was even slightly out of true. I'll keep a look out for long term reviews of Shimano 12 speed - if the new brakes can really eliminate zing as an annoyance, that would be great!