[Matt D]

I've got the new XT 2 piston brakes on my all mountain bike and love them (powerful, great one finger lever feel). I found a good deal on the Front M755, old 4 piston design, but was curious what you all felt about the differences. I'll be putting it on my DH bike.

I know the 4s are older, so parts will be more scarce sooner; though in this case they are the same as the Grimeca system 8s so it may not be as severe. Hoses? Will those go sooner?

The 2 & 4 piston brakes use the same lever right?

Basically I'd like to know if the performance would be on par, or even better, than the 2 pistons I've currently got.

 

[Repack]

There are a few mfg's making generic replacement hoses/fittings for the Shimano. By generic, I mean other than Goodridge.
I had the 4-pistons, but they never worked well for me. Some people loved them, some didn't. I did change the pads at some point, but that was shortly after I bought them. I think that the newer pads have much more stopping power.
Not sure about lever cross-compatibility, but I think your right.
And the Saint and XT brakes are exactly the same, if that matters.

 

[Rockland]

I've owned several sets of Shimano 4 piston brakes. All the newer style levers work just fine with the older calipers. The thread at the lever end of the hose is different though. You can purchase the new hose barb & fitting to upgrade older hose (we're talking the resin hoses here, not the crappy braided ones). And for what it's worth, the internal parts to the Grim system 8 levers are not identical to shimano's. I tried to get replacement seals out of Grim and it was a no go..

 

[Matt D]

So it seems availability in the future would be questionable for the old 4 pistons.

 

[Repack]

So it seems availability in the future would be questionable for the old 4 pistons.

Maybe for some parts, but you shouldn't have any problem when it comes to the majot stuff. Lines/fittings shouldn't be a problem, same with pads. You would have to totaly destroy a caliper or lever, at which point you would need to replace it anyway.
Is it a complete set that is cheap enough that at some point down the road it would be worth it to replace a caliper or lever? Sounds like at the very least you have some nice spare parts for you current brakes. Its noce being able to travel with a complete replacement part in case something breaks. Like if you destroy part of a lever, its quicker to just bolt a new one on rather than spend the tiem to overhaul it.

 

[Incubus]

I've seen the 4-pots cheap in many places. Used, people are almost giving away. I've never used the 4-pots, but the new 2 piston brakes are s3xy. Much better construction than my J7s.

 

[Rockland]

I'd say go for it! Hell why not? For the price they work great. I've had good luck with 'em. If the caliper dies, just step up to the new 1 piece design, which also can be had for fairly cheap.

 

[kidwoo]

I've tried both on DH bikes. The newer ones are much better. I thought the older 4 pots just felt way too weak.

 

[DßR]

I've tried both on DH bikes. The newer ones are much better. I thought the older 4 pots just felt way too weak.

Ever try the 4pots with black plastic lines? Massive difference.

 

[kidwoo]

Ever try the 4pots with black plastic lines? Massive difference.

Maybe not. The ones I did ride felt like hayes with air in the lines except they wouldn't change during the ride. Very weak. I was stoked enough on the newer ones though that I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt down the older style. Those are my next brake purchase..........if any of the 3 sets of hayes I have ever die...........

 

[DßR]

The ones I did ride felt like hayes with air in the lines except they wouldn't change during the ride. Very weak.

Yeah, that's pretty much the hallmark of the old steel braid lines. The improvement is enough that I put the new resin lines on my XT's to sell them b/c I hated them so much, and when I gave 'em a squeeze, I decided not to sell 'em after all, it was that big a difference.

 

[kidwoo]

Yeah, that's pretty much the hallmark of the old steel braid lines. The improvement is enough that I put the new resin lines on my XT's to sell them b/c I hated them so much, and when I gave 'em a squeeze, I decided not to sell 'em after all, it was that big a difference.

Haha, I knew there had to be something different going on with a bike that would stop steve peat's sasquatch ass. I weigh 165 and I was flying off the trail at almost every turn.

 

[Monkeybidnezz]

Haha, I knew there had to be something different going on with a bike that would stop steve peat's sasquatch ass. I weigh 165 and I was flying off the trail at almost every turn.

Guess I got lucky when I had them. I'm 220 and had pretty good results with them and 8inch rotors. I liked them as much as my Hayes mags, but I did upgrade things like the pads etc. Only bad thing about the xts...pain in the arse to set up with the dang shims....all else was gtg.

 

[Nick]

I haven't tried the newer 2-piston XT brakes yet, but I use the 4-piston 755s on both my Turner and my Chameleon.

I really liked them on my f/s bike, enough to buy the 2nd set when I built the hardtail, but once I swapped the old braided lines out for new XTR lines I LOVED them. Major improvement IMO.

My $.02 : if you buy new coated, cutable lines don't bother trying to measure up what you'll need to match the closest of the 3 or 4 lengths available. Just by the longest lines. I ended up with a rear brake line just a hair shorter than I would have liked, I could have left it a bit longer had I more line to work with.

FWIW: I had virtually the entire length of braided line wrapped in electrical tape to prevent scratching anyway, so they may not have 'swelled' quite as much as they could have.

 

[marlopez]

i love the 4pots. my favorite brakes ever i have them on all my bikes

 

[KleinMp99]

I have the 4 pots on my demo 9, they are the best I tell ya! I will be buying them for all my bikes until they stop making them.

 

[Matt D]

I have the 4 pots on my demo 9, they are the best I tell ya! I will be buying them for all my bikes until they stop making them.

I think they stopped making them in 04

 

[neversummersnow]

THere is a reason Minnaar runs the 4 pots...