weird, Trickstuff brakes don't appear on bike24.com for me here in the USA, just spare parts.
Frankenbrakes and brake improvement discussion
- Thread starter Udi
- Start date
Just ordered some stuff from them and there's a lot that says it can't be shipped to the USA, including, but not limited to, shitmano stuff.
I posted a version of this question before but unfortunately was accidentally banned for spam so I'm dropping it in again in case anyone can help.
Can anyone tell me how much free stroke you're getting on your Direttissimas? And do you have any tips for reducing this as much as possible? I've spent some time exercising pistons and getting them nicely aligned and balanced and have the free stroke at about 15mm which feels great but I'm kind of getting obsessed and want to know I've got them as good as I can
@Udi maybe you have some advice because you commented how much you like the short throw?
Can anyone tell me how much free stroke you're getting on your Direttissimas? And do you have any tips for reducing this as much as possible? I've spent some time exercising pistons and getting them nicely aligned and balanced and have the free stroke at about 15mm which feels great but I'm kind of getting obsessed and want to know I've got them as good as I can
@Udi maybe you have some advice because you commented how much you like the short throw?
According to Trickstuff 18 to 22 mm is the designed range, so you're already below that. I can measure mine a bit later, but I think I'm around 15 mm as well.I posted a version of this question before but unfortunately was accidentally banned for spam so I'm dropping it in again in case anyone can help.
Can anyone tell me how much free stroke you're getting on your Direttissimas? And do you have any tips for reducing this as much as possible? I've spent some time exercising pistons and getting them nicely aligned and balanced and have the free stroke at about 15mm which feels great but I'm kind of getting obsessed and want to know I've got them as good as I can
@Udi maybe you have some advice because you commented how much you like the short throw?
I emailed them and was told 25mm as an upper limit but no lower limit. That's good info though, because I didn't get to feel them on a factory bleed I want to dispel the doubt that I might still be able to get them feeling even better (they do feel great already).
I did a quick measurement, it's more like 12 mm at the outer kink from top dead point to point of engagement. I did invest some time for the bleed when shortening the hose, though and used Redline Like Water. And I'm running my levers rather far from my grips.
Alright, got another set of Hayes Dominions in! After the disappointment last year with the A4 build quality, I was totally done with them. But this set was sent to me free by Hayes; the A2 this time. Finish looks a bit better: the caliper halves line up this time, the lever fits my bar without sanding, no pre-stripped bolts, and the free stroke between the calipers is the same as well.
For science sake, I measured the slave pistons to be 24 mm, which gives it roughly the same surface area as the 2 x 17 mm of the A4. So theoretically the same power, though the pads are a bit shorter and heat management is something else of course. Anyway, I'm of course going to try them out again on the street-trials bike, so heat won't come into play, but power and stiffness all the more. Will report back on how they stack up to the Tech3 V4 I've been running for a while (shouldn't be too hard to beat for pure hold/no-slip power and hefty heavy lever feel).
For science sake, I measured the slave pistons to be 24 mm, which gives it roughly the same surface area as the 2 x 17 mm of the A4. So theoretically the same power, though the pads are a bit shorter and heat management is something else of course. Anyway, I'm of course going to try them out again on the street-trials bike, so heat won't come into play, but power and stiffness all the more. Will report back on how they stack up to the Tech3 V4 I've been running for a while (shouldn't be too hard to beat for pure hold/no-slip power and hefty heavy lever feel).
I wouldn't fuss over it so much, as with any brake it will likely increase a little as everything settles in too. In my experience the benefit is that it increases less (and stays more consistent) than other brakes, especially in the long term.have the free stroke at about 15mm which feels great but I'm kind of getting obsessed and want to know I've got them as good as I can
@Udi maybe you have some advice because you commented how much you like the short throw?
Two rides in, some initial impressions on the Dominion A2. Pad clearance is non-existent, these things are impossible to set up rub free. On the other hand, almost zero pad clearance also means lever engagement is pretty quick. Guess you need to compromise somewhere with hydraulic leverage like this. Still, having a constantly rubbing brake annoys the shit out of me.
Pad rock/knock is massive, worse even than Magura MT7's, makes for a very disconcerting loud clang when locking the brakes (basically when doing any rear wheel move, drop off, etc). Solved this by applying a layer of ducktape to the back and sides of the pads. They're silent now.
On the other hand, power is very good, hold is better than the Hope V4's, they don't slip as much on ledges. Lever action feels extremely light, making it almost feel too delicate compared to the ham fisted chunky feel of the Tech3 lever.
Curious to see how they will fare long term. Have read quite a few reports of other trials guys where the A4's started to leak past the slave piston seals after a few months of use. With my track record of breaking bike parts, this doesn't sound promising. But we'll see, at least they were free
Pad rock/knock is massive, worse even than Magura MT7's, makes for a very disconcerting loud clang when locking the brakes (basically when doing any rear wheel move, drop off, etc). Solved this by applying a layer of ducktape to the back and sides of the pads. They're silent now.
On the other hand, power is very good, hold is better than the Hope V4's, they don't slip as much on ledges. Lever action feels extremely light, making it almost feel too delicate compared to the ham fisted chunky feel of the Tech3 lever.
Curious to see how they will fare long term. Have read quite a few reports of other trials guys where the A4's started to leak past the slave piston seals after a few months of use. With my track record of breaking bike parts, this doesn't sound promising. But we'll see, at least they were free
Last edited:
My code R brakes sucks..rear has power and then gone then back...they are bled, good rotors and pads...now all of this is great till I need em ...
Lovey formula ones
Having good luck with my Shimano xt.
So for my M9 I need a new brake set.
Lovey formula ones
Having good luck with my Shimano xt.
So for my M9 I need a new brake set.
Wow, my Hayes A2 have already died! Rear started howling after two rides, but had the somehwat naive hope it was contamination from my fingers after I'd taped the pads to get rid of the pad knock. Think now that it wasn't my fingers, as the front now 100% has a leak after just 5 rides. Weaping past the piston seals in the caliper, wet pads. Damn!
Maybe maybe maybe if I feel like it, I might try and pair the Hope V4 caliper with the Hayes lever, but I fear there will be too much dead stroke because of the far larger pad clearance of the V4.
Even though they were free, pretty bummed out and disappointed!
Edit: did some tinkering yesterday evening, and can't get the rear brake to leak. So that might have still been bad luck with my fingers then. However, the outside piston of the front brake does leak pretty badly. Couple of squeezes on a bleed block and tiny bubbles and fluid start to appear. Popped out the piston and seal, and they still seem to be in perfect shape, as does the caliper itself. Dried it all off, popped them back in with some silicone grease, but still leaking. What's this then, shitty tolerances?
Maybe maybe maybe if I feel like it, I might try and pair the Hope V4 caliper with the Hayes lever, but I fear there will be too much dead stroke because of the far larger pad clearance of the V4.
Even though they were free, pretty bummed out and disappointed!
Edit: did some tinkering yesterday evening, and can't get the rear brake to leak. So that might have still been bad luck with my fingers then. However, the outside piston of the front brake does leak pretty badly. Couple of squeezes on a bleed block and tiny bubbles and fluid start to appear. Popped out the piston and seal, and they still seem to be in perfect shape, as does the caliper itself. Dried it all off, popped them back in with some silicone grease, but still leaking. What's this then, shitty tolerances?
Last edited:
Well, Hayes customer service is quite good! They do reply quickly, and are sending me a new set of seals for the caliper and some new pads. Hope that fixes it. However, seeing how quickly they failed, I don't think I'll be putting them back on my trials bike; maybe on my normal mountain bike, as the lever action does feel good.
And for the sake of this thread: I did actually connect my V4 caliper to the Dominion lever. Hayes banjo fits right on the Hope caliper, no leaks. As expected, a lot of dead stroke, lever engages quite close to the bar. Doable if you have big hands and run your levers far away from the bars, but still a bit too much empty travel I found. I also reckon that when the pads wear down and/or your pistons start to stick ever so slightly, the auto adjustment of the pistons won't be working that great, as the lever simply moves too little oil for the distance the V4 pads need to travel.
And for the sake of this thread: I did actually connect my V4 caliper to the Dominion lever. Hayes banjo fits right on the Hope caliper, no leaks. As expected, a lot of dead stroke, lever engages quite close to the bar. Doable if you have big hands and run your levers far away from the bars, but still a bit too much empty travel I found. I also reckon that when the pads wear down and/or your pistons start to stick ever so slightly, the auto adjustment of the pistons won't be working that great, as the lever simply moves too little oil for the distance the V4 pads need to travel.
Installed Galfer Pro compound pads in the front E4 caliper. A game changer, will get a pair for the rear was well.
do tell ...
have you used the regular galfer pads? or just the pro?
thanks. good to know what i should get once i burn through the ones that came with my A4s. which i quite like btw.
Apparently they also have an "advanced" version... Confusing! Apparently all productlines should be set up with at least 3 tiers...
ebc red or galfer green are the grippiest. I run both and love both. The galfer 223 rotors are nice I ordered 2 for 2 of the bikes...love the galfer green... but not a huge fan of the floating point on my codes lol...
What about the Galfer purple ones?
@jonKranked I would stick with the stock Hayes 106 pads. I doubt the Galfer are better but Im ok if wrong on that one.
@jonKranked I would stick with the stock Hayes 106 pads. I doubt the Galfer are better but Im ok if wrong on that one.
The Galfer pro are absolutely better than the stock Hayes. They don't do the purple for the A4 (yet?)
Durability isn't great, but they work super well. I'm pretty sold on them.
According to the packaging, the purple "e-bike" pads are supposed to be more durable but have less friction than the green ones.
I’ll try those green pro ones you guys are recommending first. I used to run Galfer pads in the Hope v4 and TRP but it’s been a few seasons.
interesting, one of the two big things i noticed in switching to a4s after years of only shimano was the actual modulation.
Do the Galfs last longer than EBC Reds?
I like reds but stopped using because I was burning them in under a month. I usually use EBC Golds now but they aren’t the biteyest.
I like reds but stopped using because I was burning them in under a month. I usually use EBC Golds now but they aren’t the biteyest.
Ive used the Galfer purple, compared to TS power pads/MTX red/Gold and EDC they lack the bite
I’ve never used the Galfer purples and was told I should. I have used the TS power pads. I’m currently on Hayes 106 pads in the A4 Dominion. I’m happy with the performance but always looking for more.
What’s your favorite?
Yeah, I liked them on the Quadiem too!
The Hayes 106 are good pads, I’ve tried some MTX golds on the dominions and they worked well together.
My go to pads for most brakes are probably the TS power pads though.
So this is the only place I can think to ask this--
Anyone able to measure the dimensions on the internal c-clip used in the Quadiem levers? I don't want to disassemble a lever to take it out and measure it; if anyone has one laying around, I'd appreciate it.
Oddly, it doesn't have a part number of its own, or even show as part of a sub-assembly on TRP's own site; it's between 4 and 7 and grayed out entirely...
(Edit: Or do I just get a metric assortment of internal retaining rings from Amazon and jam in what I presume is likely an 8 or 10mm clip?)
Anyone able to measure the dimensions on the internal c-clip used in the Quadiem levers? I don't want to disassemble a lever to take it out and measure it; if anyone has one laying around, I'd appreciate it.
Oddly, it doesn't have a part number of its own, or even show as part of a sub-assembly on TRP's own site; it's between 4 and 7 and grayed out entirely...
(Edit: Or do I just get a metric assortment of internal retaining rings from Amazon and jam in what I presume is likely an 8 or 10mm clip?)
Last edited:
