This is mostly out of curiosity, but I've tried running Shimano Saint/Zee metal pads on 200mm Sram centerline rotors. It works but as they really heat up, you start getting this annoying metal on metal grinding noise. Then I tried NOS Hayes 224mm rotors just for the fun of it. That worked better but again, once you drag those brakes down an extended descent, you start getting that grinding noise as well. I figure they worked better because they didn't heat up as much due to the larger diameter. As soon as I went back to Shimano 203mm rotors, everything is silent.
I can't imagine Shimano has some sort of special formula for their brake pads. The Shimano rotors I went back to were also ice-tech so I think that's the reason why.
I can't imagine Shimano has some sort of special formula for their brake pads. The Shimano rotors I went back to were also ice-tech so I think that's the reason why.
