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Submitted by
pierre bourgon
a Cross Country Rider
from cornwall, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | trails around cornwall | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay, used | | Strengths: | stops better than the Hayes nine brakes on my Secialised Bighit Expert FR bike. no squeal once toed in properly. attactive | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Deore V brakes:not nearly as good as XT | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC 2002 Manitou Super Axel fork Bontager lite saddle & Mustang rims Deore OE crankset, Brake levers, STX RC 8spd shifters Sora BB, 12-21 cassette Haro gooseneck, 90mm 25deg all other parts XT, Dart& Smoke 2.1
cool stop brake pads. thats all the local shop had | | Bottom Line: | these brakes rule. I was stunned when I realized that they actually outperformed the hydro brakes on my FR bike | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chaz c
a Weekend Warrior
from ridgefield, NJ USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Stops well. Servicable. Fully adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | THE SQUEAL. Weight. High maintenance. | | Bike Setup: | Ibis XT Thompson Race Face Easton | | Bottom Line: | Just finished servicing the front and rear. Used the shims in the XT maintanance kit, regreased, and replaced shimano stock pads with salmon colored koolstops (very nice). stops well with no front squeal and rear grind. wondering how long the silence is going to last. going to go with avids or pauls next time. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Local store | | Strengths: | These brakes stop the bike well if you really have to stop. I'm still on my first set of pads - the ear splitting screech that you get if you put your fingers anywhere near the lever is such that you only want them in an absolute emergency. You don't need to fit a bell to warn folks you're coming - they heard you half and hour ago. | | Weaknesses: | See above. | | Bottom Line: | I haven't got the noise sorted out yet. After reading some of the other posts here I might try something a bit drastic to get it fixed. If that doesn't work I'm thinking about buying a new bike soon anyway.
I'm glad I looked at this forum - I was starting to think that my bike fixing skills had gone to horses**t but it looks like I'm not alone in my woes. My bike was built pretty much from scratch so I thought I'd screwed it up somewhere along the way. Maybe this isn't the case after all.......
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Cross Country Rider
from Genoa City, WI
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | I solved the front brake squealing problem by toeing out the pads. I know it defies logic, but that was the recommendation from a local bike mechanic. Loosen the pads, put rubber bands on the forward end of them, and then adjust, tighten, and remove the bands. I was amazed at the results. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Hallidays Point, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Good power | | Weaknesses: | Brake squeal - but it is fixable. The squeal is caused by movement in the linkages allowing the brake shoe to rapidly move back and forward making the noise. There may be pad and rim variables as well but it is not simply poor setup that causes the problem. I think you have to be lucky to get a "tight" set to avoid the noise. Fortunately the brake can be dismantled - remove from the bike, pop off the plastic covers over the pivots, undo the tiny grub screws that hold in the bushing and push out the 2 bushings. You could use shims to remove the play between the arms and the "saddle" but I simply put the saddle in a vice and gently compressed it until the arm was a firm fit then reassembled the brake. It takes about 15 mins per side. You need to compress the saddle gently as its only aluminium. All bolts must also be tight. I think if you do this you will fix the noise even with shoes in a neutral position. Good luck. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid | | Bike Setup: | Specialized MTB Tandem | | Bottom Line: | A good brake let down by its squeal but you can tighten them up as above to fix it. I tried Koolstops but they actually made the problem worse - OK now after the above surgery. If you dont own these you probably can get others that will work as well and not have to worry about this but if you already own them you have not much to lose trying my fix. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eneko Golinski
a Weekend Warrior
from Basque Country (Spain)
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Local dealer | | Strengths: | Breaking power | | Weaknesses: | Front brake noise | | Similar Products Used: | Older cantilever brakes | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Bad Boy, Shimano XT (2000?) | | Bottom Line: | After 1 year using this brakes, I'm still trying to shut up my front brake. Now I'm going to try Kool Stop shoes, and I hope noise will, at least, reduce.
I installed the brakes myself, but don't think it's my fault. It seems that almost everybody has the same problem, specially with the front brake.
Anyway... I love the breaking power this brakes have. Just one BIG problem: I'm becoming a psycho biker too... and that's because I try to avoid using the front brake unless is unevitable.
So I'm decided: if I can't shut up the brake, I'll consider installing disk brakes in the fron wheel.
A final question... what is saying Shimano about this? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light weight, effective, great modulation, a doddle to maintain, robust build quality.
| | Weaknesses: | Occasional squeal, loss of effectiveness in extremely wet conditions. | | Similar Products Used: | LX v's. Discs on friends bike. | | Bike Setup: | '99 Mount Vision. Fox Vanilla fork @ 100mm. Continental Verticals. Easton and WCS finishing kit. King headset. | | Bottom Line: | I have been using these brakes for nearly six years now as they came with the bike's full XT groupset. Shimano pads have been swapped out for Kool Stops. As conditions in Western Australia are very dry and dusty for 80% of the year and only very rarely do we experience extremely wet rides in the rainy season, these humble V's have proved to be very capable stoppers.
Indeed what ultimately determines braking performance locally is tyre choice. The Verts seem tailor made for us!
Yes, they do howl occasionally (zip-ties around the parralellogram go some way to addressring this) and require two finger braking but they stop the bike as effectively as discs in loose conditions.
However disc brakes also screech, disc brake levers have an awful tendency to creep towards the handle-bars (Hayes HFX 9's!!!) and people that use them frequently grumble about set-up, bleeding the system, and pad wear and choice.
I shall not consider discs until my currant (and completely original) wheelset dies, the gremlins have been largely sorted out and the price comes down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
roland
a
from slc, ut
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | good power | | Weaknesses: | Noice...Noise ...Noise | | Similar Products Used: | Avid 5.0 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR | | Bottom Line: | Good brakes with the exception of the noise issues. This prevents me from recommending them. It is THAT loud. Better yet, buy two sets. S&&t on the first set and cover it up with the second set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
el ray
a
from someplace in the midwest
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | i suppose these brakes haven't caused me or my family any real physical harm...my pulse and sperm count are still normal | | Weaknesses: | when you squeeze the brake lever in an attempt to apply the brakes, pandora's box opens and all the evils in the world are unleashed upon my unsuspecting eardrums | | Similar Products Used: | fingernails on a chalkboard, nails in a blender, jamming a manual transmission car into reverse at 60 mph | | Bike Setup: | xc racing hardtail; long-travel fork | | Bottom Line: | it's funny - the more you toe these breakpads in, the worse the blood-chilling ear drilling becomes. i actually "heal"-ed in my rear brake pads and toed in 1 front and levelled the other front to produce the least amount of ear pillaging possible...if you have these brakes and haven't already found yourself curled in the bathtub in the fetal position reciting stairway to heaven backwards, try messing the the brake pads until the dentist drill becomes less piercing. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cicada The Insect Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Beauty Big Hill fire trail going up | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | They stop very well on the rear. (Very easy to adjust on the rear) | | Weaknesses: | On the front a design flaw causes vibration problems that result in hideous screaming, squealing and zero modulation.
On the front brake, screeeeech free pad alignment can only be achieved on the 7th day of the 7th month in the 7th year after a sacrificing 3 XTR rear derailleurs and a Dura-Ace equipped titanium road bike in a sacred fire fuelled by 7 kevlar race tires. | | Similar Products Used: | hmmmm the most similar product to this I've seen is a 3yr old throwing an tantrum because mommy will not by them a toy at the supermarket. Although that is a soothing melody compared to the noise my XT front brakes make. | | Bike Setup: | Giant AXT 890 with Bombers. | | Bottom Line: | pifffft get a certified bike mechanic to adjust your pads.... come on this is basic bike maintenance at best, not rocket science. Don’t take any notice of the people who keep saying “you don’t know how to adjust your pads and get a pro to do it, yudda yudda yudda......” I asked around a few very highly regarded bike shops and they all said it’s a known problem with the newer XT brakes on the front, and that there is no real solution.
The fact is on the front, on 90% of bikes these things will squeal and vibrate like all the demons of all the hellish dimentions of the universe have possessed you brake pads and are having a party in there
I’m running the worst possible combination for the noise factor with my brakes. Bomber forks and Mavic rims with the machined side walls.
I’ve been setting up riding and racing Mountain Bikes for 10 years... I know what I’m doing and no amount of *#$&ing around with the pad alignment will result in squeal free breaking for more than a few hours of dry ride time, (or 10 mins in the wet). As soon as the mystical perfect amount of toe-in wears away it’s back to the hideous screeeeeeching.
I’ve tried all the solutions mentioned. I find a massive amount of toe in is the best solution. Obviously this will FUBAR your pads in no time and the noise comes back quick.
I also get the best results (for noise not stopping power) with very cheap $10 Jagwire pads, the rubber compound is as hard as a cats head and its reduced grip adds to the modulation and prevents the sudden grip-release-grip shuddering that causes the hideous squealing noise with these breaks.
How the ..... did these things ever make it past RnD.
BTW it gets worse as the breaks get older.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
simo
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | a shop | | Strengths: | typical shimano build quality | | Weaknesses: | over engineered, and boy do they squeel. Dogs howl, sheep flee, horses bolt, grannies have heart attacks. | | Similar Products Used: | dia compes, shimano LX (don't squeel- how comes?) | | Bike Setup: | turner xc with xt throughout | | Bottom Line: | i really wanted to love these brakes- before i put them on the bike that is. everything people say below is true, only more so. until you have heard the sound these brakes you can't quite believe it. It's enough to make you take your hands off the brakes- equalling no stopping power. sheesh. however I have managed to cure them. how? changed to fibrax pads (little change), and MOVED THE ARMS FURTHER APART. you do this with the spacers provided for the brakepad holders and it seems to do the trick. apparently it makes the brakes stronger the further apart the arms are. either that or i'm just lucky. try it, you never know. i've never had any problems with shimano gear before, i only hope someone fell on their sword over these things back at hq..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hardcore
a Downhiller
from Germany
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Die Rinne | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Strengths: | You get fast because they don't work.
Its name is not brake, it's fake!!! | | Weaknesses: | The paralelogram flew away while trialing along. Glad that I was just jumping around in my garden. Had not a long walk home. Squeeky. Dirty cables like all non-hydraulic brakes. | | Similar Products Used: | DX-Cantilevers, Maguras, Avids, LX-V's
Tested Gustav M, Hayes and Hope. | | Bike Setup: | GT ZASKAR
cool stuff | | Bottom Line: | If you have some, dismantle them, then your bike loses weight. Brakepower? What power? Take Magura or disks but stay away from this paralelogram things. It suxxx! Friends of V's take Avid SingleDigit 20. Cheap and working acceptable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennisd
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Brockville | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | -POWERFUL
-Easy pad replacement
-Light | | Weaknesses: | -Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | AceraX cantis, LX, ProMax, etc.
| | Bike Setup: | Enduro '01 Sport | | Bottom Line: | I have a couple of riding buddies who have been using XT V brakes for years. They've never had a problem with all of this squealing nonsense. I know because I ride with them. Apparently, the problem really is with improper installation and brake pad wear. A word of advice to all of you home mechanics out there who think they can install their own brakes: don't.
XT V brakes really do need to be installed by a CERTIFIED bike mechanic. Also the pads need to be replaced on a fairly regular basis. Don't forget that these are performance oriented brakes. If you're getting a squealing noise after three or four months of riding then guess what? You're pads are worn out! For God's sakes replace them. If they still squeal, then they were improperly installed to begin with.
As for people with AMP or Girvin forks, well there's your problem right there. Those things twist like a piece of long underwear in the wind. Advice: Get a real fork.
I've just installed a new set of XT's a month ago and I've had zero problems. These things blow away just about any other V out there. Massive power, great modulation, an excellent design. They're also very light. XT's properly set up, really do rival disc brakes, yes even in mud (with machined rims of course).
Lookit, if you buy a Ferrari or a Porsche then you've got to take care it. Same thing with any performance orented system. I love these brakes. My only beef: they are a little pricey, but they're still a much cheaper alternative than a decent set of discs.
'nuff said. Get these.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes on Broadway | | Bottom Line: | The $1500 is for my GT Zaskar. I'm really writing this to help others with the extremely annoying squeal. My fronts squealed like a stuck pig until I installed a brake booster. Zero squeal after that.
I was quite happy with the XT's stopping power - until I tried disk brakes. No contest after that. The v-brakes are great in perfect conditions, but our trails are muddy 10 months a year!! Did I mention that v-brakes don't work at all in the snow?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain View
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | squeal | | Similar Products Used: | '97 XT, Avid SD Mag, Avid, SD Ti, catis | | Bike Setup: | full XT | | Bottom Line: | These came on a new bike that I purchased. I was very disappointed. I had an old set of XT v-brakes (1997) and they were decent brakes but the linkage wore out after 3 yers of riding. I opted for Avids and have been very happy with them. The new XT's are significantly worse than the '97 technology. The front brake squeals like crazy, and I've tried my best to quiet it. After two rides I purchased another set of Avids. In general I think Shimano makes good quality products. This is not one of them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Better than LX's for stopping power and adjust well | | Weaknesses: | Fronts squeal like mad. | | Similar Products Used: | STX, LX | | Bike Setup: | Marin Hardtail with XT components (well with the exception of the front brake that was changed back to LX) | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line: These brakes do squeal on some bike set-ups. I like Shimano components but these missed the mark IMHO. Use either LX or upgrade all the way to the XTR's. It is common knowledge that this problem exists so ignore the posts that say they're incorrectly adjusted. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuart
a Weekend Warrior
from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | s57 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Got them off a friend who hated them | | Strengths: | Look good, durable, easy to adjust | | Weaknesses: | Squeeeeal, constant adjustment is needed, should be more powerful | | Similar Products Used: | STX RC, LX V | | Bike Setup: | Giant ATX 900 | | Bottom Line: | Don't bother with these brakes. I got them form my friend because I believed they would be a better brake than the STX RC's I was running. They are not. Though they are easier to adjust and give your more adjustment options, this is cancelled out by the requirement to constantly adjust them to try and get rid of squeeal. They are not much more powerful than the STX RC's either, in fact I have not noticed it. They do have better modulation however. If I had pay money I'd be extremely p!$$ed off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edwin
a Cross Country Rider
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike2build | | Bottom Line: | Ahhhhhhhhhhhh,
changed to Avid and no more squeal.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Allen
a
from Edmonds, WA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Light weight with better modulation than the LX | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | LX V-brake, canti's, Hayes | | Bike Setup: | Cross max rims | | Bottom Line: | I have never gotten so much as a peep out of these things and I've run a number of different rims and pad compounds. V brakes are meant to run with no toe-in. If your brakes squeek adjust the pads to a neutral position, de-glaze the pads and the rims, use the right pad compound for your rims. If you feel a shimmy check wheel to see if its true and see if the brakes are tight on the bosses. Even Shimano wears out. The bushing go bad in a couple of years and its time to get new brakes. Simple as that. There may be better brakes out there, certainly hydraulics are more powerful, but the XT's are good brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Otter Creek Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | What can I say, the brakes work well. | | Weaknesses: | None really, except maybe the Shimano price tag. There are equivalents for less if you can live without the Shimano name. The only time ive ever encountered brake squeal with these brakes is when they were wet or the rims were dirty. Nothing a little alcohol or different pads couldnt change. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid Single 5,7, Shimano XTR | | Bike Setup: | Trek OCLV | | Bottom Line: | They are good brakes. Ive never agreed with Shimano's prices, but who can argue against a monopoly. You get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Carrboro, NC
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | In an earlier review I said "stops the bike", but... | | Weaknesses: | I replaced the front XT with Avid because of the squeal, but left the on the rear. Big mistake. The tip of the noodle stripped off on a particularly nasty downhill section near the start of a trail in Pisgah. Long story short: I'm over the bars, my rear wheel gets trashed, and my weekend ride in the mountains is over. I'm pretty certain brakes are not supposed to work this way.. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler / XT | | Bottom Line: | Dump the XT and go with Avid, Cane Creek, pretty much anything else. The only reason I'm not really ticked off at Shimano is that I had already purchased a new Avid SD7(?), but was too lazy to replace what I knew was a crappy rear XT brake before I left town. I'll add one Chili to the rating to make up for my own stupidity... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain View
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | Good stopping power | | Weaknesses: | Wear's out | | Similar Products Used: | cantilevers | | Bike Setup: | full XT Bontrager | | Bottom Line: | My bike has slightly older XT v-brakes. They worked great from day one. However, here it is 3 1/2 years later and the front brakes are shot. There's a lot of play (1/2 inch) in them now. It's time to get new ones. I'm not buying a new set with linkage (Shimano) that will wear, going to try Avid. I have cantilevers on a bike from 93 that have no play. Why did the v-breaks wear out so quick?
Great when new, but plan on buying new ones often. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger
a Weekend Warrior
from Springfield, Il Sangamon
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | THE BOTTOM LINE.......
Im a bike mechanic and I can assure you the XT V brake only squels because most likely it just needs to be adjusted about the only other reason would be that you put some funky pads on it that have previously been on something else. However if you put this system on your bike new then it only needs some adjusting to eliminate the problem.I realize not everybody who has a few tools is a mechanic and the best thing you can do is admit that to yourself if your haveing trouble take it to a bike shop if they cant get it to stop take it somwhere else because they suck AND THATS THE BOTTOM LINE
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
XtremeRider
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Putnam Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | FREE | | Strengths: | Great Stopping Power..Especially when you need it! | | Weaknesses: | Lots of Play on the caliper..Poor design..who cares they STOP when needed | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale XT/LX setup-Judy XL shock | | Bottom Line: | These brakes work when you need it..BOTTEM LINE!! if you have problems with lock up>learn how to Brake! and those complaining about Squeaking>Get a descent pair of brake pads! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Watlon FL USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | Ok people I dont own these brakes but I read a review that worried the crap out of me. The said he put oil on his brake pads to stop the squeeking, DO NOT DO THIS!!!! If you are haveing problems with squeeky brakes the problem is probably that the rubber has gone hard or that the surface of the pads have gotten glazed. If the pads look glazed(hard shiney looking surface layer) get some coarse sand paper and sand this layer off. If the pads have gotten old and gone hard just replace them with softer brake pads. Most of your compliants I'm reading have nothing to do with the break mechanism at all, its all in the brake pads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Pickett
a Cross Country Rider
from oakley
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | rockville | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Delta Freewheeler | | Strengths: | Excellent brakes, great modulation compared to squishy XTR's | | Weaknesses: | original pads eat up your rims so i got the WTB catridge replacement pads which is the best thing for the brake set | | Similar Products Used: | XTR's LX Tektro | | Bike Setup: | Ritchey NITI frame Manitou SX TI fork lx XT group | | Bottom Line: | XT brakes with WTB pads is the way to go if you seriously thinking about XTR's, get a set of brake boosters it will make them feel more positive | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from PA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Red/White, French Creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Strengths: | Good stopping power. Easy adjustability. Close machining tolerances (not close enough?). | | Weaknesses: | The front brakes squeal and wail worse than a red-headed stepchild being whooped on with a leather belt (ceramic Mavic UST system with Koolstop ceramic pads). And I *KNOW* how to set up brakes. The rear is sound-free, as bizarre as that might seem. | | Similar Products Used: | Avid SD 2.5, LX | | Bottom Line: | I ended up putting the Avids back on the front, and the XT in the rear. Net result was good braking balance and no squeals. But I think it really sucks that the front is such a noisemaker, regardless of pad/alignment combo. There is CLEARLY a design flaw that needs to be dealt with. I'm going to see if Shimano will refund me for the unused set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Smurf
a Weekend Warrior
from ON
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | It stops the bike. | | Weaknesses: | Fear that parts will snap or break when there is a dying need to stop to 0Mph from 60Mph, on a dime (-: | | Similar Products Used: | lx cantis, xt cantis | | Bike Setup: | XT gruppo | | Bottom Line: | What's wrong with you guys? Brake Squeeling is related to poor braking system knowledge. A good mech will know what to do in this situation. If you brought the bike to a friendly bike shop, they might even do it for free, since it is so simple. In anycase, I have been using this XT-V system for three years now, and the only caution about them is that they are so light, and that at times when I'm at speed, I am afraid that they might not stop well. But they do!!! One concern I 've always had with this system is that it seems flimsy-- the arms are long and thin, and seemingly made with weight reduction in mind. The brake lever , for instance is a very paltry lever and it gives a reason to prey that they won't snap. Otherwise, it is a very good system. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Mill Valley
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | they work well | | Weaknesses: | squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeky | | Bottom Line: | I alsohave tried many things to make them stop squeling. I refuse to give up and I think I will try the posted advice of reverse toe in and smooth on the other side. Never give up. These are expensive brand name brakes that are going to sto squeling if they are adjusted enough times. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob
a Cross Country Rider
from mass
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | severed dick | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | family bike | | Strengths: | modulation and stopping power(sometimes) | | Weaknesses: | These brakes squeal like a pig getting slaudered.I have tries everything, the brakes just don't stop, the only thing that stops the squealing is oiling the break pads and that kills the power and when the oil drys, o sh**, these brakes suck, i wish i payed the exta $ for XTR</ |
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