[keen]

Looking @ these two brakesets ? What's the difference on the levers / calipers ? Thanx

 

[lyndonchen]

I have both. There's not a lot of difference between them. On the lever end, the XT has the free stroke adjustment, and the lever itself feels like it's made of solid metal (probably hollow though), while the SLX lever is made of bent sheet and feels a little cheaper. On the caliper end, the XT is a monoblock design while the SLX is two-piece. The pads on the XT are secured with an easy-to-use threaded rod, while the SLX uses a cotter pin.

Other than that, not much difference. Weight-wise they're almost the same (my SLX set was actually lighter but it might have been due to different length hoses). I like the XT better, but only by a hair. I'd go for SLX if the price difference was significant.

 

[Tinshield]

The XT's suck in the cold. I wonder if the SLX's are better in that regard?

 

[keen]

I called Shimano today and they said the biggest difference had to do w/ weight - 100g plus on the SLX's.

 

[crazylax42]

don't the slx's come with worse pads or something like that?

from bikeradar:
"The latest resin pads aren’t as brutally powerful as XT sintereds, but they’re lasting well and help keep the brake happy on long-dragging descents. It’s signi? cantly cheaper than XT, too, and while it lacks bite-point adjustment, general consistency of braking has been greatly improved so far and the levers are a better shape."

 

[AznRider]

SLX comes in resin pads, they share the same as XTs. I am currently using hybrid resin/XT metalic front and rear and so far they work pretty well. My understanding is the XT calipers should be stiffer bcoz of the monoblock design.
Come to thnk of it, the XT is well worth the xtra cost because if you were to buy the SLX and upgrade to the XT metalic pads the cost would prolly be almost the same so why not get the XT in the 1st place.

 

[lyndonchen]

Come to thnk of it, the XT is well worth the xtra cost because if you were to buy the SLX and upgrade to the XT metalic pads the cost would prolly be almost the same so why not get the XT in the 1st place.

Do all sets of XT's come with metallic pads? Mine came with metallic in the front, resin in the rear.

Tinshield, my XT's suck in the cold too. So far, the SLX's haven't had the same problem, but I've only had them a short while and this is only the beginning of winter. I heard that Shimano revised the rubber seals on the XT's after the first complaints came in, so I assume that current XT should be good.

 

[AznRider]

Hmm..i never knew XT had metal/resin combo.....very odd. Anyway i am runnin resin/metal combo r/l,l/r front and rear(bite/durability combo).