which brake pads?

Next time some part of your Shimanos wears out, pick yourself up a set. That’s all you need to know really.

Strong initial bite and no dead spot in stroke are probably my current main criteria. How's the Dominions there? These are a couple of areas my Codes are a bit lacking compared to my XT's.

Galfer pads and rotors on the Shimanos make them tough to beat in comparisons. Rear brake is getting the dreaded wandering bite point despite bleeding, but still, it's the Codes that I'd replace if anything...

Posted by: Hepcat

Rear brake is getting the dreaded wandering bite point despite bleeding, but still, it's the Codes that I'd replace if anything...

I don't know how anyone can tolerate the wandering bite point - the Shimano brakes I've tried have all had this "feature" and I find it terrifying. Not sure if this is universal but its only been the rear brakes that have had this, which is how I lived to complain about shimano brakes another day... :)

I just switched the Codes off my FS bike in favour of my Saints. It's not fair to blame the performance on the brakes, it's probably the pads, but I'd freshly bled and bedded in the Saints and the power is intoxicating. 

Shimano sintered pads, 203/180 rotors, heavy anchors. 

I've got a set of Brake Authority pads for the Codes in their Aggressive compound - they tout it as max power at the expense of some pad life. 

I'll try them out on the hardtail and post if they're other than average.

Posted by: velocipedestrian

I just switched the Codes off my FS bike in favour of my Saints. It's not fair to blame the performance on the brakes, it's probably the pads, but I'd freshly bled and bedded in the Saints and the power is intoxicating.

Shimano sintered pads, 203/180 rotors, heavy anchors.

I've got a set of Brake Authority pads for the Codes in their Aggressive compound - they tout it as max power at the expense of some pad life.

I'll try them out on the hardtail and post if they're other than average.

I've got a pair of Trickstuff Power pads here to try too. Quick wearing pads might be an expensive crutch though.

But you're right, on their own the Codes are great. Love the reliability especially. It's just the A/B contrast with Shimano that makes their bite seem lacking.

Posted by: Hepcat

Strong initial bite and no dead spot in stroke are probably my current main criteria. How's the Dominions there? These are a couple of areas my Codes are a bit lacking compared to my XT's.

Galfer pads and rotors on the Shimanos make them tough to beat in comparisons. Rear brake is getting the dreaded wandering bite point despite bleeding, but still, it's the Codes that I'd replace if anything...

Vs various Shimanos, most recently XT levers and 4-pot calipers (SLX & Vee I think), MTX pads and big rotors (200’s front and rear I think):

- stronger initial bite and more power overall. I had enough power but can brake later with these, allowing me to go faster in general, and in particular when I have to do something spicy and get the bikes speed under control. The increased power has let me be more feisty in general and still control the bike after popping off of something.  I don’t seem to have any problem with modulation, which is something I’ve worried about and heard people talk about since v-brakes came out but it seems that fingers recalibrate quickly.

- no wandering brake point. I didn’t think this bothered me, until I learned how much I was subconsciously testing my brakes before I needed em. These I can trust so I’ve stopped doing any light “test pull” before I brake which has improved my riding significantly. Didn’t even know I was doing that until I got on the Dominions. 

- no fade that I can tell, but this was only occasionally a problem for me as I ride in Victoria mostly and we don’t really have extended sustained descents here. The additional power and no fade is easier on my hands on big Cumby and Doumont rides.

- not sure I’ve ever noticed a dead spot in the stroke with Shimanos, but consistent is a word I keep coming back to when describing these brakes  they always feel good and they always grab the same.  

- my rear pistons weren’t retracting so I was getting drag. Pads are pretty low and I’d never cleaned the caliper at all so no surprise there. Clean, lube and reset and they’re golden again. 

- my front lever engages way too close to the bar while the lever is already pretty far out before pulling. Pretty sure it just needs a bleed, but since they’re so powerful and reliable they ride fine this way, it’s just disconcerting to see my lever press into the grip while faffing about in the shop/parking lot. In general, I would love brake manufacturers to figure out a good way to offer independent adjustment of bite point AND lever reach but this seems to be a challenge for all of em.

🍺Thanks Tashi, great write up. Imma get a pair