My brakes (especially the rear one) seem to constantly rub, no matter how carefully I set them up. They're well-bled with very little squidgyness when the pads have contacted.
The lever moves about 1/3 – 1/2 way from "open" to hitting the handlebar in total. I'm thinking if I took a little fluid out (causing the levers to move more), the cylinders might retract more. Right?
If so, how's best to get a bit of fluid out so they won't need re-bleeding?
Cheers

hmmm what xt brakes are they? New ones m775 ones or older ones? Reason i ask is because i had rubbing issues with elixir especially and hope tech x2's amongst other things and the xt have got by far via greatest clearance i have encountered the wheels runs constantly free and spin for ages even with new pads! You sure your wheels are not out of true or something similar? Causing a catch on every rotation? Honestly the xt's have great great clearance, with new pads i can see clearly down either side of the rotor!

Sounds like you have a sticky piston. Check to see that both are moving together at the same rate. If one of them is sticking, remove the pads, clean around the pistons, and drop a wee bit of oil around the seals.

I had the same problem a couple of days ago. I took the pads out gave them a good clean with disc brake cleaner, and also sprayed the inside of the caliper and the disc. I then put the yellow bleed block that came with the brakes, to push the pistons (cylinders) right back. I then put the pads and wheel back on, and centralised the caliper on the mount.

But i'm guessing you've already done that???

They're older M765s. Thinking about it, I am using Hope rotors, would that make a difference?
The front is actually ok, the rear has a constant rubbing (with a little pulsing so I guess the rotor is slightly bent)

Toaster – tried re-aligning.
I'll go and give it a bit of a clean now and let you know…

ah sorry then dont know about older ones, but as said previous, the clearance is cracking on the newer ones, even if i had a wonky wheel i reckon it still wouldnt catch!

Too much fluid?

Sure you don't have some warped rotors? I got a second hand pair of rotors and they were ever so slightly warped making them rub no matter how much fiddling we did.

Bought a new pair of spider rotors for the new wheelset I built, the front new rotor kept rubbing for the first half hour of the first ride. After a few hard pulls on the brake the rotor started running free without a problem.

Can't say the same of three versions of Avids I had every single one of which from new it kept rubbing no matter what.

Well, rotor seems straight, pistons both moving equally and withdrawing fully. All I can assume is the Hope rotor and the Superstar Sintered pads are slightly thicker than the Shimano versions. So what's needed for the next check is a few screamingly long descents, then I'll check after that. Darn, the things we have to do… 🙂
Thanks all

Are they hope floating rotors? Sometimes they have clearance issues and need a little material removing from the calliper.

oh, and have the frame mounts been faced? if they're very wonky then there's little you can do.