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Do many people do this? I keep reading the brake threads and wonder if there's any reason not to run a stronger brake on the front and a lighter brake at the back - e.g. a Zee at the front and XT at the back, or an E4 and an X2 say. The front does most of the work, and the back wheel doesn't need such a strong brake. Save a bit of weight, save a bit of cash perhaps. That's what the brakes are like on motorbikes, so why not an mountain bikes? New bikes come with whatever's specced but other than that they tend to be sold individually so easy enough to do. Different levers would probably bug me aesthetically but that's easily avoided.
I have two different levers on my bike. Barely holding it together with the OCD.
One place i saw was selling hopes in a "set" E4/X2, possibly identical levers.
Seemed sensible at the time. Why would you need a full on brake on the back of your bike, you can't put that much load through the tyre.
Pretty sure some of the pros run the smallest rear disk they can get away with (on some courses, not all)
Being done...
Magura have just done this with their new trail brakes. 4 pot up front 2 pot at the back.
My OCD cannot accept this.
As for the not having as powerful a brake at the back, isnt that why folk run a smaller rotor on the rear?
motorbikes don't tend to have brake dragging mincers holding holding the brakes for 10mins at a time. A sizeable rear brake is good for keeping a lid on the heat (most DH bikes are 203mm front and rear) but the caliper can probably be downsized to a 2-pot or whatever.
mostly OCD though
bit of a faff having two different sets of pads needed and if different makes, possibly two bleed kits / methods
Quite possibly, but going to a tiddly XC caliper and not going quite so small on the disc might be a more practical solution than DH caliper and tiny disc.As for the not having as powerful a brake at the back, isnt that why folk run a smaller rotor on the rear?
For XC it's pretty pointless, i've got 160/140 on mine and haven't managed to run out of brakes, or overheat. And i'm not sure i can get smaller calipers than what i'm using.....
Zee and Deore here to go with the different rim widths and Schwalbe/Maxxis tyre combo
I just don't GAS!
I used to run a smaller disc at the back (as do many others) to give the rear a bit less bite but I prefer matching brakes now. I like to be able to use the same pads and a brake that has good modulation (I have Hope M4 and E4) is still fine with lots of power on tap at the back (especially on a full-sus that doesn't suffer excessive brake squat).
The last thing you want when you're put of your depth and turn into a brake dragging mincer is a rear brake that can't handle the heat! 😉
bit of a faff having two different sets of pads needed and if different makes, possibly two bleed kits / methods
This. I used to run a Mono M4 on the front and a mini on the back. Balance was spot on, no overheating issues, but having 2 sets of pads to keep stocked up was a pain.
did this when I got my heckler wayyyy back, m4 front, mini rear seemed like a good idea at the time in reality not worth the effort, plus the mini overheated quite a lot. If the pads are the same for a 4pot/2pot setup then maybe, but a weedy rear brake isn't a great idea, even if you're not a brake dragging mincer* when things get slippery you use a lot more rear.
*I'll decline to answer
So long as the lever feel is the same, I quite like the idea of having a stronger brake on the front & a weaker, perhaps lighter one out back.
i've mixed brakes before
previous bikes have had hope mini mono front/magura julie rear
hayes9 front/formula b4 rear
my last set of brakes were a pair of zee front and slx rear
current set up is now zee front and rear....oh how my OCD suffered these last few years!
Running a Deore up front and SLX at the rear, levers look a lot alike so not too bad
I have Saint caliper front and SLX/XT rear on both bikes, with SLX levers on one bike and XT levers on the other. Works well. Was debating putting a Saint on the rear as well for an Alps trip later this year but can't be bothered with the faff and will just upsize the disc to counter overheating risk when in mince/drag mode.
you are too far ahead of me for me to be able to answer conclusively but the squealing brake suggests you are 😉*I'll decline to answer
I've got an M4 front and Mono mini at the rear. Been on there for close to a decade and works great. F&R M4 and big discs on an Inbred would have been absurd.
Matching levers though.
I'd love a Saint calliper for the front. Currently XT.
I've done it in the past - generally smaller rotor of the same brand and model brake.
Can't say I noticed any real difference.
J
Can't say I noticed any real difference.
I think you're missing the point 🙂
I used to have a pair of LX discs. The rear dies, and is now a Deore.
Until the front one dies, I see no reason to waste scant bike budget resources getting my brakes to match, when I am actually a pretty useless rider in any event.
I can deal with different size discs. I can deal with a four pot on the front and two pot on the back if they're from the same manufacturer and at least look similar. I couldn't deal with different brake levers/master cylinders, that would just upset me too much.
I've got Zees on my bouncy bike (203/180) and SLXs on my hardtail (203/180).
I can deal with different size discs. I can deal with a four pot on the front and two pot on the back if they're from the same manufacturer and at least look similar. I couldn't deal with different brake levers/master cylinders, that would just upset me too much.
+1
I tried different levers once, never again, I just couldn't cope with the fact that they felt different!
That would trouble me too, and the calupers would have to be the same ale and same colour as a minimum.
I can deal with a four pot on the front and two pot on the back if they're from the same manufacturer and at least look similar. I couldn't deal with different brake levers/master cylinders, that would just upset me too much.
This, though I do have a Hope Tech on one end of the bike and a Hope Tech Evo on the other.