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My commuter is a Giant TCX cross bike. It's been great so far but the bearings went on the rear wheel a while ago so I swapped it for a spare. Shortly afterwards, possibly I noticed that the back brake started the traditional Shimano squeal. I wondered if it might have been due to not using an Ice Tech rotor or whether it was just micro leaks. Anyhoo, it squeals and the brake is now largely ineffectual. What are my options? I can't easily just swap the brake out as it's a drop bar so a brifter. It's also internally routed so would be a bit of a pain to replace. Could I/should I just replace the caliper? If so, what with? it's currently a BR-RS405 if that makes any difference. Any thoughts or suggestions gladly received.
squeals and the brake is now largely ineffectual
Certainly does sound like a leaky one. Any Shimano flatmount caliper can replace it. GRX? (though they do seem to be twice the price of your RS405)
I've a brand new grx caliper in the box that I no longer need
Don't bother replacing it with another Shimano caliper, it will only micro leak again at some point, I've had so many Shimano caliper's micro leak over the years
Get a Hope RX2 or RX4+ caliper
They are around twice the price (£80) of a replacement Shimano BR-RS405 caliper (£40) but they are rebuildable so can be repaired if you were ever to have any issues and can be had 2nd hand on ebay for around £60-£70 for a pair
Shimano use mineral oil and Hope use DOT…
I’ve run Hope RX4 for about 3 years with Ultegra R8020 shifters.
Initial setup was a faff and I must’ve had a bad batch as both leaked oil from the seals in first use. But since warranty replacement (speedy Hope service as usual) they’ve been brilliant, far better than Shimano performance. They’re definitely noisy, in what I find to be the normal Hope way - a high pitched screech, not due to contamination.
Shimano use mineral oil and Hope use DOT…
As already said Hope make two different versions of the RX2 & RX4 calipers, one for mineral oil and one for DOT fluid