SRAM or Hayes, help me decide!

It looks like you have tried most other brakes so go with the Hayes, I have been using the dominion A4 for the last two years and been very happy with the power and performance they give. Galfer green pads work well for me also as I couldn't get hold of OEM easily.

Not sure what bike you are fitting them to but Ive heard mixed reports about the Hayes fitting some frames due to the diameter of the hose being slightly wider than others.

Another left field recommendation from me would be the TRP DHR Evo. I had a set on my levo and Im a big lad and was seriously impressed with them. Lots of modulation and some serious stopping power.

I know you said about not wanting to try the newer versions of Hopes but Ive switched to some Tech 4 V4 and to be honest they are bloody awesome and even more powerful than the TRP (Same disc size)

Fitting to a sentinel which doesnt have internal routing so should be all good for any diameter hosing but something to consider if/when I eventually get something different.

BITD Hayes had a bit of a rep for poor quality control which I think in part was a reason they fell off the radar for most folks I think. The Dominion had some pretty good reviews when it came out , what 4-5 years ago now, but I don't think I'd want to be a beta tester to see if they've improved their QC, although TBF, I've not heard any horror stories either, so maybe they've got better.

Either way, Code RSC are known quantity, they're good brakes, I think I'd go that way rather than try something unknown 'just because'

The dominions are excellent - you could buy a set with confidence in performance / longevity. That said, if you're happy with how the codes have been over five years might just stick with them and get a new set? You know their characteristics / maintenance etc so if this is all very solid there's a lot to be said for reliable brakes.

I've found Code RSCs to be excellent brakes. No problems so I wouldn't think about anything else when it came to replacing them.

Yeahh my thoughts were stick with what I know in terms of bleeding them etc. only issue with the code's has been the stupid bite point wheel which gets stuck and then can't be moved without a full lever strip. The code stealth supposedly are the same internally but there have been some comments about how the cables sit when you dont have internally routed rubbish.

The TRP sound like they got a good review from nsmb but not sure something that OTT is required especially considering they're quite a portly weight compared to the Hayes and SRAM.

I've run the same set of Hayes Dominion for 5 years now. I tried Shimano, Hope V4, TRP Quad, Codes before the Dominion and there's no contest. I ride week in, week out (chairlift 20minutes ride from my house) and they've been faultless. Just in the last month the rear has developed a slight leak in one of the rear pistons but they're fully serviceable with a kit from Hayes. I consider that pretty great reliability given the abuse they've had. Only downside is not many pad options.

I'm a big fan of if it works and I'm happy with it is with sticking with what I've had.

Been running Saints on most of the bikes and can't fault them. Code RSCs came on the Levo and tried them before swapping out and they are still on 2 years later, cant fault them.

Got a set of MT7s on one bike and no matter what's been done they don't seem as powerful as the others

I've got Hayes and code RSC.

I prefer the feel and power of the Hayes, but I'm slightly worried about parts availability.

A bit of a curve ball, but the Sram Guide RE can be bought for less than £100 a set.  Same rotors for you too?   I upgraded from Guide Trail and the RE are a very strong brake.  Got some Galfer pads in mine which are very good and it’s entirely possible to do a front wheel skid with very little input.

Hate to say it, but almost disposable at that price…

IME TRP and Magura Trail Sports are vgvfm.

If needing all out lovely feeling big bike brakes quadiems on 180mm rotors + if wanting .

TRP Slates too are great brakes for the little monies

Code's are the update on the Guide RE's, but having both, I'd not suggest there any power difference, just the ease of bleeding (code have the bleeding edge port). Though I did spot Stiff have the Guide Ultimate brakeset for £250 with disc's, which seemed a decent price

SRAM for gearing though no chance I'd trust SRAM for braking.

Better chance dragging heels

Heard nothing but praise for the Hayes, but this vid put me right off, quality seems very low

Warning - extremely verbose video with an INCREIBLY long winded ratings section

Not much of a Code fan, have a bike with the new ones, not impressed with the power

Hope – Had plenty of sets but I’ve found the quality/performance has gone downhill

really?  not heard that from anywhere else - what are the issues?

SRAM Codes on most bikes, with the new stealth silver on the SL ebike. Moved away from Shimano some time ago. Work fine for me.

A bit of silicone spray on the freestroke adjuster seems to keep it moving for me.

Formula Cura 4 😉

I've gone for classified/Pinkbike for exactly this. People take new unused sets off bikes due to preferences so there are some unused sets to be had.
FWIW and I dont know why but RSC G2 brake lever feel improved massively after fitting Magura 2mm discs.

The little spinny bite adjuster is annoying as it sticks but careful use of pliers unsticks it and then a drop of oil or spray WD40... Bleeding Edge tool is an absolute win.

@b33k34 had a few of their BB's last weeks before becoming creaky. As fancy as they look the colour fades and then they look crap. I ran the tech 3 e4 for two Whistler trips and on the second trip doing some double black diamonds they were completely overwhelmed and I knew they wouldn't get me out of mess. (But I'm sure they're more than adequate for 100% of UK riding but on the off trip chance I'd rather be more than covered)

I prefer the feel and power of the Hayes, but I’m slightly worried about parts availability.

Got Dominion A4 on a bike and like the brakes but for sure spare pads, hoses and fittings are a little more trouble to find.

I'm not a fan of SRAM brakes as the lever shape and the feel of the brake isn't to my taste but if they are what you like you're probably safest sticking with them.

Put Hayes Dominon A4's on my hardtail build 3 and a bit years ago, yet to develop a single issue with them. So impressed with them I replaced the Zees (and their constant wandering bite point) with Hayes on the full-suss and haven't looked back.

Best brakes I've ever run, superb. I'd also give a worthy nod to the Formula Cura 2's on my old, old hardtail. They've been almost trouble free in around 6/7 years use too. Haven't quite got the same out and out stopping power as the A4's but it's really close. I'd have no concerns sticking them onto a 'big bike' and doing the 'Ardrock on them for instance.

3 sets of Hayes across 3 bikes. Oldest set are 4yrs old, and apart from occasional squeaky rear lever when hot and dusty (e.g. hot day in Morzine), they are bloody brilliant. Best with Original sintered pads, Galfer greens a v close second place.

Seems hard to find bits for the Hayes too, they don't seen to make a matchmaker thingy for the left side, only the right. Olives were near impossible to find at one point when I needed one to shorten a hose for a friend.

A bit of a curve ball, but the Sram Guide RE

You lose the SC bit of the lever though, which is what makes them feel good. I actually have code calipers with Guide Ultimate & RSC levers on my 2 bikes and they are excellent, effectively a Guide RE-SC I guess.

@Golfchick

. I ran the tech 3 e4 for two Whistler trips and on the second trip doing some double black diamonds they were completely overwhelmed and I knew they wouldn’t get me out of mess. (But I’m sure they’re more than adequate for 100% of UK riding but on the off trip chance I’d rather be more than covered)

I ran Tech3 E4 for years with a lot of uplifted riding and long descents. They were fine most of the time but I learnt 1) bleed before a trip.  2) after 4 uplifted holidays in 2 years they needed seal replacement 3) Discs wear out.  You're supposed to replace at 1.5mm - I had real trouble when mine had got below 1.2

I've been running Codes the last few years and really like them but considering Tech4 e4 at the moment.

Hayes was top of my list, but like honourablegeorge I watched that video last week. Not sure I'd want to get anywhere near them now. He doesn't even need to say anything, the quality speaks for itself. Bit mystified as to why Hayes still use such soft metal for the bolts and fittings. They were using wensleydale for bolts 15+ years ago with the Strokers, people still complaining about it now with Dominions.

I do like the Guide RE. Couldn't tell you why, given they have the same pads and rotors, but my REs have been noticeably more powerful than my Codes. Lever feel is nicer than Codes to me.

Biketart have got Code RSC for £130 each at the moment.

They were using wensleydale for bolts 15+ years ago with the Strokers

It still makes me LOL that they called a brake the "stroker", would have been great on a Cove frame.

Anyway, I don't have anything useful to add to the thread, as I'm trapped in a marriage of convenience with Shimano brakes.

Very happy with Hayes A4s here.

Plenty of people moved from various (including Code RSCs) to Hayes, but I doubt you'd find anyone who moved in the other direction and stuck with it.

There wasn't a UK distributor for a while after Hotlines stopped, but Hayes Europe have been very helpful for me when I needed fittings.

Heard nothing but praise for the Hayes, but this vid put me right off, quality seems very low

I don't have 22 minutes to spare, what/when is the issue?

@arogers

Just in the last month the rear has developed a slight leak in one of the rear pistons

Just been looking on the Hayes site, might be worth getting in touch with them as they say:

Nothing says consistency like a Lifetime Leakproof Warranty and Hayes are proud to offer one as a testament to their confidence in such a well-engineered product.

Enduro magazine recently did a new brake group test with all the technical stats, well worth a look.

bikesandboots

I don’t have 22 minutes to spare, what/when is the issue?

Both calipers had seized pad pins out of the box, the two sides of the calipers so mismatched that one had been machined to shape, the other hadn't (still mismatched), both calipers developed leaks.

Just looked a good product let down by poor quality.
.

Would be a shame if they've let manufacturing standards slip. Mine are 2 years old and no such issues.

I watched a good chunk of the video and all the issues he mentioned have significantly put me off. Look like the type of brakes that you either land on your feet with or dont and just dont look too closely anywhere. People mentioning the risk of spare parts etc. does concern me and one of the main points I loathe shimano brakes.

Think I'll probably end up sticking with the codes as it's a known quantity, I dont like being a tester and just want something that works consistently.

GolfChick

I watched a good chunk of the video

I cant imagine anyone has seen it all.... when he starts doing ratings.....

I was close to buying the Hayes a few times, but not being able to find the shifter mounts and other stuff put me off initially, this vid has me looking at Hope Tech 4 instead

Had codes hope etc on hayes now and love them.

Hayes for me, better power and control than Shimano. Magura or Sram.

There wasn’t a UK distributor for a while after Hotlines stopped, but Hayes Europe have been very helpful for me when I needed fittings.

Ison Distribution have taken over distribution in the UK, and to be fair, already seem to be keeping good stock of spare parts... They are one of the better distributors in the trade in my experience too, certainly a lot better than the previous distributor was at looking after spare parts and warranty for their brands than the previous distributor ever was!

I swapped from XT to Code Silver and think they’re incredible. Don’t understand the SRAM hate.

Lever feel is so much better. Much better bite point than the XT. Then the added modulation.

Good bleed, and use the R3Pro caliper alignment tool and get the pistons advancing equally.

Spencer from freehub magazine, says they are even better than RSC and a big difference. But if he didn’t like RSC but does the Stealth it must say something.

I won’t really comment on Hayes, but I wouldn’t buy them after seeing the review by Dale. Had enough of Shimano because of their weepy pistons. Along with the mismatched finish, and the caliper halves not lining up right.

Enduro magazine recently did a new brake group test with all the technical stats, well worth a look.

They've done a few of these grouptests now and I do find the lab results interesting. Codes consistently perform comparatively poorly, generating a lot of heat and applying a lot of pressure for a resulting braking torque well behind most others on test. It would be easy to think Codes are a match for most other 4 piston brakes on the market, and Mavens must be on a whole new level. Well, that's not what lab results indicate. Obviously lab results don't tell the whole story, but interesting anyway.

I’d already read the enduro mag group review but as is always the issue with these things is that it’s not a ‘six month long group review’. Also if I was any of the contenders I’m sure I would be contacted to say ‘we’re doing a group review send us your brakes’, I’d certainly check very thoroughly as to what I was sending. I didn’t study the stats too much because I take more stock from the feel of real people, the machines are supposed to push them to their absolute limit which at 63kgs won’t be me!

I cant imagine anyone has seen it all…. when he starts doing ratings…..

Haha.

I happened to watch it the other day before this thread, and yes - I tuned out and switched it off about 2/3rds the way through.

Tough one.

The Codes are decent I think. I ran the RSC's for years without any complaints, in the end they went the same way as yours, constant maintenance required. If you like them, then another set will serve you well.

I got a set of Hope V4 in Jan to try, and love them, then another set last month for my other bike. I prefer them to the Codes - more power and modulation. The main annoyance is that they do feel better at the lever with the ridiculous vented rotors, which is more money/weight. Also you'll need new mounts because the V4 caliper is about the same size as my cat. Bleeding is messier than Codes, but not horrendous. The lever shape and feel is quite different to the Codes, which may or may not be for you, and irritatingly there's only one way to find out!

My very limited experience with the Hayes (bouncing round on someone else's bike in a car park) is that they feel a little closer to Codes than Hopes in terms of lever shape and modulation too. They felt nice and I'm sure I'd get on with them if they're reliable.

Lots of good options really on the plus side.

I used to have Code RSC's, liked them although always had a bit of pad drag. Now got Hayes, they're like the RSC's but more of everything. Including pad drag, squealing and maintenance. Great when they're not making odd noises. Just like the RSC's were.

 Don’t understand the SRAM hate.

Because, BITD Avid (before they got a name change*) had just as many QC issues that Hayes did, and that shit puts folks off for life when it comes to stuff like brakes. Plus there's always feel and lever shape preferences and what have you. I was prepared not to like them as well, but (to my surprise) both my current bikes have SRAM brakes. I think these days, apart from the well known Shimano fading issue, whatever you choose is probably going to be OK.

*SRAM don't normally change the names of brands they acquire - see Rock Shox, Truativ, Zipp, Hammerhead more recently, and yet they did with Avid for mountain bike brakes…You've got to wonder why.

Got Dominion A4 on a bike and like the brakes but for sure spare pads, hoses and fittings are a little more trouble to find.

Shimano hoses fit.

Just been looking on the Hayes site, might be worth getting in touch with them as they say:

Nothing says consistency like a Lifetime Leakproof Warranty and Hayes are proud to offer one as a testament to their confidence in such a well-engineered product.

Thank you. I did try that route but the NZ agent wanted me to send the whole brake to be inspected and they admitted they didn't actually have the seal kit in stock to replace it. I opted to order the kit from elsewhere rather than be without my brake/bike for weeks. Admittedly this isn't a great ad for the brakes/brand but I don't mind much since I've done nothing but the occasional bleed in 5 years. I also bought them when seemingly nobody else wanted them so paid £120 for a full set of F+R, so I've had my money's worth and then some!

Shimano hoses fit

Good to know.  I did snap up some dirt cheap Lifeline ones as CRC went under but haven’t tried them yet.

Also loving the Hayes A4. Best brakes I've used. Tweed Valley Bikes seem to stock a range of parts now.

I've a new unused set of rsc's that I've swapped off my new bike.

We have two sets of Hayes A4s and two sets of Cura4s. The power on the Hayes is awesome with a very light lever feel. The hose is thicker and a bit of a squeeze in the fork crown clamp but went OK in the internally routed bike. The Curas are on my bike and are great as well but maybe not as much power but a small tad.

Sram piston kits for calipers are much cheaper than new brakes. Ive changed a few in the past and they feel like new again.

£12.49 per caliper from here:

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/sram-guide-r-rs-rsc-piston/136474108/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=5068505&country=uk&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwgpCzBhBhEiwAOSQWQZ6mi0f67gyrt0SwqNCCvIZ11ibkuV1LB3mwgLokRV_zmXvnAyH1bhoCg0wQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds