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Variable bite point...
 

Variable bite point/unreliable Hope Tech4 V4

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Anyone else having issues with these?  I've been using Hope forever and never had any issues like these before.  They've always been completely reliable until the seals get cooked after a LOT of heavy use on uplifted holidays.  This bikes only a 18 months old and I've been off with injuries for much of that.  Front was bled in March, and the rear only about a month ago. I've never had issues with bleed quality on hope's in the past so I assume I know what I'm doing. 

I'm getting variable bite point and having to adjust the reach/BP to not pull to the bars.  The rear I tried yesterday and it pulled to the bars and needed a few pumps to activate. 

no sign of any lost fluid (on levers or calipers). 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 9:36 am
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Had issues with my front and a riding buddy , sent them back to Hope the master cylinder had been machined incorrectly , replacement zero issues


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 9:44 am
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air below the diaphragm in the reservoir and/or not centralised as hope recommend???

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:10 am
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Posted by: tjagain

air below the diaphragm in the reservoir and/or not centralised as hope recommend???

 

Not centralised on the disc? I set them up using the hope 3D print block which seems to align them really well. 

I'm rolling the seal onto the lever body in exactly the same way I always have. 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:54 am
tjagain reacted
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I've found similar with mine and have found that they take a bit more fiddling to set up than other hope brakes. I figure it's in part because the leverage ratio is greater than previous models so small changes get magnified in lever feel but I think the lever shape also has a part to play.

Things that helped mine were using the narrower bleed block for 1.8-2mm rotors, tweaking the caliper alignment, frequently checking piston movement and adjusting when needed (see hope videos), and running the bike point further out than I did previously. But yeah, they take more fiddling than tech 3s.

It seems like the GR4s have solved a lot of this inconsistency, there must be someone around who has good experience of them both by now.

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:38 pm
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Are your pistons centralised?

Essential for getting a firm and consistent lever feel with Hopes.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:45 pm
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I'm with Steve - only problem I have had is if the caliper is not perfectly centralised / pistons equal.
My e4's are less fussy. Tr4's on g/fs bike seems fussy like the V4 but just takes a bit of time and keeping an eye on.
Hope service is amazing and quick so could send them too them?


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 5:39 pm
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Ditch them and buy some Shimanos


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 8:54 pm
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Posted by: Matt_SS_xc

Hope service is amazing and quick so could send them too them?

it is, and I've had brakes refreshed by them before but internal routing on an e-bike via the headset without full internal tubing means removing and refitting the rear brake is not something you want to do if you can possibly avoid it (I guess one option is leaving the hose in the bike and just returning the lever and caliper)

 


 
Posted : 28/05/2026 11:40 am
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Posted by: scotroutes

Ditch them and buy some Shimanos

Hard to disagree with this. I've had Hopes in the past and liked them, but having recently fitted (outgoing model) XTR's and (new model) XT's to a couple of bikes - the power and ease of bleeding makes me just want to buy them for my next bike, even though I fancy the bling of Hopes. Reading this thread just compounds that

 


 
Posted : 28/05/2026 11:45 am
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Two sets of Hope here. Tech 4 E4 and the new TR4.

Pretty much braking perfection.

Shimano are dead to me.


 
Posted : 28/05/2026 1:45 pm
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Posted by: scotroutes

Ditch them and buy some Shimanos

LOLing at this as a solution for wandering bite point. We've come full circle

 

 


 
Posted : 28/05/2026 2:02 pm
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I find they get a bit variable when the pads start wearing down. 2 years in now, pending their 2nd service bleed, but they're okay otherwise so far. I find them better than codes. On par with Hayes dominion, but have better lever adjustment options.


 
Posted : 31/05/2026 9:35 pm
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What thickness of rotors are you using? How much pad thickness is left?


 
Posted : 01/06/2026 8:36 am
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Posted by: kelvin

What thickness of rotors are you using? How much pad thickness is left?

How worn are the rotors.  I find when they get too worse, the brakes start feeling crap, regardless of the pads.

Also, w.r.t. bleed on the rear, on some frames the mount makes the bleed nipple ever so slightly lower than the rear pair of pistons.  This makes the rear pistons the high point for any residual air in the system and that bit harder to remove.

 


 
Posted : 01/06/2026 9:57 am