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sorting out my brother's bike, which has XT (prob 2006 or so) single piston (OK, one each side if you prefer, but not 4 pot 😉 ) brakes with flippy shifter levers
They seem a bit gutless to me - decent firm lever feel, not spongy etc and don't pull to the bar but not masses of power (never used shimano brakes, I'm used to juicy and BB7 BOTH of which offer more stoppage)
I'm about 14.5 stone & they're 160 discs. I normally use 185, sometimes 203 on the front. WOuld small rotors make THAT much difference ?
I filed the pads (they looked a bit glazed), cleaned the rotors and razzed up & down a hill to try to make them work. The back only just locks, and that's if I lean forwards while the front never, ever feels like I might lock it or even endo really (unless I lean right forwards again). There's very gradual onset - no real bite (though I guess you might call that modulation ??)
(they didn't get hot really, certainly not overheated; they didn't pump up and they didn't go soft)
Is this right, or should they be better ?
u iz a fat bastad
I'm about 14.5 stone & they're 160 discs. I normally use 185, sometimes 203 on the front. WOuld small rotors make THAT much difference ?
Bigger rotors do make a fair difference. I consider 160 on the front too small, and I'm under 12 stone!
But with decent sized rotors, they're not bad brakes. Might need a bleed, new pads possibly, but they work ok.
Pads contaminated with oil?
😳 😥u iz a fat bastad
wondered about oil on the pads - I did skim off quite a layer with a file, hoped that might remove any contamination
I doubt they've ever been bled, but wouldn't that mostly cause sponginess or pump-up rather than general weakness ?
Cheers all - carry on the good work !
I've some XT 160's similar vintage on my Roadrat and they don't come near the 182mm HopeM4's I have on my mountain bikes...
My 03/04 vintage Deore's can stop me on a dime, and will lock the back wheel up without any problems at all. Try a bleed, see what happens
They're not very powerful with the 160mm rotors.If you want to make them work better, stick a 180mm on the front and fit some SLX levers, give much improved bite and power.
Ive got Xt brakes. Been crap from day one. Fit and forget my arse. Found out today that the bleed nipple is now leaking which would explain the brake level travelling to the bars after every ride. On to an old deore caliper now just for tomorrows race whilst I get a new caliper ordered. Sick of them now!
I've had XT brakes for the last eight years. Never had to bleed them or carry out any maintenance beyond rubber-bands-on-the brake handles-overnight twice in all when they got a bit spongey and change the pads at regular intervals. Work as good now as they did when I bought them.
Fabulous. 
Mine are also fine (08 vintage) definitely as good as the Juicy 7s on my other bike. Pads sound contaminated.
The 160 discs are pretty feeble. 180s are hugely better. The GF has XTs with 160s and they are crap, I have 2 sets of XTs with 180s and they are great.
hmmmmmm,
He's a lot lighter than me - and he didn't actually complain about the brakes. Might just leave well alone.
You should still have the power to easily lock the back wheel with 160 discs.
Try some new pads.
this sounds to me like a classic case of
'i oil my chain by spinning the cranks while i aim a splattery can of spray lube at the cassette'
Clean the discs with warm water and fairy liquid, then rinse with warm water.
bin the pads, they sound screwed.
and then show your brother how to oil his chain without getting any on his disc.
I've got similar vintage LXs on both bikes and they're both excellent. Sounds like something is wrong
The GF has XTs with 160s and they are crap, I have 2 sets of XTs with 180s and they are great.
You won't go from crap to great with a 20mm increase in disk size - there's something wrong with your GF's.
Any brake should be able to lock a back wheel with one finger. If you can't do that, something is very wrong.
My V's on my HT lock the back wheel at any time. Your XT's should be much betterer.
dicky - i'll be happy to take those XT brakes off your hands for you...
(i can fix the leaky bleed nipple with a bit of plumbers ptfe tape)
so looking on the www, seems that all the relevant pads are resin (ie not sintered) - is that right? Do they wear OK in mud/wet ?
Do they wear OK in mud/wet ?
Yeah, really well. 100% to 0 in about 20 minutes... 😯
Resin pads should be grippier though, so something's not right
u iz a fat bastard
Rob, he may not be fat but made of pure muscle hope he never meets you as he may kick yo ass mo fo! Or if he is fat he could sit on you! 😉
I've got some 2009's with 160s front and back. They are very powerful and easily lock the wheels.
I suggest you get them looked at by a decent mechanic so as to identify the problem.
GB