Magura 4 pads – what’s the difference?

Magura seem to offer two types of pads for their 4 piston calipers. Either 4 individual small pads or two larger pads. Does anyone know the difference? I can see the larger pads are retained by the backing shape while the individual pads have pins. Other than that is one better than they other (looking at the performance material in both).

I have had both different types of pad and noticed no difference, I just put Uber race matrix pads in now which are two pads rather than four as wood braking as genuine but half the cost.

^ we run Uber race matrix too.

We can’t tell difference between 4 or 2 pads either.

Ok, thanks. Think I’ll stick with what’s already fitted then which is the larger size. They feel good so why change.

Hmmm, I’ve got MT7s front and rear and they were supplied with 4 small pads so I just replaced with the same type.

Are you guys saying I could use the two larger pads instead?

I’m curious as I’ll need to buy some more pads soon and more choice is a good thing when supplies are COVID disrupted!

I had to replace my Magura pads this week. The best I could find at a reasonable price was on ebay. Highonbikes have a good selection at a great price.

@markgraylish the larger pad has hooks that go over the caliper body. I wonder if they may be more likely to scratch the finish (and therefore give a start for the whole finish to flake off) than the 4 pads which use the pins.

The 4 pads can be removed & installed from above. And use the T25 bolts to secure them. Those are the main benefits for me.
IIRC the 2 pads from below only because of the bridge on the caliper.

@nixie good point. I’ll stick with 4 pads (assuming I can find them)

@markgraylish Merlin have stock. Ordered some today.

@bergig both useful benefits. Changed my mind and went with the four pads.

I thought the two pads came with the mt5 and the 4 with the mt7. Though both will fit either.

New to Magura so this is quite helpful
The bleeding takes some getting used to though

I use the 2 pads from Uberbike, currently on sintered but will try race matrix in the summer when it’s a bit drier. Not noticed any difference between 2 and 4 pad versions.

@hainman if you are on Instagram, check out Australian mechanic Brad Kelly (beekay77) as he’s got some really good tips for bleeding Magura that make it a doddle. His workshop pro tips and toolkits are worth following him for too.

Do any of you guys use the two syringe system with a hole in the lever syringe
Seen a couple of videos with folk putting holes in the syringe to either create a vacuum or to stop oil flowing out when you remove
Also the amount of oil that seeps out the caliper when you remove the syringe,doesn’t that affect the bleed at all?

Do any of you guys use the two syringe system with a hole in the lever syringe
Seen a couple of videos with folk putting holes in the syringe to either create a vacuum or to stop oil flowing out when you remove

Do you have a link to the videos because I cannot imagine how this is supposed to work.

I’m interested in what that is too.

They are a slightly different technique to bleed, the couple of times we’ve done it (after crashes/new parts) its taken a couple of goes, but we seem to know do it ok.

I use a bleed cup on the master, syringe on the bottom. Push up, pull down 4-5 times, plug the cup to create airlock, remove syringe and close port on caliper. Unplug cup, few lever flicks. Plug and remove cup, put a tiny drop extra fluid in bleed port and insert screw. Gets a perfect bleed every time.

The big thing is to ensure the master cylinder bleed screw is at the highest point.

I’m hoping not to need to do a bleed for a while though will have a look at the videos. Still need to shorten the rear hose a bit more but I think I might get a crows foot for my tourque wrench first as it made a horrible noise the first time I reattached the hose!

One annoyance I did find this week is with the coloured calipers cover kit (yes colour match tart). These are clearly setup for the brake sets with the same caliper front and rear. For the mt trail mixed sets you end up having to buy two packs 😠 and are left with loads you don’t need. Grrr, hopefully there are enough people wanting red, purple or bright pink caps on eBay to soften the blow.

I’m a bit too late to help, but Tarty Bikes sell individual and pairs of coloured Magura caps so you don’t need to buy a full kit of different colours.

Thanks, not sure how I missed that when searching. Purple OOS at the moment so don’t feel quite so annoyed.