Has anyone ever heard of someone mixing one brand’s disc brake lever with another? I have some problems with my new XTR disc brakes (180mm for front and 160mm back). Although I am only 57kg, the rear brakes start dragging after a few minutes of downhill riding. The front calipers pistons seem to be sticking now. After only three months of riding, this is the result. I’m an experienced rider who rode the same trails for years without any problems with v-brakes. However, I love the XTR levers and don’t want to give them up, but the calipers are a bit lacking. Can I switch to another brand of caliper while keeping the XTR levers intact? Is it possible to use a caliper that is designed for DOT 5 with Shimanos mineral oils?
A. RC. That’s funny. My 07 XTR brakes have also been prone to intermittent dragging. It is a bad idea to switch calipers with other brands. The first reason is that the diameters and caliper pistons in the master cylinder and lever pistons are correct to provide the right clamping force for the brake pads. The brake’s performance will be affected if either the master cylinder or the caliper pistons are changed in any way. You also know that each system is made to work with one type fluid. Mixing and matching can lead to death. There are some good matches between brands. If one knew the internals of each system well, one might be able to find a compatible mate for your mineral oil-based levers. The good news for you is that all Shimano levers work with all brakes. You may be able to use your 07 levers with an older style XTR or Deore XT caliper.
