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Cable-actuated disc brake upgrade

  • This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by slc.
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  • May 22, 2025 at 12:31 pm #1150381
    Alessandro

    I’ve got some TRP Spyres on my commuter bike which are perfectly capable if somewhat underwhelming. The piston of the front caliper seems to be beginning to fail meaning that one of the pads fails to fully disengage from the rotor so I’m looking to replace. While I’d love to upgrade to a fully hydraulic setup, the cost involved for what is a commuter bike means I’m going to stick with the cable-actuated ones but not sure whether to go with an exact replacement or upgrade to something like the Spyre Hy/rd. For anyone that has been through the same, is there a noticable improvement from the standard Spyres? Are there any other products that are worth considering? 

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  • May 22, 2025 at 2:34 pm #1153715
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    slc

    I went the other way. I had

    I went the other way. I had Hy/Rds for a few years (came with the bike), which I replaced with Spyres. YMMV but I found the Spyres to be a much better system. 

    1. The Hy/Rds were good with new pads, but the self-adjust never worked as well as on a conventional hydraulic brake, and got worse over time. I tried various countermeasures, inclusing LBS,  but always had to replace pads early. You have to adjust the Spyres by hand (well, 3mm hex key), but at least you can.

    2. The open hydraulic system in the Hy/Rds is unusual, and resulted in more lever throw than I would have liked. You have to be careful with barrel adjusters etc to be sure that this system is working, or you get no self-adjust at all. The calipers come with a warning about this.

    3. I’m not sure that the Hy/Rd perfromance was ever any better than the Spyres and certainly nothing like the conventional hydraulic brakes on my MTB.

    May 22, 2025 at 2:19 pm #1153713
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    andystow

    I’m running the Yokozuna

    I’m running the Yokozuna Ultimo cable actuated hydraulics on my gravel bike, which I used on LEJoG last year. They’re a big upgrade in feel and ease of adjustment from BB7 mechanicals, but not as good as even the cheap MT200 hydraulics on my commuter bike. I’d say they’re 80% of the way there, though.

    They may also sold under the Juin Tech brand, it’s unclear whether they’re identical or just coincidentally similar.

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