Pi**ed of Shigura. What should I go for?

[unclezz]

Hello!

What brakes would you go for to replace a Shigura Setup? Should I go XT calipers?

This winter I swapped the mt7 levers on both my bikes to Shimano XT levers. Magura levers are too weak in my opinion and I found them extremely inconsistent.

But I am having a lot of troubles getting a good brake power/bleeding. On one bike, after bleeding countless times, the brakes are now spot-on. But on the other bike, following the exact same process, I simply cannot get a decent brake power. Levers are spongy and the brake power is not there at all.

This is making me just hating the mt7 for how complicated they are to get proper and consistent bleeding.

Thinking now to get rid of Magura completely. Would you go for a lair of XT calipers keeping the already available XT levers? What would you do if yiu were me?

 

[Weeksy]

I'd get Mavens

 

[unclezz]

I'd get Mavens

Thanks! But they are way too expensive

 

[RSG]

Are you finding that air is still in the system somehow?

My shiguras have been absolutely spot on for the last 18 months or so - XTR levers with MT5 calipers - very consistent lever feel and barely any air in the system whatsoever when I've done lever bleeds for pad changes.

Just bought some new MT5 brakes and XTR levers to go on an upcoming bike so hoping I'll be able to get the same results.

 

[unclezz]

Are you finding that air is still in the system somehow?

This is the interesting part. I just completed one more bleeding a few minutes ago and there is absolutely no air coming out. Still, the levers feel spongy and there is an important difference in braking power between the 2 bikes, where I have the exact same setup. Even just testing without riding, it's like the pads are not gripping the discs.

At this point I really have no clue. Also on the other bike I was almost throwing them away but after the last bleeding they started to work correctly.

This is the problem with Magura every time I had to do some maintenance that required bleeding. It's such a pain in the neck. I am most probably going to buy some XT calipers and get rid of the Magura hell.

 

[RSG]

Hmm yeah that's strange.

While powerful, the calipers are a pain to work on. Still baffles me why they don't have a normal open/close bleed nipple - always ends up being a bit messy when you have to do any work on the caliper end.

 

[unclezz]

Hmm yeah that's strange.

While powerful, the calipers are a pain to work on. Still baffles me why they don't have a normal open/close bleed nipple - always ends up being a bit messy when you have to do any work on the caliper end.

I acvtually happen to learn that with Shigura it is best to bleed them with the bleeding port on the caliper completely closed. Just using the lever port. And in fact a lot of air came out using this method on the other bike (as well as on this one).

 

[cozzy]

Doesn't make sense. I found shigura as easy as saints with a simple marshy gravity bleed.
The only time i had an issue was a failing Shimano xt lever causing sponginess.
The original mt7 levers were a proper arse to bleed.

 

[unclezz]

Doesn't make sense. I found shigura as easy as saints with a simple marshy gravity bleed.
The only time i had an issue was a failing Shimano xt lever causing sponginess.
The original mt7 levers were a proper arse to bleed.

Yep, that is how it should be. But I cannot believe I have 2 out of 2 faulty levers :|

 

[Mcharza]

You can easily break the rubber (or what is the name) on a Shimano master cylinder if you try to push the caliper pistons in without opening the bleed screw on the brake lever.

 

[unclezz]

You can easily break the rubber (or what is the name) on a Shimano master cylinder if you try to push the caliper pistons in without opening the bleed screw on the brake lever.

Never did that.
I always install the funnel first

I think I am going to buy some hopetech most probably. And will have them installed by a LBS.

 

[Zed.]

Thanks! But they are way too expensive

maven bronze are sensibally priced and theres also people selling new / takeoff from pre-assembled bikes at good prices

I have Maven silver, bought new a year ago and cannot fault them

actually I'm fitting them to my norco as the shimano xt's arre dreadfull

Rich.

 

[Bikeflog]

Hello!

What brakes would you go for to replace a Shigura Setup? Should I go XT calipers?

This winter I swapped the mt7 levers on both my bikes to Shimano XT levers. Magura levers are too weak in my opinion and I found them extremely inconsistent.

But I am having a lot of troubles getting a good brake power/bleeding. On one bike, after bleeding countless times, the brakes are now spot-on. But on the other bike, following the exact same process, I simply cannot get a decent brake power. Levers are spongy and the brake power is not there at all.

This is making me just hating the mt7 for how complicated they are to get proper and consistent bleeding.

Thinking now to get rid of Magura completely. Would you go for a lair of XT calipers keeping the already available XT levers? What would you do if yiu were me?

Go straight to Dominion A4s. I left Shimano behind and haven't looked back. Heaps of power.

 

[ZetOmega]

Check out this guy,

Dale Stone

Sharing my passion for biking one adventure at a time!

www.youtube.com

These are his latest recommendations..
Budget winner is obviously the MT250, but I would personally get the Lewis LHP, i absolutely despise dot fluid and it is a dealbreaker for me, so no Hayes and no Hope

 

[whitymon]

Hayes Dominion A4, rest is a joke

In the end Dot is not that bad to use, some glove and it is okay. Never had any issue with bleed or maintenance cannot say the same something with my XT brakes

 

[ridesantacruz]

On all my bikes, since they have been coming with Sram brakes which I don't care for, I have been installing the 4 -piston Xt brakes. Good price and the brakes consistently work well. Easy to bleed and maintain.

 

[Jay Bird]

I had MT7, then switched to Saint levers for the Shagura setup, then got a new bike and went strait up Saint. Very happy with the Saints. I use MDP-R rotors and Galfer green pads. STRONG LIKE BULL! Very good on the downhill with good heat management/absorption. Easy to bleed/maintain and they make no noise, not all squeaky like those fucking MT7s !!!

 

[Sayonara]

Doesn't make sense. I found shigura as easy as saints with a simple marshy gravity bleed.
The only time i had an issue was a failing Shimano xt lever causing sponginess.
The original mt7 levers were a proper arse to bleed.

Can you explain what you mean with "simple marshy gravity bleed"?

 

[Tom Sellers]

After attempting 4 bleeds, I gave up and replaced my Magura (M2) lever with a fake Shimano 6100 from Ali Express. (This Shigura conversion requires that you get a different compression nut and T for a BH90, and use a new olive). I may have damaged the bladder in the MT2 by forcing the pistons when the bleed port was closed when replacing pads, but cannot find any replacement bladders or instructions to replace them. They do have pistons for them on Amazon for 9 bucks (or Ali for 4 bucks), so I'll probably install a new piston in the MT2, order some new Magura olives and fittings, and keep it as a backup.

 

[Mcharza]

Can you explain what you mean with "simple marshy gravity bleed"?

Here's a video of gravity bleed

 

[cozzy]

Can you explain what you mean with "simple marshy gravity bleed"?

The 'official' video.
Dave marsh, Greg minaars mechanic from the syndicate days.
No need to bugger around with syringes squeezing fluid back and forth.

 

[BikeBert]

I made Shigura brakes (Saint levers + MT5 calipers) for my wife's Specialized Levo last year. Everything worked perfectly until I bled the brakes this year before the start of the season. Two weeks later, I noticed that the rear caliper was wet and leaking brake fluid from the bleed port (under the bleed screw). The bike hasn't been ridden at all this year.

I removed and inspected the bleed screw (everything appeared fine) and reinstalled it. After applying pressure to the master cylinder, no leak was visible. However, a week later, I noticed the bleed screw was wet again and slightly leaking.

1. Any idea what might be causing the leak? Are there any steps I can take to stop it?

2. Where exactly is the sealing point of the bleed port; at the tip of the bleed screw, or at the surface of the caliper under the screw head? Was contemplating to throw an o-ring or copper washer under the bleed screw to stop the leak.

3. If I’m unable to fix the leak, is it possible to replace just the caliper without having to route the brake hose through the frame again? Can I simply unbolt the banjo and bolt the new caliper in place, or are additional parts like o-rings required?

Any input much appreciated!

 

[unclezz]

The 'official' video.
Dave marsh, Greg minaars mechanic from the syndicate days.
No need to bugger around with syringes squeezing fluid back and forth.

This is THE only way to bleed properly Shigura. But for whatever reason I needed to repeat it tens of times one of the bike and on the second bike where I am having troubles just does not seem to work... on both calipers :|

 

[unclezz]

I made Shigura brakes (Saint levers + MT5 calipers) for my wife's Specialized Levo last year. Everything worked perfectly until I bled the brakes this year before the start of the season. Two weeks later, I noticed that the rear caliper was wet and leaking brake fluid from the bleed port (under the bleed screw). The bike hasn't been ridden at all this year.

I removed and inspected the bleed screw (everything appeared fine) and reinstalled it. After applying pressure to the master cylinder, no leak was visible. However, a week later, I noticed the bleed screw was wet again and slightly leaking.

1. Any idea what might be causing the leak? Are there any steps I can take to stop it?

2. Where exactly is the sealing point of the bleed port; at the tip of the bleed screw, or at the surface of the caliper under the screw head? Was contemplating to throw an o-ring or copper washer under the bleed screw to stop the leak.

3. If I’m unable to fix the leak, is it possible to replace just the caliper without having to route the brake hose through the frame again? Can I simply unbolt the banjo and bolt the new caliper in place, or are additional parts like o-rings required?

Any input much appreciated!

View attachment 158345

1. Are you 100% sure that the leak is there? There is no rubber sealing on the bleed port of the Magira calipers and having leak in that sopecific place is extremely uncommon. Maybe try to replace only the screw. They are easily available.

2. No o-ring is needed. Actually it can be even counterproductive ad the screw will not go entirely in.

3. Yes, you can do that. Pay attention to the very small seal connected to the banjo. Of course, after you need to properly fill the system with oil and... bleed. So good luck