Sram Level Ultimate vs Shimano XTR

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

On 10/9/2019 at 6:43 PM, DieselnDust said:

Squishy? SRAM isn't squishy. What you feel is lever flex as you apply more pressure. You would be well over the bars if you pulled the brake lever that hard out on the trail.

Shimano doesn't produce as much pressure and it's peak pressure comes in almost immediately before it falls away.

 

SRAM unreliable? Yikes is avid juicy issues from 12 years ago still the reference point? I've had plenty SRAM brakes and all worked reliably and delivered a lot of braking power. Seal rollback issues are caused by people using brake cleaner in a Dot system. Seal swell results. It's a user induced problem.

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but found this interesting.

I had my Level ULT's serviced/bled at a reputable LBS just before R2TS. Rear were fading before so I though good idea to get it done by the experts. Brakes worked beautifully afterwards.

Come R2TS... I have not touched the rear brake for 80km's. At the halfway point I pull both levers when I stopped. This is where the problem start. Rear binding, lever very spongy till about halfway. Tried cooling it done. Nothing. Rode like that for another 20km's before it came loose again.

Everyone seems to suggest "swollen seals". Not sure if it is in the lever or caliper.

This comment seems to suggest I caused it. Please let me know what I should do to avoid this from happening again.

  

[ajnkzn]

My new bike has Level ULT Stealth 4 piston brakes with 180mm front and 160mm rear, new SRAM centreline rotors.

 

They suck.

 

Have been bled, new pads etc etc and they are mushy and need a hard squeeze to lock up.

 

Compared to the G2 RE I have on my trail bike (also 4 piston with 180 / 160mm rotors) they aren't even close to as good.

 

My bike shop knows what they're doing so I doubt there's a user / service error issue.- I have heard that the new Level ULT's aren't great - would be good to hear from others if theirs are better?

[BaGearA]

2 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

My new bike has Level ULT Stealth 4 piston brakes with 180mm front and 160mm rear, new SRAM centreline rotors.

 

They suck.

 

Have been bled, new pads etc etc and they are mushy and need a hard squeeze to lock up.

 

Compared to the G2 RE I have on my trail bike (also 4 piston with 180 / 160mm rotors) they aren't even close to as good.

 

My bike shop knows what they're doing so I doubt there's a user / service error issue.- I have heard that the new Level ULT's aren't great - would be good to hear from others if theirs are better?

Very limited experience but I found them super powerful. try new pads and rotors or just different ones to rule out any contaminants 

[droo]

39 minutes ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but found this interesting.

I had my Level ULT's serviced/bled at a reputable LBS just before R2TS. Rear were fading before so I though good idea to get it done by the experts. Brakes worked beautifully afterwards.

Come R2TS... I have not touched the rear brake for 80km's. At the halfway point I pull both levers when I stopped. This is where the problem start. Rear binding, lever very spongy till about halfway. Tried cooling it done. Nothing. Rode like that for another 20km's before it came loose again.

Everyone seems to suggest "swollen seals". Not sure if it is in the lever or caliper.

This comment seems to suggest I caused it. Please let me know what I should do to avoid this from happening again.

  

Lever rebuild time. Could be a number of reasons for it, but in my experience it's mostly just not bleeding them often enough, and even if you do it'll still need new pistons eventually.

At least with the SRAM levers you can get spares. Shimano you'll be replacing the whole lever.

[droo]

10 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

Very limited experience but I found them super powerful. try new pads and rotors or just different ones to rule out any contaminants 

I've had mixed experiences with the Levels. Some sets are great, some are pants. Still haven't figured out why.

[DieselnDust]

44 minutes ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but found this interesting.

I had my Level ULT's serviced/bled at a reputable LBS just before R2TS. Rear were fading before so I though good idea to get it done by the experts. Brakes worked beautifully afterwards.

Come R2TS... I have not touched the rear brake for 80km's. At the halfway point I pull both levers when I stopped. This is where the problem start. Rear binding, lever very spongy till about halfway. Tried cooling it done. Nothing. Rode like that for another 20km's before it came loose again.

Everyone seems to suggest "swollen seals". Not sure if it is in the lever or caliper.

This comment seems to suggest I caused it. Please let me know what I should do to avoid this from happening again.

  

This does seem like a seal problem in the master cyclinder. The calipers don’t really have any issues, it’s most often in the MS. How old are the brakes and what was the conditions like for R2TS?

have the brakes returned to normal function since?

Edited May 22 by DieselnDust

[BaGearA]

15 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

Very limited experience but I found them super powerful. try new pads and rotors or just different ones to rule out any contaminants 

EDIT here 

 

I'm talking about the new level4 pots , and it was the ultimate 

 

I'm very aware of how crap the low level levers(R/RS) feel but that's applicable to all sram brakes after a year or so 

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

4 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

This does seem like a seal problem in the master cyclinder. The calipers don’t really have any issues, it’s most often in the MS. How old are the brakes and what was the conditions like for R2TS?

have the brakes returned to normal function since?

Bought the bike with them on, so not sure of age. Seller said they were about a year old, and I bought the bike about 6 months ago. Guessing around 2 years or so.

It was hot during the event, but only later on. This was around 10am. Probably around 26-28 degrees at that time.

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

10 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

This does seem like a seal problem in the master cyclinder. The calipers don’t really have any issues, it’s most often in the MS. How old are the brakes and what was the conditions like for R2TS?

have the brakes returned to normal function since?

Yes, they seem to be working normally again, although the lever does feel like the last 5mm or so it returns a little slower than the front lever it I pull and leave it to return on its own.

[DieselnDust]

9 minutes ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Yes, they seem to be working normally again, although the lever does feel like the last 5mm or so it returns a little slower than the front lever it I pull and leave it to return on its own.

Definitely a lever issue. If the serial number is in line with units recalled CCS will likely replace with updated version. Chat to @droo offline or contact Devon at Cape Cycle Systems.