Nerding out on Brakes shall we? Not another tech deraliment

AnttiH
Posts
26
Joined
8/20/2024
Location
Tampere FI
6/3/2026 4:35am

So no one has actually done it?

6/3/2026 1:27pm
AnttiH wrote:

Did anyone ever remove the phenolic plastic inserts inside the caliper pistons on Hope brakes to see if it would stop the squaling?

63expert wrote:

My GR4s running green pads on 2.3mm rotors don’t squeal. 

My GR4's with the same setup  on my Test bike does, Tried a few different rotors. They've always squealed - just like the t4v4's did.Got 2...

My GR4's with the same setup  on my Test bike does, Tried a few different rotors. They've always squealed - just like the t4v4's did.
Got 2 friends running a similar setup, GR4's with TRP 2.3 R5's and they squeal. 

More than likely going back to Maven's, My b1's on the ebike are fantastic.

I’m using the Hope rotors

TSchafer
Posts
73
Joined
11/4/2014
Location
Denver, CO US
6/6/2026 9:44am

On YouTube some dude tested greasing the back of the pads on hopes, which is a terrible idea but seemed to stop the squealing for some time. His thought was it’s coming from the painted pad backs,  causing the pads to move more under braking, which I could see.

I haven’t tried removing the inserts, my T4V4s squealed but my GR4s don’t, both with hope rotors.

2
Placek
Posts
16
Joined
1/16/2015
Location
Chicago, IL US
6/9/2026 12:03pm
Placek wrote:
Well discussion with Hayess seems to be pointless."We can offer no details on adjusting those beyond that as we've no procedures on this outside of assembly."Nobody...

Well discussion with Hayess seems to be pointless.

"We can offer no details on adjusting those beyond that as we've no procedures on this outside of assembly."

Nobody has played with those settings at the same time. Even having bite point screw full "-" makes bleeding impossible. Customer should just buy and not ask. 

Replying to myself as have just ended final tests.

I've started bleed process with bite point screw fully open (counterclockwise) and was trying to move the oil between caliber and reservoir.

At the same time I was limiting the pad distance by turning that screw clockwise. One turn before full stop I noticed thet I couldn't move the oil any more which means Timing port closed (no connection between reservoir and hose).

This brings be to conclusion that bite point screw is safe to play with but only if we don't close it fully (1 turn left from close)

TheKaiser
Posts
112
Joined
11/21/2023
Location
Storrs, CT US
6/9/2026 2:04pm
TSchafer wrote:
On YouTube some dude tested greasing the back of the pads on hopes, which is a terrible idea but seemed to stop the squealing for some...

On YouTube some dude tested greasing the back of the pads on hopes, which is a terrible idea but seemed to stop the squealing for some time. His thought was it’s coming from the painted pad backs,  causing the pads to move more under braking, which I could see.

I haven’t tried removing the inserts, my T4V4s squealed but my GR4s don’t, both with hope rotors.

Grease? Or some sort of brake pad mounting compound like they sell for cars? The former really does sound like a terrible idea. The latter, I've always kind of wondered about if it could have any value for bikes. Car pads seem to be a lot more tolerant of contaminates than bikes though. I had a brake line on my truck fail, and it was literally spraying the pad and rotor on that wheel with DOT fluid every time I hit the brake for 30min, until I got home. I've never been able to successfully resuscitate a pair of contaminated bike pads, despite trying all manner of cleaners, heat, etc...but on the truck I just hit the general area with some brake cleaner, and, while it made some weird squeals on the first few stops, it quieted down and has been working normally for over a year. Someone told me that car pads are less porus than bike, so contamination does not get drawn as deep into them. I'm not sure about that, but for whatever reason, they seem a lot less affected by DOT fluid.

I tell you all that, because it could reflect on how applicable motorsport pad mounting compounds are to bikes.

1
Finkill
Posts
235
Joined
9/2/2015
Location
GB
6/10/2026 12:27am

My first set of disc brakes were Hope M4s, probably in 1999/2000. On those I recall they recommended a small amount of copper grease on the back of the pads to keep them quiet. Might work on the modern brakes also. 

1
AndehM
Posts
690
Joined
5/7/2018
Location
El Granada, CA US
Fantasy
6/10/2026 8:40am

Seems to me like if the squealing is coming from painted backs, you'd be best off sanding off the paint, rather than putting grease anywhere near the pads where it could cause contamination.

3
Ploutre
Posts
40
Joined
12/17/2012
Location
FR
6/12/2026 4:10am

Zero info on their website about these brakes ... other than the fact they are 1000€, made in Germany and supposedly powerful. Couldn't even find the pad type!

3
storm.racing
Posts
337
Joined
2/15/2022
Location
Silverton, CO US
6/12/2026 6:32am
Ploutre wrote:
Zero info on their website about these brakes ... other than the fact they are 1000€, made in Germany and supposedly powerful. Couldn't even find the...

Zero info on their website about these brakes ... other than the fact they are 1000€, made in Germany and supposedly powerful. Couldn't even find the pad type!

Yeah the lack of info was wild! I saw 4x19mm pistons and that’s it

1
thresh
Posts
125
Joined
10/18/2023
Location
San Jose, CA US
Fantasy
6/12/2026 9:26am

We've already tried closed-system brakes, and they didnt last. Let's see if this one might.

1
Sherbet
Posts
28
Joined
11/5/2014
Location
CA
6/12/2026 1:50pm
Ploutre wrote:
Zero info on their website about these brakes ... other than the fact they are 1000€, made in Germany and supposedly powerful. Couldn't even find the...

Zero info on their website about these brakes ... other than the fact they are 1000€, made in Germany and supposedly powerful. Couldn't even find the pad type!

1
Evil96
Posts
811
Joined
8/21/2014
Location
Portogruaro, VE IT
6/12/2026 6:52pm

I wouldn’t want to work on these things, plus, ugly af

2
HexonJuan
Posts
394
Joined
6/10/2015
Location
WI US
1 day ago

Second coming of the Elixir?

2
1
1 day ago
IMG 4486.png?VersionId=qiXebGXFahM3VIOU9WlIMG 4487IMG 4484.png?VersionId=SQ MKIMG 4485

The banjo on top of the caliper and in the middle of the pistons is unique. I assume that’s to get more direct and even oil flow to all the pistons in this case.? 

1
1

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