Best Hydraulic Disk Brakes for MTB - Recommendations?

[Corey]

Thanks for the tips on the brands.
I see a lot of the high end bikes using the Avid Elixers, so I figured they were way better than the Juicys.

So, the noise I hear with the Juicy 3s is pretty normal then?
I have a long way to go before the pads need replacing, I wonder if it would be worth getting the metallic ones over the organic they come with?

My Rockhopper Pro is an '09 model that came with them, but I still see 2010 bikes such as 29er Gary Fishers coming with the Juicy 3s too.

 

[DirtyDog]

I had Hayes El Caminos and those were the worst brakes I have ever had. I recently demo'd a bike with Strokers and while they were better, I wasn't impressed with the stopping power, lever shape or overall quality.

My main bike has had Avid Juicy Ultimates for the last year or so and they are by far the best brake I have ever used. Powerful, maintenance free, perfect lever shape, there really isn't anything bad I can say about them.

 

[SirCampalot]

The Avid Juicy 7 gets my vote. Absolutely love them on my C-dale. :victory:

 

[TCM]

I run Hope Mono Mini brakes on my Maverick ML-7. They are built like a tank and work great. If I were to consider another manufacture it would be Shimano only, either XT or XTR.

 

[Cody1771]

im really partail to the Hayes Hydraulics. ive been running them since 2002 so i know them very well... never had ANY issues at all with them

 

[bigreen505]

My dad has a high end Hayes on his bike and I absolutely love them. Not sure of the exact model. Very powerful, easy to modulate, easy to maintain and adjust.

My sister has Avid Juicy 5 on her bike and I'm not too keen on them. They seem to lack both power and modulation and are very difficult to adjust and get dialed in.

I have Avid Juicy 7 on the front and am pretty happy. They are very fiddly to adjust, but great once dialed in. I started with the 160 rotor and was not happy with them. I bumped up the front to 185 and that made a huge different. We're all running stock pads.

FWIW, I'm only running a disc on the front and V-brake on the back. I will probably convert to a disc on the back eventually, but it is a pretty big expense (frame, wheel, brakes).

 

[1speedlos]

I'm still using a 1st gen XT, and have never had any problems with it. When I raced DH in Colorado, I used Hayes, and only had minor issues. But to be honest, after 16 years of working as a bike mechanic, I'd say the only modern brakes I'd really shy away from are Maguras. That's based entirely on their high maintenance, not performance.
On my next bike, which will be an expedition-minded Surly Pugsley, I'll be using BB7s. Sure, the pads aren't the longest lasting, and they can be a bit noisy, but it's tough to beat their field-serviceability.
Really depends on your needs. Major braking power, light weight, too much cash in your wallet? Try the Formulas.
All-'round XC, sustainability an issue? Shimano SLX/XT/XTR.
Gonna be out in the woods far away from everything? Avid BB3/5/7.
It's a good time to be a mountain biker. There's an embarrassment of quality gear out there.

Los

 

[Corey]

It's a good time to be a mountain biker. There's an embarrassment of quality gear out there.

Los

My new 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro is lightyears ahead of my old Raleigh aluminum Killer Instinct 18 speed I bought new back in '88.

Very impressed with the build of it.
This is my first new bike since the old one, and I just got back into the sport after not riding in ten years or so.