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campbesl
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Brake Rotor Upgrade?
11/23/17 at 12:59pm
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I have the Shimano BR-M355 brakes with 160mm rotors. I'm wondering if performance would be noticeably improved upgrading to larger rotors ; 180 or 203mm?  If so, what hardware is needed for the upgrade?

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Enoch
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #1 - 11/23/17 at 1:25pm
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A bigger rotor wont necessarily give you more power. If you can lock up the wheel with what you have it will be about the same with larger rotors. It does make the power you have more manageable. Think more "Leverage". I always run a larger rotor on the front.
  
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Banjopickin
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #2 - 11/23/17 at 1:30pm
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What pads are you running? Resin or metallic?

Metallic pads can give you more bite vs Resin. That ends giving you more "power" but they can also be noisy. 

A bigger rotor up front is nice too. Especially if you're a heavier rider on steeper stuff.
  
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Advocat wrote on 08/22/13 at 5:16pm:
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #3 - 11/23/17 at 9:43pm
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I went from 160mm rotors to 180mm and love it.  The larger rotors provide a more linear feel and the brakes do give better performance before locking up.  My brakes are Shimano SLX and the Change to the larger rotors made me stop thinking about upgrading to a better brake set.  Considering the cost of $15 per rotor and $5 for the adapters it was well worth the money
  
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campbesl
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #4 - 11/24/17 at 12:34pm
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As Banjo suggested, I am a fat ba$tard so I'll take your advice and make the upgrade front and rear. Any idea of what part number adapters are required?

Also, experience with the Shimano Ice Tech rotors? Worth the extra money or go with the standard?
  
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #5 - 11/24/17 at 2:02pm
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IMO Ice Tech ain't worth it...

You just need a 180 post mount adapter from shimano

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Advocat wrote on 08/22/13 at 5:16pm:
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #6 - 11/24/17 at 2:10pm
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Agreed about ice tech too.  I went with the standard rotors
  
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #7 - 11/24/17 at 2:45pm
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It could all be marketing mumbo jumbo but I believe I've seen that the ice Tech's do lower temperature versus other standard rotors in some test done by some outside companies.  I believe the one below was hired by Shimano though.   

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campbesl
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #8 - 11/24/17 at 4:26pm
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Thanks for all the input and links!

Okay, so here is another high tech question:
If going from 160mm to 180mm is good, is going 160 to 203mm even better?
  
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Banjopickin
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #9 - 11/24/17 at 10:02pm
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campbesl wrote on 11/24/17 at 4:26pm:
Thanks for all the input and links!

Okay, so here is another high tech question:
If going from 160mm to 180mm is good, is going 160 to 203mm even better?



No.
  
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Advocat wrote on 08/22/13 at 5:16pm:
...packin some Chub in the back of the pick-up.


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campbesl
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #10 - 11/25/17 at 3:11am
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Thank you Banjo. Based on your input I bought new front and rear adapters and 180mm disks.
  
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Banjopickin
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Re: Brake Rotor Upgrade?
Reply #11 - 11/25/17 at 3:52pm
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campbesl wrote on 11/25/17 at 3:11am:
Thank you Banjo. Based on your input I bought new front and rear adapters and 180mm disks.



Check your pads too. New rotors won't do much if your pads are shot 

And a good brake bleed will really bring your brakes back to life.
  
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Advocat wrote on 08/22/13 at 5:16pm:
...packin some Chub in the back of the pick-up.


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