SRAM Mountain Bike Disc Brake Guide
If you’ve bought or ridden a mountain bike in the last five years, you’ll know what a SRAM disc brake looks like. For better or worse they’ve been put on almost every bike over a grand for as long as anyone can remember. This article explains the range.
About the Range
They make a lot, I mean a lot of disc brakes in a full spectrum of prices, build quality and what we all want POWER!
Fortunately for everyone, this year they’ve streamlined the options. We’ve now got:
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Light duty (SRAM Level) Think cross country and lightweight trail bikes.
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Heavy duty (SRAM Code) This was the ultimate power super brake but it’s now re-focussed on Enduro and trail bikes. They have become increasingly popular as bikes have become more capable and riders are taking on more technical terrain at higher speeds.
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Extreme Duty (SRAM Maven) The newest, latest, greatest most powerful brake in the world. These are aimed at downhill and e-bike riders looking for maximum power.
SRAM Brake Terminology
Some of the tech we’ll come across is similar throughout the range and these help give the disc brakes that distinctive SRAM feel.
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Bleeding Edge Technology: SRAM’s innovative calliper fluid circuitry places the bleed port at the bottom, allowing natural fluid filling and providing an easier, more consistent bleed process across all models (Bronze, Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
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Adjustable Contact Point: Customize the feel of your brake lever with SRAM’s Contact Point Adjustment. Choose between short or long lever throws without moving the pads, enabling precise control and a balanced feel across both levers (Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
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SwingLink Cam System: Experience SRAM’s SwingLink cam technology, designed for smooth and controlled braking. By reducing the deadband and flattening the leverage curve, this feature prevents the typical “on/off” feel, balancing power with precise modulation (Bronze, Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
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Timing Port Closure: For dependable braking consistency, SRAM’s timing port closure uses durable seals and an ultra-smooth cylinder bore finish, ensuring hydraulic pressure remains stable for consistent braking power (Bronze, Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
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Expandable Bladder Design: SRAM’s updated brake lever bladder design evacuates air more effectively, improving back-pressure relief and reducing air bubbles for consistent braking performance (Bronze, Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
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Lever Pivot Bearings: SRAM’s precision-sealed pivot bearings enhance lever action, delivering a clean, crisp feel with light, one-finger control (Silver, Ultimate Stealth).
Light Duty Brakes
SRAM Level
The light-duty Level brakes are broken down into 11 individual disc brakes but you can simplify it by splitting the range by the brake lever which is in two styles - the newer Stealth option, and the older style lever design.
The Level Stealth brakes come in Bronze, Silver and Ultimate spec options and are available in 2 or 4-piston callipers, with the 4-piston option giving extra power at the expense of a little extra weight. The Stealth brakes feature a new ‘close to bar’ hose which gives your cockpit that streamlined and tidy look.
The bronze has a bushing on the lever pivot and the Silver and Ultimate have a bearing to give you a smoother and lighter feel.
The Level models with the older lever design come in the Level (Basic model), Level T (With a matchmaker), TL (Lightweight), TLM (Lighter with a one-piece calliper), Ultimate (The lightest with Ti hardware and a once piece calliper)
The light-duty brakes will lack the stopping power of the bigger brakes but if your riding is mostly XC or light trail you’ll benefit from the lighter weight and lighter feel.
Shop Light Duty
Heavy Duty Brakes
These are now the Codes, Code Stealth and DB8 disc brakes. Again the Stealth brakes have a Bronze, Silver and Ultimate and the older style has an R and an RSC option.
SRAM Code
The Bronze spec is the more budget-friendly version, still giving you the performance but without the smooth lever bearing and the contact point adjustment.
The Silver has the reach and contact point adjustment, and the bearing and is the go-to for most riders.
The Ultimate gives you all the same positives as the silver but with a carbon lever blade and a sleek silver look.
SRAM DB8
In the same vein as the Code, the DB8 is a more affordable and easy-to-adjust mountain bike disc brake. With the new stealth design, mineral oil and low-faff design, these are designed to go on your bike and just work. Low stress, better riding.
These are the perfect disc brakes for most mountain bikes and riders, you’ll find the lever feel and power are enough for almost every occasion even on heavier Ebikes but these are designed to excel in every condition.
Shop Heavy Duty
Extreme Duty Brakes
SRAM Maven
Designed for DH, the Mavens have massive power and huge performance. These are a large brake, big reservoirs, big callipers with 18/19.5mm pistons and enough power to slow even the biggest and fastest riders.
Not much lever feel when you’re not hauling, these are designed for Val de Sole at full chat. This incidentally makes them perfect for big Ebikes, especially at bike parks where you really need them to work. Be warned, given the amount of power on tap these can be quite violent if you squeeze the lever too hard!
The Maven is available in Bronze, Silver and Ultimate specs like the other models. They are also mineral oil specific so come with a much longer service interval than other models in the SRAM lineup which use DOT fluid. Where the DOT brakes need to have a full system bleed every year, the mineral brakes can be done every two years.
Maven Bronze features a Dark Polar anodized finish and tool-free reach adjust,
Maven Silver has a black anodized finish with stainless hardware, tool-free reach adjust and a contact point adjuster.
Maven Ultimates boast a high-polish lever body, titanium hardware tool-free reach adjust and a contact point adjuster. The perfect choice for style and performance.
Shop Extreme Duty brakes
SRAM Disc Brake Rotors
SRAM now offers two types of rotors, the classic Centreline and the HS2.
Centreline Rotors
The Centerline rotors are best paired with the light-duty and road brakes, they do a standard and a Centreline X which is a 2-piece lighter version and is available in 6-bolt or Centrelock.
Shop Centerline Rotors
HS2 Rotors
HS2 rotors have quickly become a favourite and are ideally paired with Heavy and Extreme-duty disc brakes. With a thicker 2.00mm rotor you’ll gain increased resistance to warping
Shop HS2 Rotors
SRAM Disc Brake Pads
SRAM have also revamped and simplified their disc brake pads. I mean this, thank you SRAM!
We no longer have any nebulous pad names they’ve gone for easy groups.
- Small: Force/Red AXS/ Rival/ Elixer/ DB and level B1 Buy Now
- Medium: Guide/ Level Stealth/ G2/ Trail Shop Buy Now
- Large: Code/ DB8/ G2 RE/ Guide RE Shop Buy Now
- Extra Large: Maven Shop Buy Now
These are available in organic or sintered options. We’d pick organic for maximum power and sintered for longevity.
Helpful SRAM Links
What SRAM really excels at is supporting docs and finding manuals and spares. Here are a couple of links that we find useful when helping customers with SRAM products from here in the Biketart office.
Manuals, documents and spare parts