Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the detailed breakdown — that’s definitely a frustrating run of issues, especially with such a high-end setup like Saint.

From what you’ve described, it sounds like you’ve experienced a mix of heat-related pad glazing, possible fluid contamination, and maybe even lever/piston inconsistencies. Shimano Saints are usually very reliable, but they can be less forgiving than other systems when something’s slightly off — especially after air travel or inconsistent servicing.

🔧 What Might Be Going On:
• Pad contamination can be sneaky — even a small amount of DOT or mineral oil (or bike cleaner) can kill bite.
• Pad glazing after long descents (like FOD or Spanish mountains) can dramatically reduce power — even if the rotors and pads are clean.
• If the lever pulls firm but there’s no bite, it could be a piston retraction issue, or that the compound isn’t bedding in properly.
• Constant pad swapping can also create rotor surface inconsistency — especially if mixing resin and metallic.

🔁 Saints vs XTR:
• Saint calipers are super powerful but can be sensitive to pad-rotor pairings. If your Saints are in good working order, replacing them may not fix the root cause.
• XTR calipers and levers offer a lighter feel and better modulation, but won’t necessarily fix issues related to contamination or pad performance.

⸻

🔍 What We’d Recommend:
1. Fully clean and reset the system — rotors, calipers, and pistons.
2. Swap in fresh pads (metal or semi-metallic) and ensure they’re properly bedded in. Here’s a quick guide:
👉 Brake Pad Bedding-In Guide
3. Make sure your pistons retract evenly and aren’t sticking.
4. Consider new rotors if there’s uneven wear from previous pad swaps.

⸻

If you’re still struggling after that, XTR calipers and levers could be a good step forward — but we’d always recommend solving the root setup issues first.

And if you’re local, feel free to pop into our workshop — we’re always happy to take a look and help get your brakes running at full power again.

Cheers,
The Gorilla Brakes Team

Hello, I have shiamno saint breaks with a new bike, they worked really well for 3 months and then I flew to Spain on a training week, as soon as got there and built my bike they had less power and squealed. The back brake got better but the front didn’t so we replaced it. They worked until I got back and took my bike to a shop for a check over. They advised a double replace of pads. They did and those didn’t work for long, so I replaced them again to the original saint pads and they worked. Then the shop said I had bent rotors as my levers felt like they hardly moved. We got better xtr discs and then my brakes were spot on. Then after a ride at fod where I still wasn’t happy with the power, they weren’t the same as before. Then I left my bike alone for a week during school and then suddenly they were both contaminated. Then we brought better metal pads with a good cooling system. They worked really well at a national dh and then when I picked up my bike today the front brake had no power and the rotor just slid through a properly closed lever. No squealing and no contamination. I just don’t understand why these brakes won’t work. Is it worth me buying a set of xtr levers and calipers to pair with the rotors ? Are they more reliable or have I just got faulty saints ? Thanks, Charlie.