Rotors for 2-piston Shimano BR-MT410 extremely limited?

Ringo9

Ringo9

New Member
Region
Europe
My ebike came with 160mm front rotor (it's got 180mm at the back for some reason) which I find small for the weight, motor, speed characteristics. I want to upgrade, once, and go with 203mm.
To my surprise, the BR-MT410 2-piston calipers are extremely limited in rotor options, or so does Shimano want you to believe?
These calipers support only the so-called "WIDE" pad type, which in turn only supports specific rotors (as listed in Shimano's compatibility chart, mostly rotors on the cheap end apart from a SM-RT30 centerlock which doesn't work on my 6-bolt setup anyway) and will result in less contact area between pad and rotor. As I understand it, these pads are slightly higher than the pads on 4-pistons, and so need a larger contact area (in terms of height/contact diameter) on the rotor to work as they should.

https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-461

Shimano BR-MT410 2-piston


I want to install a decent MDR-C 203mm rotor from Magura, not after top performance racing stuff but neither entry level ones, like the one in the link. I believe most non-Shimano rotors are similar anyway in how much contact area they offer to the pads, but apparently these will not work well with my caliper and pads type/shape. Is that really true? If so these must be the most pointless calipers to get on a bike: More expensive than the basic models, but a bit cheaper than full 4-pistons, still only compatible with the cheapest entry level rotors, why bother?

https://www.magura.com/en/EUR/bicycle_tuning_&_spare_parts_rotors_rotor_mdr-c/p/mdr-c

Or that's all Shimano marketing and I should go ahead and buy any aftermarket 203mm rotor?
 
Last edited:
just had a look on the bikes in the workshop here. measured a few diffent makes and type of rotors. All measure between 16 and 17mm on the highest point. mix of 140, 160, 180 and 203 rotors from Tektro, Shimano, Sram and Magura.

what do you measure at you rotor?
 
Ringo9 said:
My ebike came with 160mm front rotor (it's got 180mm at the back for some reason) which I find small for the weight, motor, speed characteristics. I want to upgrade, once, and go with 203mm.
To my surprise, the BR-MT410 2-piston calipers are extremely limited in rotor options, or so does Shimano want you to believe?
These calipers support only the so-called "WIDE" pad type, which in turn only supports specific rotors (as listed in Shimano's compatibility chart, mostly rotors on the cheap end apart from a SM-RT30 centerlock which doesn't work on my 6-bolt setup anyway) and will result in less contact area between pad and rotor. As I understand it, these pads are slightly higher than the pads on 4-pistons, and so need a larger contact area (in terms of height/contact diameter) on the rotor to work as they should.

https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-461

Shimano BR-MT410 2-piston


I want to install a decent MDR-C 203mm rotor from Magura, not after top performance racing stuff but neither entry level ones, like the one in the link. I believe most non-Shimano rotors are similar anyway in how much contact area they offer to the pads, but apparently these will not work well with my caliper and pads type/shape. Is that really true? If so these must be the most pointless calipers to get on a bike: More expensive than the basic models, but a bit cheaper than full 4-pistons, still only compatible with the cheapest entry level rotors, why bother?

https://www.magura.com/en/EUR/bicycle_tuning_&_spare_parts_rotors_rotor_mdr-c/p/mdr-c

Or that's all Shimano marketing and I should go ahead and buy any aftermarket 203mm rotor?
Click to expand...


WHY! do you want to "upgrade" that is what is missing
 
O M G!

OP First sentence...
"My ebike came with 160mm front rotor (it's got 180mm at the back for some reason) which I find small for the weight, motor, speed characteristics. I want to upgrade, once, and go with 203mm."
 
Last edited:
Base said:
just had a look on the bikes in the workshop here. measured a few diffent makes and type of rotors. All measure between 16 and 17mm on the highest point. mix of 140, 160, 180 and 203 rotors from Tektro, Shimano, Sram and Magura.

what do you measure at you rotor?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Do you mean 16-17mm between the inner diameter of the rotor where the big pockets are, to the outer diameter? In other words the contact area height for the pad?

If so, I just measured 16,7-17mm on mine (depending on how parallel I can get my caliper) but seems to be the same value. In other words the rotors you measured should provide the same contact area 👍

20250805_174751.jpg
 
Chazmo said:
Ringo, where are you getting that info from? Any reason not to just try it?
Click to expand...
Just browsing Shimano's literature. Maybe that's a Shimano rotors and pads thing though and aftermarket rotors are made to work with both pad types? Don't want to waste 30-40 EUR just to try, it surely must be something others have come across.

stompandgo said:
Can you use a mount adapter? I don't know if it's possible or safe.
Click to expand...
For sure, and I will. I have found the correct type but that's not an issue. The question of whether these aftermarket rotors will play nicely with my pads (specific to my calipers as it seems) is what I'm trying to figure out.


CanNik said:
WHY! do you want to "upgrade" that is what is missing
Click to expand...
I wrote exactly why, as pointed out already by another member. So, my decision is taken already. The question is not why or if, but with what I should upgrade my current front rotor.
 
Ringo9 said:
My ebike came with 160mm front rotor (it's got 180mm at the back for some reason) which I find small for the weight, motor, speed characteristics. I want to upgrade, once, and go with 203mm.
To my surprise, the BR-MT410 2-piston calipers are extremely limited in rotor options, or so does Shimano want you to believe?
These calipers support only the so-called "WIDE" pad type, which in turn only supports specific rotors (as listed in Shimano's compatibility chart, mostly rotors on the cheap end apart from a SM-RT30 centerlock which doesn't work on my 6-bolt setup anyway) and will result in less contact area between pad and rotor. As I understand it, these pads are slightly higher than the pads on 4-pistons, and so need a larger contact area (in terms of height/contact diameter) on the rotor to work as they should.

https://productinfo.shimano.com/en/compatibility/C-461

Shimano BR-MT410 2-piston


I want to install a decent MDR-C 203mm rotor from Magura, not after top performance racing stuff but neither entry level ones, like the one in the link. I believe most non-Shimano rotors are similar anyway in how much contact area they offer to the pads, but apparently these will not work well with my caliper and pads type/shape. Is that really true? If so these must be the most pointless calipers to get on a bike: More expensive than the basic models, but a bit cheaper than full 4-pistons, still only compatible with the cheapest entry level rotors, why bother?

https://www.magura.com/en/EUR/bicycle_tuning_&_spare_parts_rotors_rotor_mdr-c/p/mdr-c

Or that's all Shimano marketing and I should go ahead and buy any aftermarket 203mm rotor?
Click to expand...
Check out Tektro TR203-52 rotors, specifically meant for 2 piston calipers with wide pads. I just ordered a pair along with Tektro E10.11 pads for my Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra FS Pro 3, which has Biktrix branded Tektro HD-E350 2 piston calipers that use the same style brake pads as your Shimano BR-MT410 calipers.
I ordered a set of SRAM Centerline 203mm rotors at first, (RT-CLN-A1) When I installed them, I noticed the outer brake pad contact patch was only 13.5mm tall vs my original 180mm rotors 17mm contact patch. After some research, I found out these rotors are meant for 4-piston calipers with the narrow brake pads.
 
Shifty Shane said:
Check out Tektro TR203-52 rotors, specifically meant for 2 piston calipers with wide pads. I just ordered a pair along with Tektro E10.11 pads for my Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra FS Pro 3, which has Biktrix branded Tektro HD-E350 2 piston calipers that use the same style brake pads as your Shimano BR-MT410 calipers.
I ordered a set of SRAM Centerline 203mm rotors at first, (RT-CLN-A1) When I installed them, I noticed the outer brake pad contact patch was only 13.5mm tall vs my original 180mm rotors 17mm contact patch. After some research, I found out these rotors are meant for 4-piston calipers with the narrow brake pads.
Click to expand...
When I read this thread I was curious to see how mine measured out.
TRP 4 piston E23 front and rear. Tektro pads have a contact area height of 13.5mm
Tektro TR203-53 Rotor in the front with 15mm of contact area.
Rohloff 203 in the rear with 17.5mm of contact area.
Pads and rotors are wearing properly and the braking is excellent
File this under trivial information 🙃
 
Gionnirocket said:
When I read this thread I was curious to see how mine measured out.
TRP 4 piston E23 front and rear. Tektro pads have a contact area height of 13.5mm
Tektro TR203-53 Rotor in the front with 15mm of contact area.
Rohloff 203 in the rear with 17.5mm of contact area.
Pads and rotors are wearing properly and the braking is excellent
File this under trivial information 🙃
Click to expand...
I'm curious how your brake pads are aligned with the outer edge of your rotors.
Are the front and rear pads closer to the outer edges of the rotors?
My OEM 180mm rotors contact area is approx 17.25mm and the Tektro A10.11 pads contact area height is 16mm.
With the 180mm rotors, the front and rear pads outer surface is approx. 1mm from the outer edge of the rotors and 0.25mm from the inner edge.
I installed SRAM Centerline 203mm rotor up front (13.5mm contact area), with Magura QM42 post mount adapters.
The pads outer surface was approx 0.5mm from the outer edge of the rotors, and the pads inner surface was 3mm inboard of the rotors contact area.
I think this would wear out the rotors arms/spokes prematurely, so while I'm waiting for my Tektro TR203-52 rotors, I decided to add washers between the post mount adapters and calipers to move the brake pads contact area outwards on the rotors. I used a 1.1mm washer on the top post mount and a 2.2mm washer on the bottom. This moved the pad contact area 1mm past the outer edge of the rotor, and now it's only 1.5mm inboard of the rotors inner contact area.
 
Hey, @Ringo9,

I’m not sure where this stands with you at the moment, but to clarify… If the Magura rotor has the same radius between the inner and outer part of the ring as the Shimano (like you measured in your picture), and it has the same thickness, then you should be fine using the stock caliper. As stomp mentioned earlier, you just need an adapter to basically shim the caliper so the pads clamp properly on the ring. The only thing I’d watch out for is that you have long enough bolts to go through the extended adapter (probably supplied?) and that you don’t strip the threads in your fork where you’re attaching them. If you have existing washers, be careful when you thread the bolts with the new adapter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Uneven break pad wear :-/
Replies
2
Views
658
Gionnirocket
Gionnirocket
Shifty Shane
Hello everyone, I'm new to e-bikes and I appreciate all the shared knowledge available here.
Replies
3
Views
228
JGcycle
JGcycle
Stefan Mikes
Hydraulic Brakes, Brake Rotors, Brake Pads
Replies
6
Views
3K
BEC111
BEC111
K
[SOLD] 2021 Watt Wagons Hydra - Medium - 2300W Archon X1 - 700 Miles - Seattle, WA
Replies
0
Views
2K
kwseattle
K
D
Creo 1, 2 and Creo 2 road spec all back to back
Replies
19
Views
3K
Dazmanturbo
D
Back