Blown xt piston

[Mike]

So on my ride over the mynd the last two day my front brake erupted. Having got home and stripped it down iv found that the ceramic piston has disintegrated into 5 bits
Looking on the net iv found a shimano slx caliper on sale. Now im just asking but would these be compatible as it looks the same thibg but has slx written on the side

[sean_iow]

How old is the xt one? Don't Shimano have a 2 year warranty on xt and above? I got some nearly 2 year old xt pedals replaced under warranty no problem as they had play when clipped in.

[redefined_cycles]

How old is the xt one? Don't Shimano have a 2 year warranty on xt and above? I got some nearly 2 year old xt pedals replaced under warranty no problem as they had play when clipped in.

XTR (and I think by default Dura Ace) have 3 years standard warranty. They're very passionate about what they do and making things better and better that I doubt you'd have problems them entertaining you and most probably a refund/replacement (never tried this but I just have the feeling as work is religion for Japanese manufacturing)...

[fatbikephil]

You can buy pistons on fleabay - they are anodized alloy but will do the job.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Now im just asking but would these be compatible

Yes.

[Cyclepeasant]

OMG!
Do you have a photo?
In all my years in the cycle, motorcycle and car trade,I have never seen or heard of a brake piston disintegrating.
Even if it's out of warranty,I would try Shimano to see whether they will help you.
When I worked at a few cycle shops they did assist with some strange warranty issues.
Madison were the Shimano importers at the time.
I personally prefer genuine replacement parts where braking is concerned.
However, I have replaced car brake seals with pattern ones without any issues over the years.
Motorcycle and cycle brakes I always use genuine parts ,more for piece of mind.
Others on here may agree, working brakes are important on two wheels, otherwise it's .....ouch!

[Mike]

Piston by - Flickr2BBcode LITE
Its fell apart at the back of the piston

[SteveH]

I've seen a few like that. Last year with one brake I replaced with hope phenolic pistons - diameter was fine, just needed to shave a little off the height. Used the same seals, still working well.

[Cyclepeasant]

WOW!
Never seen that before!
The damaged pistons were always caused by forcing pistons back without a pad in place on the pad side of the piston damaged with ehem.."incorrect tools"..., seen it on motorcycle caliper pistons especially the phenolic resin types,billet iirc.
Maybe it may have been a faulty piston? Curious!

[fatbikephil]

Thats odd that right enough. Wonder if its got pushed back in after hitting a big bump, gone in squint and the lever force pushing it back has broken the back edge off?? Or dodgy material??

[redefined_cycles]

WOW!
Never seen that before!
with ehem.."incorrect tools"..., Curious!

Surely Mike would never have done such a thing (flat blad screwdriver or worse straight on the pistons? )

[johnnystorm]

I cracked an slx one a few years back, was about £20 for a new caliper so didn't seem worth faffing about repairing it.

[jameso]

I've seen ceramic pistons broken at the front or cracked by screwdrivers levering the pistons back in but if you've not done that and the break doesn't look that way (though hard to image why they would just break, there's an element of JRA here Mike ), almost a cert they'd get them replaced. Since it's a potentially serious safety issue I expect they'd be more than happy to replace the brakes and get the broken one back.

[FLV]

My experience of Shimano warranty on brake failures is the opposite.

Had an XT level fail (clamp to lever casting) and RS505 sti fail (casting cracked at the hose port). Both times I was accused of mullering it and told to buzz off.

The warranty goes with the shop first then the importer. I just gave up.

(Nether time have i mullered it by the way)

[Cheeky Monkey]

(Nether time have i mullered it by the way)

Says the bloke with a bear for an icon

[jameso]

The warranty goes with the shop first then the importer. I just gave up.

Warranty contract/legality is with the shop. And within the first 6 months it's for them to prove it's not a faulty part, not you to prove it is. But both could be over-torques Madison ime are generally pretty good (fair) with warranty on Shimano - they've seen enough to know what's a JRA and what's a genuine fault and Shimano's manufacturing consistency is close to as good as it gets in the bike industry.

[FLV]

almost like I didn't say I hadn't mullered them isn't it....

(Nether time have i mullered it by the way)

[jameso]

almost like I didn't say I hadn't mullered them isn't it....

(Nether time have i mullered it by the way)

- I meant it as the shop can think that no matter what you say. And to be fair to them it's the most likely explanation or common reason in that sort of failure.

[Mike]

Always use my parktool plastic levers to push pistons back and plus this has failed at the back of the piston not the front, might drop madison a call out of interest as i cant remember where i got them from

[ScotRoutes]

The only thing that touches my pistons is my pads.

[jameso]

Always use my parktool plastic levers to push pistons back and plus this has failed at the back of the piston not the front, might drop madison a call out of interest as i cant remember where i got them from

When it comes to the actual return I think Madison only take things back via a retailer who has an account with them but that might of changed in recent years.