Hayes' New Dominion T4 Brakes Use Titanium & Carbon Fiber to Save Weight
Hayes' Dominion A4 brakes have garnered a strong contingent of loyal fans in the years since their introduction back in 2018, and now there's an even lighter version on the way called the T4 that uses carbon fiber lever blades, titanium hardware, and additional machining to shed as much weight as possible. All of those measures allowed Hayes to reduce the weight of each brake by 50 grams, for a total weight savings of 100 grams per set compared to the A4 version.
Hayes aren't claiming to have created the absolute lightest brakes on the market, but at 257 grams per wheel the T4's are lighter than SRAM Codes by around 40 grams, and 5 grams lighter than Shimano's XTR 4-piston brakes. Brakes aren't typically the first place most riders go to save weight, but if the power and performance remain the same it certainly doesn't hurt to knock a few extra grams off the scale.
Hayes aren't claiming to have created the absolute lightest brakes on the market, but at 257 grams per wheel the T4's are lighter than SRAM Codes by around 40 grams, and 5 grams lighter than Shimano's XTR 4-piston brakes. Brakes aren't typically the first place most riders go to save weight, but if the power and performance remain the same it certainly doesn't hurt to knock a few extra grams off the scale.
Hayes Dominion T4 Details
• 17mm pistons
• Reach adjust, pad contact adjust
• Claimed weight: 257 grams (90cm hose + mounting hardware)
• DOT 5.1 fluid
• Price: $325 USD per brake
• hayesbicycle.com
• 17mm pistons
• Reach adjust, pad contact adjust
• Claimed weight: 257 grams (90cm hose + mounting hardware)
• DOT 5.1 fluid
• Price: $325 USD per brake
• hayesbicycle.com
The spec sheet claims that the T4's reach adjust is still a tool-free affair, but that doesn't appear to be the case – the dial found on the aluminum lever blade isn't anywhere to be seen on the carbon blades, which are produced by Reynolds, Hayes' sister company. Adjusting the lever reach and pad contact is still possible, you'll just need to use an Allen key to make those tweaks.
Titanium hardware was used wherever possible, and the caliper underwent additional machining to shed weight.
All of the Dominion's other features are still in place – the brakes use DOT 5.1 fluid, with four 17mm pistons in each caliper. The caliper body has seen extra machining to remove any excess material, and there are little depressions on each side that are probably worth a few grams of weight savings. Thankfully the set screws that help get the caliper perfectly aligned haven't gone anywhere – that clever feature helps set the Dominions apart from other brakes on the market.
The Dominion T4's bolts, push rods, compression and banjo fittings are all titanium, and there are composite reservoir covers to lighten things up even further, along with aluminum back plates on the brake pads.
Not surprisingly, all of that carbon fiber and titanium does raise the final price – the Dominion T4 brakes are priced at $325 USD per wheel, compared to $250 for the Dominion A4. The aluminum-backed T4 pads are $38.99 USD.
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Geting them also for my 2021 FS build was a nobrainer after that. My only complaint -which was not so obvious on the Hardtail- is that they could have a bit more power, but pairing 220 Galfer Rotors with semimetallic pads solved that for me.
Those brakes are awesome, just get the 220 rotors from the start.
CRC recently had A4s for £99 - snapped them up for my other bike.
Just glorious brakes, as the spare pile of Hope, SRAM, and Shimano brakes will attest to :-)
220mm rotors, and MTX pads take them to a whole new level too. Very cheap upgrades that have very tangible improvements.
They’ve been less maintenance and much more reliable than my Shimano XTs (stuck pistons and always need freaking bleeding) and Codes (do great but needed a bleed before Hayes). The 3 port bleed is amazing and really ups their bleed quality/consistency. Performance wise tho, they are a significant upgrade to shimano certainly and code RSC too. Not just power but Power and Control. That’s the difference. It’s a perfect brake and really affordable (non titanium version)
Okay people I do get that there is some kind of a Dominion's cult just like the HS' line from Magura long ago. I've seen the Dominion at the Eurobike some years ago and was pleased at how clever they are regarding the caliper bleed ports. Yet, the finish ain't that great and the price is high. But as long as it stops.
Thing is not a single bike from the brands we work with dare to spec those on a bike. I do prefer to sell MT7, 4 pots XT/XTR or Trickstuff as an upgrade than a set of Hayes.
@Euskafreez Remy rides these on the most steep, heinous BC stuff I've ever seen. Pretty sure if they work for him on all that sketchy stuff...you'll be fine lol. You'll get the control AND the power, along with a near perfect bleed every time. They look badass in black.
It's just hard to beat the value for money of MT7 and MT5 in Europe. On a borrowed set of Braking lately, 100% made in Italy, cnc machined with only two pots per caliber, but massive pots !
I bought an extra set to hand on hand for my next build.
- Wwaaay better than my Shimano xt 2 pots
- WAAY better than my Guide RSC
- Better than my Codes (less modulation and a bit more power)
These are like the perfect brakes
Yea the brakes are excellent but clamp options can really be much better.
Thought the magnetic stuff was weird
An most of all the bleeding is a complete pain in the ass
the rub to pad clearance was also a never ending issue
I like to think all brakes have a quirk or love/hate but the MT7s especially for the price was just out of line for me
Sorry to butt in here but just my 2 cents
True, they have not alot of room between pads and disc, but if you give it a bit time, have a straight rotor, they work wonderful!
on my newest bike i got the mt8´s with 200mm rotors and bruni levers. i really like them!
power, modulation, customasation, these brakes are absolut top notch!
I have a different opinion to the bleeding.
Maguras are easy to bleed, if you are satisfied with a 95% result.
But if you want to have a 100% perfect bleeded brake, that is very difficult to get with Magura. With the Dominion, on the other hand, I had a really perfectly vbleeded brake faster than with any other brake. The two bleed holes on the caliper help a lot. In my basement are meanwhile 2 bikes with Dominion A4.
In short, the Dominion A4 is the much better brake and that in every respect.
I drove the MT7 with many different pads and was never really satisfied. In extreme cases, the pressure point float and the braking force decreased when it was really hot on long hard descents.
The Dominion has no fading at all, works at the end of the descent just like at the start.
In addition, the hand force is much lower in the vast majority of braking. I have less arm pump. The dosage is the best thing about the brake. The dosage is extremely good. If you have ridden the Dominion, you realize only how bad it is with Shimano, Sram or especially Magura. The pressure point is also much firmer than with Magura. Finally, I must say that the workmanship is also outstanding. From the beginning perfectly simultanious function of all pistons. I just installed them in my Transition Patrol, bled and did nothing to it for two years except change pads. After more than 2 years was due times a bleeding.
The brake is absolutely great and in my opinion the best on the market. Okay, Trickstuff is still a little stronger, nicer and lighter, but much more expensive, has long delivery time and is difficult to bleed.
I ride the Dominions with the sintered pads.
A SRAM on steroids I like to call them.
After running them for 2 years I will say I wish the machining on the cylinder where the bleed screw is better designed along with a few other nit picky flaws but other than that they're awesome.
Pistons never stick and the modulation to final bite is insane, make sure you have your rotor sizing/thickness on point for your discipline of you'll warp a set real quick lol
If you bleed your own brakes I would recommend the Jagwire Pro Bleed Kit for Hayes. I had something similar happen with mine (bit of fade and lever throw) and it honestly came down to having a more sturdy and precise bleed kit. Honestly cant explain it better than the better kit provided a better seal to the calipers and levers and a better syringe that allowed for a better flush of DOT. Took a bit of time but once I did a full bleed with a solid kit it made all the difference. For as amazing as the Dominions A4's are, the Hayes branded bleed kit is pretty weak.
But agreed, quality of the kit can make all difference here!
@i-am-lp: you can get code RSCs with titanium hardware for $265 thundermountainbikes.com/products/sram-code-rsc-disc-brake-set?variant=41976513364203&gclid=CjwKCAjwt7SWBhAnEiwAx8ZLakWWHUlKDYGPFhSZtu4wlY4t2SAI9LcOFEl4AHq7WQ_kd2AIajXWJRoCOnwQAvD_BwE
You can also get MT7 Racelines brand new right here on PB
www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3066348
Bottom line is, after buying pads you are looking at $700 for a brake set. You're only a couple hundred off a set of TrickStuffs.
@optimumnotmaximum: Galfer +20 is incompatible with the caliper body (caliper hits the "bridge" between the two mounting points of the adapter)
Magura is close but again the alignment isn't quite right with 203PM to 223 rotor.
I also tried NS Billet, Hope, TRP, Formula, Intend. None of them give appropriate alignment or clearance.
Really, there are so many comments based on past experiences or current ownership! Until you try, you don’t know.
Bikes are awesome!
Enjoy the ride.
On another note, their non-bubbly look is also functional. You can flip them over or swap sides as they are mirrored. I had to move a set to a larger bike and needed a longer hose for the rear and front. So I just used the rear as the front and then swapped the hose on the shorty old front to use as the rear. Or if someone needs to run moto...super easy. Also if one side is thrashed in a crash and you are tired of looking at it, just swap levers and they look nice again. Even the writing on the reach adjust is there on both sides.
"All of the Domain's other features are still in place..."
"...that clever feature helps set the Domains apart from other brakes on the market."
Domain instead of Dominion.
There, I fixed that for you.
Step #1: Syringe on Lever, Syringe on Caliper - left port
Step #2: Syringe on Lever, Syringe on Caliper - right port
Step #3: Syringe on Left Caliper Port - Syringe on Right Caliper Port
Take it back to the shop and tell them they didn't follow Hayes official bleed process. I'm sure they are just doing the first step like you do with Shimano/SRAM/etc. When you do this, its freaking super solid bleed for a long ass time. I know this because I really have to have it dialed for my kids since their levers are pushed in all the way AND they are using the kids lever that is inset to the bars pretty good. If there is extra lever throw, they'd pull to the bars on the rear every time. When I broke down and started doing the full bleed (i.e. following instructions) the lever throw is super minimal...like hardly any at all. There is no squish either. Ideally you'd just bleed your own brakes tho. Shop guys don't always care nearly as much about your bike as you do and a brake bleed is simple.