SRAM Guide T Disc Brake

The Guide T represents the absolute base entry point to Sram 4 piston brakes. As such, they have the same basic design as other Guides, while giving up many of the small adjustments and high-end features found on other models.

My experience is that these brakes work fine- nothing more but nothing less. The power is actually pretty decent (provided you have a decent bleed on them) for their intended purpose, but they can get overwhelmed on long, steep descents. For typical trail riding though, they'll be more than enough unless you're a speed demon or a beast of a rider. They have more than enough power to bring a typical 130-150mm trail bike to a stop all day long. I've read some hate about their lack of power, but I have not experienced this after a bleed and swap to metallic pads (I'm 245lbs). They also have pretty good modulation, with a nice linear feel at the lever that makes it easy to dial in how much power you're actually applying. This helps make what power is available accessible, especially for less finesse-based riders.

There are a few downsides though. The most noticeable is that these brakes can absolutely get overwhelmed on sustained/steep descents and being suffering from both fade and a wandering bite point. I wouldn't characterize the bite point issue as being as severe as servo-wave Shimano brakes, but it's definitely noticeable. I've also managed to get the brakes to fade quite severely when riding at a few bike parks. I think this is a case of them being a smaller caliper/piston design, and trying to do battle with my hefty weight and fairly aggressive riding. I don't believe it's entirely endemic to the design, but rather a limitation of their intended use. I've also found that they need to be bled more often than I would like- I have had to bleed them a couple times a season, and each time the fluid appears to be highly contaminated. I have swapped the hoses, which didn't help much. I'm unsure whether this is a me issue, or a design fault, but either way I found it noteworthy.

Lastly, I need to touch on the ergonomics, which are a real mixed bag. On one hand, the lever shape is pretty good- it falls naturally to the hand, and the non-adjustable bite point is where I'd like it. Additionally, the ability to use matchmaker clamps is a bonus. However, I did find the lever body a little flexy, which undermined my confidence. The reach adjustment screw was also brutal- it's badly placed and very difficult if not impossible to use with a multi-tool. Just a bad idea. The bleeding edge system deserves credit unto itself- it is the easiest way to do a full bleed I've come across yet.

Ultimately, these aren't the best brakes, but they shouldn't raise red flags. They aren't appropriate for full-blown downhill or enduro riding, but for general trail use, they'll be sufficient and easy enough to live with. I would discourage opting for these brakes if you have the budget for something better. But, don't discount a bike because of them- they work well enough, and are sufficient for their intended use. They could also be a great upgrade if you have a very underpowered set of brakes or older models with limited parts availability (especially in the used market, these are a killer value). Overall, they're not bad, but not great. Just okay.