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Converting from Avid to Shimano brakes
I need to pick your brains. 
I'm thinking about switching the Elixir 9s to XT brakes on the new sled and I'm wondering whether I need to change the adapters as well, or will the Shimanos go straight on? IS-to-post mount on the fork (Lefty) and post mount on the rear. The Avids presently have that bunch of shaped washers to provide 3D alignment options and getting the caliper height aligned properly on the brake track is my concern.
Will post a photo of the rear this evening, it is a little different. It has an offset alloy adapter on which the post mount adaptor sits to align the caliper over the disc on the 142×12 rear end. (I think the second post mount adapter is to give the weight weenies the option of a 140mm rotor.)
Thanks for your help
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Got XTs for my AM bike and swapped out the Elixers. Only swapped the front so far but used the same adaptor and 180mm Avid rotor as I was too tight to buy a Shimano one. No probs so far - in fact I used a couple less of the shaped washers to align the caliper height. I have a Fox Float 34 140mm 29er fork.
Hawkeye I did the switch from Elixir 7s to XT on my Spesh and thought bought a new post-post adapter for the front while I was buying it all online. The old Elixir set up already had a front post-post mount fitted, but I wasn't sure if it was the same size as the shimano one. Turns out they were pretty similar, but I put the new one on anyway so the whole kit was shimano,and you know......the new one was shinier!
The rear elixer (also post mount) sat on a couple of hollow spacers that the bolts threaded through rather than a one piece adapter but these needed to be thrown away and a new adapter bought for the XT's as the new caliper didn't sit right over the disc with the spacers on.
For both front and rear I got rid of the little dished washers which always gave me issues with dragging discs and set up etc and instead bolted straight to the mount and all works a treat. No drag at all and was dead easy to set up. The XT discs seem a lot meatier and more rigid than the Elixirs to me so maybe this helps keep them true through the caliper also.
I have a few photos I could add if someone could tell me how to add them to a forum post?!
My elixers have just been flushed down the toilet with a turd where they belong
Bloody noisy fiddly things they were
Thanks to Gazza they will be replaced by a shiny new set of current model XT's
Took them up the bike shop because I'm a numby
According to all the research I did and the guy at the shop it's a good swap
I think the Shimano rotors are a couple of mm bigger, but has no effect on performance
I haven't got it back yet, but expect the quiet to be deafening
My bike is a spec with normal fork, but don't think this should make any difference
Thinking about doing the same thing. Going from Exler CR to XT. What are peoples thoughts? Much of a difference? I've always been a fan of Shimano Brakes and SRAM shifters but somehow on my Blur LT I ended up with the opposite. That is SRAM Brakes and Shimano Shifters!
I always thought my Elixirs (7s) were ok and then one day I was forced to fit new brakes after an incident with a branch so I went for the XT's after all the good reviews I heard.
They are heaps better. Much nicer feel - easy to modulate, less sponginess in the lever action. Also no drag through the calipers (the pistons return to where they should be!) and no squeal!
I've been thinking of doing the same for ages... After my old bike had elixir 5's i hated avid with a passion!!!!! Endless problems..
Then when i bought my new bike it had mostly avid/sram running gear which i was very hesitant of at first but i really do like my elixir cr's, great power, great modulation, piece of piss to change pads, easier to bleed then shimano. The sram stuff i still want to swap over for shimano thou and if i got half the chance i probably would swap over the brakes for some saint 4 pots
but as i've learnt in the past "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" 
Especially when moneys tight and the bike runs beautifully.
Either way let us no how you go, i will be following closely...
I have a few different brakes on different bikes
IMO the shimano a a bit easier to set up but I really do prefer the feel, power and modulation of the Elixirs.
Set them up right and they out perform the shimano in every way. My XTs are noisier as well.
My special tip for setting them up is all in the bleed process. Get the line so it doesn't loop down in any spot, you want it all flowing up wirh no dips to catch air pockets Follow the avid instruction but when it comes to push the oil from the bottom syringe to the top don't push
What you want to do is hold the bottom syringe up so you don't suck air into the system but then draw the oil up by pulling the plunger on the top syringe. Occasionally holding the plunger in the bottom to resist and create more suction flicking the line to loosen any air bubbles. Maying even a little back and forth in the middle.
Pushing the oil can just force the oil past air traps where as sucking it out the top should draw the air traps out.
Now go for a hard ride and the repeat the bleed. After that I find I don't touch them other than occasionally after changing pads.
Are you serious flynny?
Or you could get shimano s which take a moron 5 minutes to bleed once every 2 years - bloody hell , bleeding twice , then bleeding with every pad change - that d be like actually really and truly giving shocks a service every 50 hours .
I have some elixir 9s - want to buy them?
I never said every pad change and how often do you change pads anyway? I think I did mine 18 months ago with a lot of steep gnarly stuff and a few very wet races in between. And yes, superior performance takes a little bit more effort. Far and a away a better brake than the XTs
After years of Hope's & the new Shimano offerings the Elixir R's on my latest (used) buy are a disappointment all round. It could be due to poor servicing but I don't think so.
I have fitted new pads & hoses plus bled the system a few times but I've now reached the end of my patience with them after the rear brake locked on during a particularly wet ride. STX's are on the way.
Swapping: my Elixirs were 185 front & rear and I'm changing to 180/160 Icetech rotors so I will need new adaptors, however if you think about it a brake caliper regardless of whether it's Avid or Shimano will mount straight onto any post mount fork as long as a 160 rotor is used (X-Fusion excluded as they use specific 180 & 203 post mounts on some of their forks).
The 3D washers included in the Avid's are seen as part of the caliper NOT the adaptor therefore an Avid 160 IS to post mount or a Shimano 160 IS to post mount would work. I'm 99% sure that I could use my original 185 rotors & adaptors with the STX calipers.
My only concerns using different calipers & rotors is the depth of the braking surface & the possibility that with two part rotors the arms can strike the caliper (Avid's caliper body catches the arms on a Shimano 160 Icetech rotor.
T
I had avid brakes for years. Constant source of frustration.... When they worked they were much better than the shimano ones I tried but they rarely worked.
I had to adjust the calipers every 3-4 rides at least and got to the stage where the noises were so bad, I would consciously try not to brake ( not very safe ). I would bleed them every couple of months. Last ones were elixir R I think. They were so difficult to bleed properly that I eventually swapped tem for BB7's ( cables !). Even the mechanics at the LBS couldn't bleed them properly.
On my new bikes I made sure I got new XT's. sensational performance and have nt touched them in over a year.
I still prefer SRAM gears but I'd never go back to avid brakes
CB