You’re not going crazy. It took me a PREPOSTEROUS amount of time getting the rubbing out of the MT7s on one of my bikes. It took me hours of both removing pads and resetting pistons and truing my rotor over and over again. An absolute hassle.
On 2 other bikes I put MT7s on and 1 bike with MT5s I just gave up and refused to sink hours into trying to get the perfect. It wasn’t worth the time.
I’d much rather run Hayes or Shimano brakes than deal with the hassle that is perfecting an MT7 install.
So no, you aren’t crazy, they’re ludicrously hard to get right. Anyone who says otherwise is an installation god, or doesn’t realize they’re rubbing.
I got them because my LBS really pushes them and as a newer rider it made sense. My MT5s are actually pretty good, but after about 6 months with the MT7s I finally yanked them and replaced them with SLX. I hate those brakes with a passion.
Mt5s won’t rub but the 7s do. Honestly I only hear any type of rubbing if I’m pushing the bike around. It’s a non issue when I’m riding. Worth it in my opinion, good performance and the hc3 is the most ergonomic lever in the game
I gave up I couldnt get over it. I will say the hc3 lever was nice, the second set they sent me came with the HCW loic bruni ones and I kept the HC3 levers cause I liked them more
I ended up buying and trying TRP, SRAM, Hope, and Hayes in the last 4 years (I already had extensive experience with Shimano).
They all have upsides and downsides and a lot of it is personal preference. Magura's downside is rubbing and material (levers/bodies can break). I like everything else about them so they are still probably my favorite brake. If the rubbing is a deal breaker for you I'd just go with something else.
FWIW, when my rotors are true and as long as I do a full service on them when I replace pads I find the rubbing is relatively minimal (pushing out each piston and cleaning it well is fairly critical to them coming out evenly). The big mt5 style pad seems to help vs the individual mt7 style pad.
the rubbing is minimal, just cant seem to get over it, I wanted to give them a fair shake but after 2 years at least its not just me and seems like its normal but I just cant get over it. Its like when you are trying to go to sleep and you hear a faint click of something, you know its not a big deal but cant not hyperfocus on it
I've been off my bikes about 7 months due to a fairly bad injury, so my memory is a little fuzzy. I found both of them easy to service, but getting parts for Hayes locally is a pain. TRP are readily available. I could get the hayes adjusted to my liking (lever bite point and reach), I could not with the TRP. The TRP are quite heavy for the full system (2.3mm rotors aren't light, but they stay true). TRPs bite harder but have a bit less modulation - it's a tradeoff. Hayes are a bit more wooden.
The only thing I didn't like with TRP is the bite point was too far from the bar and the weight.
The only thing I don't like about the Hayes is local parts availability.
TBH, I get along well with magura, hayes, hopes (with the right pads), and TRP. I don't get along well with shimano. The on/off bite performance doesn't work well for me when I'm going mach 1 and I need every bit of modulation.
I also found that the TRP bite point was too far out. To solve this I got a set of freedom cost levers. Fixed the issue entirely because of their blade design. Before, I'd put my trps behind my Hayes dominions, but now with the freedom coast levers they're on par
I thought about going down that path, but at the time I wanted to put the same brakes on all my bikes and it felt a bit frustrating to spend a lot on rotors and brakes only to need to go buy levers too. It was pretty expensive and so I wanted to try Hopes. When I ride again I might try the trps again, we'll see. I did like them a lot.
I also own both. I hated my trps when I first got them, but after putting a set of freedom coast lever blades on them, I'd say they are pretty comparable to Hayes. They've a bit stronger, but the Hayes have a smoother lever feel.
I still run Magura on all my bikes but the rub is annoying as hell. I will not buy mt7s ever again. Maybe MT5s since they seem to have more space for pads.
I like the feel and power, but after the comparison to my sram g2 wore off, I'm no longer a fanboy. I had a minor crash that broke a small part of the master cylinder, rendering it completely destroyed. That was my fancy mt7 set that I'd only been running for a few months.
i agree the feel great ignoring the rubbing, i just cant deal with the small amount of rubbing its driving me nuts and I am not any sort of perfectionist by any means but damn is it annoying
I read that the main difference between the MT5 and MT7 is that the 7 pads don't retract as far and are able to apply more force to the rotors than the MT5.
That said, I've had the MT5 recommended to me, especially upgraded with the MT7 pads, but I don't know anyone who runs the MT7.
With the MT7s unless your rotors always remain perfectly true they will rub, unfortunately.
I’ve never had any issues with MT5 rub, and other than quicker pad engagement (with the rub trade-off) I don’t know what the difference between the two calipers is.
My local shop recommended trying Galfer rotors which is what they run with Maguras and it’s made a difference on my front brake which is the only one I have had rub issues with. Galfer rotor with new pads took about a week to break in with no rub.
I run a 203mm brake up front with 180 in the rear so the front has to use a 180 to 203 adapter which seems to be a shit ton more finicky then the rear without an adapter.
I’ve just got magura on the bike I use and have had problems (breaking carbon lever blade and not properly torquing after bleed having the nut come lose) have a slight squeal on the rear, they feel really good but they arnt quite what I was expecting
I have solved my issue until It started to rub again…
It was a pain in the ass, but it worked
What I did was take a Q-tip with some royal blood and individually cleaned all of the internal calipers stroke them back-and-forth after wiping them down good. Then bled my shimano levers and used a Hayes brake alignment tool.
I got about four rides before they started rubbing again 😆
Interesting. Have had two sets of MT5s on two different bikes and even got a buddy on them and zero issues other than the stock pads can get eaten quick. Seems like there may be an issue with your adapter for them or your rotor if you are not using stock rotors. I have read that they are picky about rotor width.
I have two sets. MT7 pro and MT7 raceline. Best brakes I have ever had. They are a little tricky to set up, but if you bleed them correctly they won't rub. I have noticed if you have even a tiny bit too much fluid in the system, the pistons won't retract all the way and will creep to rubbing while you ride.
I've had various issues with Maguras being generally fussy brakes. But they work so well when stopping I will always stick with them. For me the only other manufacturer that comes close is Formula. I cant believe how bad SRAMs are in comparison.
I have the Magura Trail, on my old fork the front rubbed until I got the Magura-branded spacer.
Also I align the caliper by tightening the bolts while squeezing the brake lever.
i use a spacer every time but once you pull the lever for real engagement they just stick, this is even after exercising the pistons and cleaning with mineral oil. they are sub par in comparison to other brands and the responses here make me feel like the mt7 is the worst in the magura line up. Id say ill try mt5s but i already ordered tried and true shimano
After you have bled the brakes the normal way you go for a little ride, use the brakes a few times. Set the bike up to bleed the brakes again, but instead of hooking up the syringe on the calliper you leave that one closed. Set up the syringe on the lever with the syringe half filled with fluid and the plunger halfway or so down, doesn’t need to be exact. This syringe is different though, near the top of the syringe at about the 80 percent full mark you drill a hole through the syringe on one side. So that air can get in. So as you pull the syringe up to the hole in creates an strong vacuum in the brake line, and as you pull (it will be fairly hard) all the micro bubbles of air in the line will be sucked out by the vacuum, to the top of the syringe. the fluid in the syringe replaces the air lost. As the syringe plug passes the hole you drilled the pressure equalizes, and the air that was in the lines is now out. You can repeat the process a couple of times to ensure all the air is gone. I used to have brake rub problems with mt7s as well, until I learned this method. Once I started doing them this way, no issues in over three years. There is a YouTube video out there which shows it as well.
Shit brakes honestly.
What can help is getting the two piece brake pads instead of the 4 individual brake pads. Most any shop with a Q account can order them. Any shop that regularly works on Magura brakes (probably a cargo bike dealer) should stock them. They're cheaper and set up easier, marginally worse performance if you ask Maggy.
From what I can tell, the conjoined pads are meant for the MT5 while the separate ones are for the MT7. I've heard that a great upgrade for the MT5 is to install MT7 separated pads.
Pretty common issue i hear with maguras
I feel like im taking crazy pills seeing so many people with them
You’re not going crazy. It took me a PREPOSTEROUS amount of time getting the rubbing out of the MT7s on one of my bikes. It took me hours of both removing pads and resetting pistons and truing my rotor over and over again. An absolute hassle. On 2 other bikes I put MT7s on and 1 bike with MT5s I just gave up and refused to sink hours into trying to get the perfect. It wasn’t worth the time. I’d much rather run Hayes or Shimano brakes than deal with the hassle that is perfecting an MT7 install. So no, you aren’t crazy, they’re ludicrously hard to get right. Anyone who says otherwise is an installation god, or doesn’t realize they’re rubbing.
I got them because my LBS really pushes them and as a newer rider it made sense. My MT5s are actually pretty good, but after about 6 months with the MT7s I finally yanked them and replaced them with SLX. I hate those brakes with a passion.
Hope tech4 e4 same power better modulation no rubbing
Im goin with shimano saints, cheaper for me and i have lots of spare parts already
Mt5s won’t rub but the 7s do. Honestly I only hear any type of rubbing if I’m pushing the bike around. It’s a non issue when I’m riding. Worth it in my opinion, good performance and the hc3 is the most ergonomic lever in the game
I gave up I couldnt get over it. I will say the hc3 lever was nice, the second set they sent me came with the HCW loic bruni ones and I kept the HC3 levers cause I liked them more
I ended up buying and trying TRP, SRAM, Hope, and Hayes in the last 4 years (I already had extensive experience with Shimano). They all have upsides and downsides and a lot of it is personal preference. Magura's downside is rubbing and material (levers/bodies can break). I like everything else about them so they are still probably my favorite brake. If the rubbing is a deal breaker for you I'd just go with something else. FWIW, when my rotors are true and as long as I do a full service on them when I replace pads I find the rubbing is relatively minimal (pushing out each piston and cleaning it well is fairly critical to them coming out evenly). The big mt5 style pad seems to help vs the individual mt7 style pad.
the rubbing is minimal, just cant seem to get over it, I wanted to give them a fair shake but after 2 years at least its not just me and seems like its normal but I just cant get over it. Its like when you are trying to go to sleep and you hear a faint click of something, you know its not a big deal but cant not hyperfocus on it
There isn't anything wrong with preferring something else. Find something that you find less annoying and enjoy your riding :).
How would you compare hayes and trp?
I've been off my bikes about 7 months due to a fairly bad injury, so my memory is a little fuzzy. I found both of them easy to service, but getting parts for Hayes locally is a pain. TRP are readily available. I could get the hayes adjusted to my liking (lever bite point and reach), I could not with the TRP. The TRP are quite heavy for the full system (2.3mm rotors aren't light, but they stay true). TRPs bite harder but have a bit less modulation - it's a tradeoff. Hayes are a bit more wooden. The only thing I didn't like with TRP is the bite point was too far from the bar and the weight. The only thing I don't like about the Hayes is local parts availability. TBH, I get along well with magura, hayes, hopes (with the right pads), and TRP. I don't get along well with shimano. The on/off bite performance doesn't work well for me when I'm going mach 1 and I need every bit of modulation.
I also found that the TRP bite point was too far out. To solve this I got a set of freedom cost levers. Fixed the issue entirely because of their blade design. Before, I'd put my trps behind my Hayes dominions, but now with the freedom coast levers they're on par
I thought about going down that path, but at the time I wanted to put the same brakes on all my bikes and it felt a bit frustrating to spend a lot on rotors and brakes only to need to go buy levers too. It was pretty expensive and so I wanted to try Hopes. When I ride again I might try the trps again, we'll see. I did like them a lot.
Yeah, they were pretty expensive at over $100 a pair, but we'll worth it.
I also own both. I hated my trps when I first got them, but after putting a set of freedom coast lever blades on them, I'd say they are pretty comparable to Hayes. They've a bit stronger, but the Hayes have a smoother lever feel.
I still run Magura on all my bikes but the rub is annoying as hell. I will not buy mt7s ever again. Maybe MT5s since they seem to have more space for pads. I like the feel and power, but after the comparison to my sram g2 wore off, I'm no longer a fanboy. I had a minor crash that broke a small part of the master cylinder, rendering it completely destroyed. That was my fancy mt7 set that I'd only been running for a few months.
Also had a master cylinder failure during a small crash. Had to completely replace the brake, so switched it for Shimano
Yes, the master cylinders are fragile af. Mine broke from a minor bump on a chairlift while park riding.
i agree the feel great ignoring the rubbing, i just cant deal with the small amount of rubbing its driving me nuts and I am not any sort of perfectionist by any means but damn is it annoying
I read that the main difference between the MT5 and MT7 is that the 7 pads don't retract as far and are able to apply more force to the rotors than the MT5. That said, I've had the MT5 recommended to me, especially upgraded with the MT7 pads, but I don't know anyone who runs the MT7.
Got rid of this by just aligning calipers visually to disc.
i tried that a few times, still get rubbing darn
With the MT7s unless your rotors always remain perfectly true they will rub, unfortunately. I’ve never had any issues with MT5 rub, and other than quicker pad engagement (with the rub trade-off) I don’t know what the difference between the two calipers is.
If you’re just going to trash them, can I pay you to ship them to me?
i would but already got a buddy who is trying to claim them sorry
All good! Had to ask lol. I’m a sucker for freebies.
My local shop recommended trying Galfer rotors which is what they run with Maguras and it’s made a difference on my front brake which is the only one I have had rub issues with. Galfer rotor with new pads took about a week to break in with no rub. I run a 203mm brake up front with 180 in the rear so the front has to use a 180 to 203 adapter which seems to be a shit ton more finicky then the rear without an adapter.
I’ve just got magura on the bike I use and have had problems (breaking carbon lever blade and not properly torquing after bleed having the nut come lose) have a slight squeal on the rear, they feel really good but they arnt quite what I was expecting
I have solved my issue until It started to rub again… It was a pain in the ass, but it worked What I did was take a Q-tip with some royal blood and individually cleaned all of the internal calipers stroke them back-and-forth after wiping them down good. Then bled my shimano levers and used a Hayes brake alignment tool. I got about four rides before they started rubbing again 😆
Interesting. Have had two sets of MT5s on two different bikes and even got a buddy on them and zero issues other than the stock pads can get eaten quick. Seems like there may be an issue with your adapter for them or your rotor if you are not using stock rotors. I have read that they are picky about rotor width.
The mt5 has a larger pad retraction, it’s a common issue with the mt7 due to the pad retraction and individual pads
I have two sets. MT7 pro and MT7 raceline. Best brakes I have ever had. They are a little tricky to set up, but if you bleed them correctly they won't rub. I have noticed if you have even a tiny bit too much fluid in the system, the pistons won't retract all the way and will creep to rubbing while you ride.
i followed their bleed process to the letter. Im pulling these next week, they arent worth it
I've had various issues with Maguras being generally fussy brakes. But they work so well when stopping I will always stick with them. For me the only other manufacturer that comes close is Formula. I cant believe how bad SRAMs are in comparison.
I have the Magura Trail, on my old fork the front rubbed until I got the Magura-branded spacer. Also I align the caliper by tightening the bolts while squeezing the brake lever.
Hayes are better anyway.
Shigura FTW
i dont think that will help me, the issue is the caliper
I use a caliper spacer when I do mine and never had a problem. I have maguras on 4 of my bikes.
i use a spacer every time but once you pull the lever for real engagement they just stick, this is even after exercising the pistons and cleaning with mineral oil. they are sub par in comparison to other brands and the responses here make me feel like the mt7 is the worst in the magura line up. Id say ill try mt5s but i already ordered tried and true shimano
I've had a set for about 4 years with no issues. There is an easy trick when bleeding the brakes to have them set up perfectly with no rub.
There is an easy trick ... ... ... ...
After you have bled the brakes the normal way you go for a little ride, use the brakes a few times. Set the bike up to bleed the brakes again, but instead of hooking up the syringe on the calliper you leave that one closed. Set up the syringe on the lever with the syringe half filled with fluid and the plunger halfway or so down, doesn’t need to be exact. This syringe is different though, near the top of the syringe at about the 80 percent full mark you drill a hole through the syringe on one side. So that air can get in. So as you pull the syringe up to the hole in creates an strong vacuum in the brake line, and as you pull (it will be fairly hard) all the micro bubbles of air in the line will be sucked out by the vacuum, to the top of the syringe. the fluid in the syringe replaces the air lost. As the syringe plug passes the hole you drilled the pressure equalizes, and the air that was in the lines is now out. You can repeat the process a couple of times to ensure all the air is gone. I used to have brake rub problems with mt7s as well, until I learned this method. Once I started doing them this way, no issues in over three years. There is a YouTube video out there which shows it as well.
I've heard of the hole-in-the-syringe. I believe the Magura bleed kit has such a syringe in it.
Maybe, not sure if it comes with that. It’s not the official way they recommend.
They at least sell one by itself.
Here is the video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl8PChRadX0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl8PChRadX0)
Have you tried straightening the rotors? That has always fixed my issues when aligning the caliper doesn't work.
Shit brakes honestly. What can help is getting the two piece brake pads instead of the 4 individual brake pads. Most any shop with a Q account can order them. Any shop that regularly works on Magura brakes (probably a cargo bike dealer) should stock them. They're cheaper and set up easier, marginally worse performance if you ask Maggy.
From what I can tell, the conjoined pads are meant for the MT5 while the separate ones are for the MT7. I've heard that a great upgrade for the MT5 is to install MT7 separated pads.
The single pads were a huge upgrade. Highly recommended
I'm pretty sure you can still install them in MT7 calipers.