Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I exclusively ride disc brake road bikes, so can this cheap AliExpress brake upgrade improve things or are they just overkill?
I have used disc brakes on my road bikes for many years at this point, and in all honesty, I have never felt like the brakes needed upgrading. The stock brakes are fine for 99% of road bikers, but I spotted some really cool looking brake calipers on AliExpress.
ZRace have just started selling flat mount 4 piston brake calipers on AliExpress, and as soon as I saw them, I had to buy them! 4 piston brakes have been available on mountain bikes for a while, but these are the first set of cheap flat mount 4 piston calipers I’ve come across, hence my excitement to test them.
Spoiler alert, these brakes are mental! SO much top end braking power, amazing modulation, and hitting brake fade is almost impossible, at least on the hill i’ve tested them on. A definite upgrade over the stock brakes, but do you really need them, and what are the drawbacks…?
Brake calipers - Affiliate link to the seller I used:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCynsEK
Yoeleo Altera Gravel bike:
yoeleobike.com/products/altera-g21-gravel-frameset
Timestamps:
00:00 – Overview
00:52 – Zrace 4 piston brakes
02:05 – Size and weight
02:57 – Phenolic resin pistons
03:52 – Why are more pistons better?
05:06 – Installation and testing
06:14 – Yoeleo gravel bike frame
07:39 – Testing stock brakes
09:49 – Installing 4 piston calipers
12:47 – Testing 4 piston calipers
14:38 – Are they overkill?
16:10 – Trade-offs
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
I exclusively ride disc brake road bikes, so can this cheap AliExpress brake upgrade improve things or are they just overkill?
I have used disc brakes on my road bikes for many years at this point, and in all honesty, I have never felt like the brakes needed upgrading. The stock brakes are fine for 99% of road bikers, but I spotted some really cool looking brake calipers on AliExpress.
ZRace have just started selling flat mount 4 piston brake calipers on AliExpress, and as soon as I saw them, I had to buy them! 4 piston brakes have been available on mountain bikes for a while, but these are the first set of cheap flat mount 4 piston calipers I’ve come across, hence my excitement to test them.
Spoiler alert, these brakes are mental! SO much top end braking power, amazing modulation, and hitting brake fade is almost impossible, at least on the hill i’ve tested them on. A definite upgrade over the stock brakes, but do you really need them, and what are the drawbacks…?
Brake calipers - Affiliate link to the seller I used:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCynsEK
Yoeleo Altera Gravel bike:
yoeleobike.com/products/altera-g21-gravel-frameset
Timestamps:
00:00 – Overview
00:52 – Zrace 4 piston brakes
02:05 – Size and weight
02:57 – Phenolic resin pistons
03:52 – Why are more pistons better?
05:06 – Installation and testing
06:14 – Yoeleo gravel bike frame
07:39 – Testing stock brakes
09:49 – Installing 4 piston calipers
12:47 – Testing 4 piston calipers
14:38 – Are they overkill?
16:10 – Trade-offs
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
