Dominion A4 Brake Kit

There are so many places I could start with the Dominion A4's, whether it would be the incredibly consistent, powerful bite point, the feathery lever stroke (which makes going back to a pair of SRAM/Shimano's feel redundant), or their unmatched modulation, but the truth is Hayes has made a product that stands out against all the other brands in my humble opinion. Not to mention, their customer support is next to none (try getting a new master cylinder shipped out to your door in 4 days (like I did from Hayes), from Shimano. Hint: it'll take more like 4 months... Shout out Matt K. !!)

I'll never look back at another brake set again. These have changed my riding exponentially. There's a reason Remy Metailler rides them, I suggest you find out for yourself, just like I did, you won't be disappointed.

Hayes FOR LIFE!

I love these brakes, I just bought another set so that I have them on both my mountain bikes.

I have tried to reserve judgement on these brakes for the past year but it is becoming increasingly difficult. Bite point wanders all over the map based on temp and how much I am using them. I can adjust reach but it still changes mid ride.

I can’t get a new set of pads to fit without rubbing from both sides. Originally I thought they were just bled wrong. But I just worked them over again and again(full bleed 3 steps) and the pistons will not stay back far enough to prevent constant rub.

Sure the dominions feel nice but my guide R’s just work and work consistently. Can somebody tell me what the LBS and me don’t understand about getting these set up properly?

I am very happy and impressed with these brakes! I had the stroker brakes many years ago and they didn't meet expectations so I wasn't in a hurry to get another pair of Hayes brakes especially since the modern line up from Sram & Shimano are real solid. Although I do like to try products that are less mainstream or your normal oem spec when they look worthwhile. So when I needed new brakes I was looking primarily towards magura. A couple people I trust strongly suggested these brakes so I went with the Dominion A4 instead. I didn't dig into the nitty gritty details and internal tech that makes these brakes special - but I was hearing that these brakes felt great, had plenty of power, and were very reliable and predictable. All of that was true! So far these are on track to be my favorite brakes to date. I usually ride a code or saint, both of which are nice and reliable. On this bike, these brakes are replacing a pair of TRP G-spec 4 pistons. The dominions are quieter, prettier, much stronger, and the lever feel (both shape and pull action) is WAY better. This is a top notch brake and I'd recommend them to anyone looking for a powerful 4-piston brake. I'm always happy to find a product that is top notch from a niche brand - especially when you're not paying boutique price. These are a win!

Of all the brakes I've ridden (Hayes Purple DH and Hayes Stroker Ace, Shimano Saint and Deore, and SRAM Guides) these are *without a doubt* the best in every way, save for weight- but if you're buying these brakes, that probably isn't a top priority. After one ride on a friend's bike with A4s front and rear, I knew I needed them- I just waited way too long to press "buy."

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but there's a reason every review mentions the same things: the lever feel is incredibly light and smooth, the bite point is predictable and tight, modulation is unreal even under heavy load, the power is incredible, and they look amazing. Every minute detail has clearly been considered. I'm used to Shimano brake fade, so it has been revelatory to have total faith in my brakes regardless of how hard they've been working.

It took me a little while to figure out an effective bench bleeding procedure, but it's not a big deal to remove the caliper since the Crosshair alignment system makes precise re-installation easy. Compared to mineral oil I don't love dealing with DOT4/5.1, but I'll take it for all the reasons that cars use it, including how easy and cheap it is to buy.

If you like to ride fast and still be in some semblance of control, get these brakes. They will not disappoint.