Baffling design choices - ZRACE brake calipers from AliExpress

These ZRACE XG hydraulic brake calipers from AliExpress are cheap and lightweight, but they have a number of issues!

SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below): https://srko.co/tracevelo

I recently built myself a carbon road bike from parts bought almost exclusively on AliExpress, and it uses a hydraulic disc brake groupset from L-TWOO. I am always looking for cheap ways to drop some of the weight from this bike, so when I saw these ZRACE brakes on AliExpress, I had to buy a pair. The main body is comprised of a single block of 7075 aluminium, and by swapping to these lightweight flat mount brake calipers, I managed to save 110g.

HOWEVER, during the install, I discovered a massive flaw with the design. When the hydraulic brake hose is seated into the caliper, it can easily block one of the piston ports, preventing the brake from working entirely.

There was also a random washer behind one of the pistons, and upon further inspection, it has started to eat away at the aluminium within the caliper. This lead to metal shavings or particles within the hydraulic oil, and could potentially lead to a failure of the pistons seals.

There are also some questions around patents and IP agreements with these calipers, and they also appear to mimic the X2 calipers from a brand called Hope.

So In this episode, I’ll give you a rundown of the calipers, discuss braking performance, cover all the issues I came across, and show you what to watch out for!

OG Evkin Handlebars:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBI...

Blue disassembly tool:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...

Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Intro
01:20 – ZRACE XG caliper weight
02:25 – Patents and IP
05:23 – Installation
09:27 – Caliper teardown
12:03 – Braking performance
14:02 – Hope X2 Calipers
14:28 – Conclusion
17:40 – Bonus bar discussion

Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk

Instagram:   / tracevelo  

Email: [email protected]

Please note:
With the exception of Siroko, all products demonstrated in this video have been purchased by me, and I have no affiliation to any of the sellers or vendors shown.

In addition, 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!!!