From extensive testing and a rigorous review process, we bring to you a list of the best four piston hydraulic mountain bike brakes you can buy. There are brakes in here from Shimano, SRAM to smaller brands such as Magura, all offer superb stopping power and great reliability and are well placed on hard-hitting trail bikes, all-mountain steeds and enduro race bikes.

• Your complete guide to SRAM mountain bike disc brakes
• Your complete guide to Shimano mountain bike disc brakes
• What's the best way to clean disc brakes on a bicycle?

[Updated 29th July 2020]

The best mountain bike disc brakes you can buy

All these brakes have been tried and tested by us and have scored over four stars out of five in review. The price quoted here will be for one brake, so that's a lever, caliper and hose for either the front or the rear. Dive into the review for the price for a pair, plus the costs of the discs too.

Scroll down for the full list of the brakes that we really like or hit the links below to jump straight to the break of your choice. 

• Magura MT5
• Shimano Saint M820
• TRP G-Spec Quadiem
• SRAM Code RSC

Magura MT5
£132

Super powerful and reasonably priced, the Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes have blown us away in terms of sheer braking prowess. As long as you don’t mind the ‘functional’ look and the large lever blade, these are a solid performer suitable for any trail or enduro mountain bike.

• Read the full review of the Magura MT5 here

Shimano Saint M820
£241

The Shimano Saint M820 hydraulic disc brakes are a superb, powerful and a mostly reliable brake. They are good value given the stopping power on offer and they look pretty sweet too. The raw power on offer from the Saint’s is spectacular, it’ll be the only thing you think about. That power, plus some of the best cooling tech on the market is the reason to buy the Saint brakes.

• Read the full review of the Shimano Saint M820 brakes here
   

TRP G-Spec Quadiem
£200

TRP make two Quadiem disc brakes – a standard model and an upgraded G-Spec version. The latter was developed with the help of Aaron Gwin the reigning DH world cup champion. Obviously, Gwin uses it for downhill racing but this brake is equally at home on a trail or all-mountain bike. Overall the G-Spec Quadiem is sensitive and well-modulated and on face value looks good value but the price listed above doesn’t include rotors, calliper adapters or the shifters mounts. With those, you’re looking at over £260 an end. At that level, the G-Spec Quadiem is less attractive but there is a way of having your cake and eating it and that’s by considering the standard Quadiem. You don’t get the G-Spec name but it has essentially the same features but with a painted finish and a more affordable £140 price tag. 

• Read the full review of the TRP G-Spec disc brakes here

SRAM Code RSC
£229

SRAM’s older Code disc brake was the go-to option for downhill riding but the latest model features a lighter weight brake lever and several features found on the trail-specific Guide range, making it suitable for all-mountain, enduro or everyday hard riding. SRAM’s Code brake was originally a downhill only brake but I reckon the changes open it up to enduro and all mountain use. The only issue we have with that is SRAM already has some excellent brakes suitable for those disciplines, including the Guide RE, an e-bike specific brake that currently sells for around £85 an end.

• Read the full review of the SRAM Code RSC disc brakes here

There will be more added to the lineup soon, we have a review of the SRAM Guide RE brakes plus new Shimano XTR's in the pipeline. 

You might also like:

• Talking disc brake technology with SRAM
• First Ride: Shimano XTR M9100 and M9120 groupset - all you need to know
• TRP G-Spec E-MTB brake review