Hayes Announce Limited Edition Dominion T2 Brake with Carbon Lever & Ti Hardware

Oct 27, 2020
by James Smurthwaite  

PRESS RELEASE: Hayes

Hayes have announced a limited edition version of their Dominion A2 brake that shaves 50 grams per brake. The A2 is a slimmed-down, 2 piston version of the A4 meant for XC and trail bikes and this new version, the T2, goes lighter again thanks to some carbon and titanium upgrades.

Each brake now weighs 254 grams, thanks to a carbon lever produced in house by Reynolds, titanium hardware, a composite reservoir cover, pads with aluminum backing plates, and precise weight-reducing machining. There have also been some internal tweaks such as an added glide ring on the master cylinder piston and sealed ball bearings at the lever blade pivot. These updates are said to reduce friction and "keep the lever feel as lightweight as its carbon construction".


As in the A2, the brake has no dead stroke, meaning when riders move the lever, the pads start to move from the beginning of the stroke, and the bite point and lever reach can be adjusted using a 2mm allen key. Also brought over from the A2 is the 2-stroke dual-port bleed system that allows users to isolate your bleed to the caliper where air bubbles can hide behind pistons and the Crosshair Alignment screws on the caliper mount that allow riders to fine-tune alignment.


Hayes' D-Series rotors are designed to work with the calipers Semi-Met T106 pads, to cancel out noise and vibration. The T2 utilizes aluminum backing plates on the standard Semi-Met T106 pads to further reduce weight. Titanium rotor mounting bolts are included with every T2 Brake Kit for extra gram reduction.


The T2 is available now but is limited to just 500 sets. The brake retails for $289.99 or €258.83, which is around $60 more than the standard A2 brakes. More information on the brakes can be found, here.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Press Releases Brakes Hayes Hayes Dominion


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70 Comments

  • 44 0
 I heard they brake well!
  • 21 1
 Do you even use brakes!?!?
  • 6 0
 Oh, give me a brake.
  • 5 0
 @z-man: you need to slow down with those comments of yours.
  • 4 0
 I heard they are unstoppable in brake game!
  • 1 0
 You need to put your comments on hold
  • 2 0
 All of you need to stop!
  • 27 0
 I have always been interested in trying the Hayes 4 pistons, I just haven't ever gotten the chance to. They look sick!
  • 16 0
 I ordered them for my Banshee Titan as they were the only thing available. I like them more than I should admit, great modulation, and set screws in the side of the mounting bolts makes lining it up with the rotor a snap. The bleed process is also brain dead simple, not quite what a mineral oil brake is, but close.
  • 10 0
 i came off the Hope 4 postons and LOVE my Dominions. i have zero issues and the modulation is great
  • 17 0
 Seriously, they are the best brakes I have ever used. 10/10 would recommend.
  • 10 0
 @lpat1717:
10/10 in my experience. Not one issue in the last few years.
  • 7 0
 I have had them since they first came out, consistent and faultless, used on all trail types from high alpine to Finale.
  • 8 0
 got a set of dominion A4 at the start of the year and they have been flawless, tons of power and easy modulation
  • 9 0
 I have Shimano XT's and Code RSCs and Guide RSC's in the garage. The Code RSC's are my favorite by a long shot...however I have some Dominions now too. FANTASTIC brake...the best, period. They have the early modulation/control that the Codes have, but they ramp up with more power. The ramp up gives you a fair amount of feedback/feel too without needing to grab it hard. Fwiw my 6yro is running their A2's with their kids level (SFL). ALL of his hand fatigue has gone away. He'll do a 12mile shuttle run and never once complain or stretch his hands...which used to happen frequently on steeper segments. Same thing for bike park laps. HUGE improvement over his Guide RSC brakes. Hayes/Manitou/Protaper/Sunringle is killing it these days.
  • 6 0
 absolutely recommend giving them a shot. i came from shimano XT brakes and these are miles ahead. way less hand fatigue and insanely better modulation and can still lock them up on command with just a bit more force. super smooth and easy lever pull.
  • 5 0
 I've had them for about four months and, for the same reasons everyone else pointed out, I'm really happy with them.
  • 10 0
 Never seen so many positive comments on a PB thread. I ran Hayes back in the 90's and early 2000's. They worked flawlessly.
  • 7 0
 Add one more to the dominion love. Got a pair on the enduro, dh and will grab some for my future trail bike if it ever comes.
  • 5 0
 I'll add to the positive vibes. The Dominions are phenomenal! Went from XO trails, to XTR trails and still wasn't happy. The Dominions replaced the XTR's and I'm all smiles. Shimano power with Sram modulation.
  • 3 0
 Yep, love mine too. When I sell my current bike, they're coming with me.
  • 4 0
 I bought some A4s because Hopes were out of stock in the summer. I had planned to sell the A4s when the Hopes became available, instead I'm going to buy another set of A4s for my hardtail.
  • 4 0
 I love my 2pot dominions. I wouldn’t go for any other brake at this point. So much power in them. No brake fade I’ve ever noticed too.
  • 2 0
 Just put the A4 on my Stylus build. They feel amazing and have been easy to work with.
  • 2 0
 @SmithCreekCycle: I also have them on a titan, #epic
  • 2 0
 And so easy to bleed! I had Saints on my first downhill bike back in 2010 and hated the digital operation. I was convinced to trade them for a pair of Hayes Stroker Ace that had great modulation, but were oh so noisy. Recently switched to A4s and I am loving them! So consistent, quiet, powerful, great lever feel, doesn’t take much lever force. Everyone should give these a try if they have a chance.
  • 9 0
 I tried a set of Dominion A4 brakes last year for a day. Now all of my bikes have them, from trail to DH. These are the best brakes I've ever used. Two sets I've had on for over a year now w/o the need for even a lever bleed, they're SO consistent. Keep it up, Hayes!
  • 7 0
 After rebuilding my Guide RSCs this spring and still not satisfied with the performance, I finally got the A4s (they were also on sale!). Best brakes ever! More power than the RSCs right out of the box without bedding. And the modulation allows me to throw even larger rotors on and reserve some of the braking power for steeper terrain.
  • 8 0
 I have had Dominion 4 pistons on my last two builds and they are the best brake I've ever been on
  • 6 0
 If these were ever in stock in Oz I was keen for some, had to settle with saints instead. Also having to get new rotors to match as they use wider ones was a bit of a negative
  • 3 0
 Same here. Tried to buy them from the Oz Hayes importer, for like $1000au when they had been out for a year in the US. Oz Importer wasn’t interested, an did not foresee them trying. Im on magura M5’s at present, very happy with (After years of living with XTR & Saints varying bite points)
  • 2 0
 God they're usless. I ended up getting my dorado, mezzer, and dominions in the USA during work trips. If they don't get the 76mm rise and 2020 bars soon, I'm going to get a friend to send me one from USA
  • 1 0
 LOL theyre too busy flogging DNM wheelchair shocks and other garbage
  • 6 0
 We are testing & reviewing the A4 and A2 in the coming weeks - we've heard nothing but stellar feedback from the latest Hayes products. Excited to test them.
  • 5 0
 A glide ring on the piston and sealed ball bearings!! Dominions already have a super light and smooth lever action. You must be able to blow on them now and get the lever to move!
  • 8 0
 One man's dead stroke is another's reconsideration
  • 7 0
 Yes! I'm a serial brake stabber, deadstroke lets me reconsider what my lizard brain is trying to do.
  • 3 0
 Dead stroke is adjustable it just comes preset to the minimum amount. Add more if ya like!
  • 1 0
 @kevimig: Yeah the little screw is pretty easy to strip too if you don't know that it's already at the minimum and attempt to reduce it further. The bleed process is a bit different as well, but even with the lever throw reduced to the minimum, along with their little kids lever...the stock dead stroke is perfect (once I bled them correctly).
  • 4 0
 Are there any plans to do a similar version for the A4? I was about to pull the trigger for an A4 setup. The extra $60 seemed to get you more than you would with most brands.
  • 2 0
 Weird ask but does anyone have a guide that compares the difference in how each brand of brakes feels? I feel like everyone always compares brake feel to Shimano and Sram, one being very binary (Shimano) the other having a spongy feel. It would be interesting to see each different brake brand on a spectrum from highest modulation feel to the ones who have the biggest bite.

I'd love to try a brand other than Shimano/Sam but its a decent investment to something that I have no idea if I'll genuinely like
  • 7 0
 I came off of Saints on to Dominions. Saints are a great brake with the niggles associated with Shimano. I liked them, and good riders win world cups on them. But, I had to use an ABS style of lever pull it steep loose terrain, and theY needed bleeding and burping.

Dominions beat them hands down. Consistent reliable bite point, consistent reliable bleed, consistent reliable power that hauls on in a nice ramp up to all the power that you could want.

Cunningham crowned them component of the year, other reviews have similar things to say. They aren’t as cheap as Shimano, but they aren’t cheap like Shimano. They come with spare pads and barbs. Buy them.
  • 2 0
 @Onetrickpony: Dirt Merchant Cycles usually has them listed in the buy/sell section for a good price; that’s who I got mine from.
  • 2 0
 @dodgerpuppy: I got mine from Shockcraft in NZ, but they can ship to wherever.
  • 2 0
 Add me to the list of incredibly satisfied Hayes A4 Dominion customers. Not one issue in near 1 1/2 years of using them. Only minor issue I had was with the very first ones you had some casting flash on the inside of the calipers that had to be ground out to prevent scraping the outer edge of those rotors which NEVER get out of true with their added thickness. I would not have any other brakes on my bikes. I did not have any issues with the Code RSC or the Trail XO but these are so much better in modulation and eliminating hand fatigue.
  • 5 0
 Can anyone compare Cura and Dominion?
  • 2 0
 I'd love to see a Privateer geared shootout for different brakes on the market. XT4, G2 RS, Hayes Dominion A4, etc
  • 2 0
 @squarewheel I'm using Cura( 2 piston) on park bike, it is kinda set and forget brake, also light and cheap;
quick disconnect feature super cool, when you route brake intently or through fork , so you do not need to bleed after fork service;


the only downside - all spare parts should be ordered from EU, which is kinda annoying, when you bend lever or so;

My weight around 185 + gear comparing to SRAM and Shimano those are super consistent and reliable;
  • 1 0
 @nickmalysh: You can get parts for the Cura's from these guys

albadistribution.ca

I've also been on Cura 4's for about a year now and they are the best brakes i've ever used(been on saints,xt 4pots etc)
  • 1 0
 I've got the Cura 2 pistons on an XC-ish bike and Dominion A4's on an Optic. The Curas come on a little faster at the beginning. They almost feel too grabby for a split second. The Dominions ramp up smoother. I would say I feel a little more in control with the Hayes, but part of it could be the 3 degree slacker HTA chilling things out the Norco. I like both better than my last four sets of XT and SLX brakes.
  • 2 0
 Hmmm, my friend's old Norco Shore has the OG Hayes, and I don't recall if he has ever bled them . . . .ever! I look forward to trying the A4. I would also love the Mezzer forks, which Pinkbike should really review.
  • 2 0
 I think NSMB wrote quite a piece over the Mezzer.. It came out pretty good.
  • 1 0
 About to bleed the rear of my spare bike. It's a hmx and hasn't been bled since I bought it 15 years ago. Removalists fumbled it and tore the hose out somehow.
  • 1 0
 Sorry hfx. LOL
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike did review the Mezzer and didn't like it. Seemed to have bushing play. Hope they do a retest, because the positive/negative feedback ratio from actual users is better than most forks. QA/QC seemed to be a bit problematic in the initial production runs but has improved a lot, going on the latest feedback on MTBR.
  • 2 0
 LOVE my Dominion A4 too ????????

I have also used Saint, Code, ... in the past but with my 95kg every brake has some negative sites. With the A4 - no problem's!

The (Do)minion's are the best! ????
  • 5 0
 Very nice
  • 1 0
 I know that there's a bunch of great break models n brands out there, but Hayes has always made me come back to their products simply bc i feel like their brakes are more well rounded.
  • 2 0
 The lever/master assembly sure looks a lot better than the standard one. But it loses the tool free reach adjust?
  • 4 0
 @danimaniac: Probably for weight reduction
  • 4 0
 I was hoping this was a win-it-Tuesday sweepstakes.
  • 3 0
 I've heard nothing but amazing things about the Dominions. They finaly don't look like shit to boot.
  • 2 0
 I got the A4 and love them. Went from guide r to these and I most say these are the best upgrade I have done. More confidence, means riding faster and harder.
  • 1 0
 After the shop that claimed they had them in stock still didn’t have them installed I just put new Xts back on for cheap. Really wanted to try these
  • 1 0
 Great brakes like everyone has said, this will be my third set, and they are in stock @ BTI
  • 1 0
 Should have brought back the champagne color of the OG HFX Mag carbons, those were the cat's meow back in '04
  • 2 0
 ???????? = thumb up

???? = beer icon Smile
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