Sinter Model 018 Shimano K Type

The Shimano K-type pad shape is the busiest pocket in the modern Shimano catalog. It covers Dura-Ace R9270, Ultegra R8170, 105 R7170, Tiagra 4770, Metrea U5000, and the current GRX gravel hydraulic platforms on the road side, plus XTR M9100, XT M8100, and SLX two-piston Trail variants on the MTB side. One pad shape; one Sinter model number; the largest single span of current Shimano hydraulic brakes. If your bike was built in the last five or six years and runs a Shimano hydraulic brake, the Model 018 is very probably the pad.

What's in the kit

One caliper's worth of pads (2 pads, left and right) for the Shimano K-type pocket. The kit ships with the spring, pin, and bedding-in instructions. Order two kits if you're replacing front and rear together.

Fits

K-type pad shape, covering the current generation of Shimano road and MTB hydraulic brakes:

Road / Gravel / Adventure:

• Dura-Ace R9150 series (BR-R9270)
• Ultegra R8050 series (BR-R8170)
• 105 R7100 Di2 series (BR-R7170)
• 105 R7000 series (BR-R7070-F, BR-R7070-R)
• Tiagra 4700 series (BR-4770-F, BR-4770-R)
• Metrea U5000 series (BR-U5000)
• GRX 11-speed (BR-RX810-F, BR-RX810-R)
• and other current Shimano road and gravel hydraulic calipers using the K-type pocket

MTB:

• XTR M9100 series (BR-M9100, BR-M9110)
• Deore XT M8100 series (BR-M8110)

The same pad replaces the front and rear caliper pad on flat-mount road calipers; same pocket on Dura-Ace R9270 and 105 R7170, just different bracket geometry on the caliper itself. If your shifter or caliper is the current generation Shimano hydraulic, the Model 018 is the right pad.

Compound and feel

Sinter's organic ceramic-loaded compound is what the K-type pocket expects: predictable lever feel, quiet running on dry rotors, and a wider wet-weather working envelope than the original-equipment Shimano resin pad. Road riders on Dura-Ace or Ultegra hydraulic will notice the modulation specifically; the friction matrix is calibrated for the short hard-input pattern that road braking creates. MTB riders running XTR or XT two-piston for trail and XC will get the same compound benefit in a higher cumulative-heat use case.

For riders who want the same K-type fitment in a higher-spec build, the Sinter Elite is the titanium-backed, modulation-tuned variant of this exact pad shape.

Specs

• Compound: organic (ceramic-loaded, resin-bound)
• Backing plate: steel
• Pad shape: Shimano K-type
• Pads per package: 2 (one caliper)
• Includes spring and pin

Includes: 2 pads (left and right), spring, pin, bedding-in instructions.

Ljubljana organic compound, distributed by Euro Toolworks

Sinter has been making friction materials in Ljubljana since 1969, and developed the first disc brake pads in the former Yugoslavia in 1972. The plant supplies organic-compound pads at scale to motorcycle OEMs alongside the bicycle aftermarket. Unior has been forging hand tools in Zreče since 1919, and is the official technical partner of multiple World Tour and downhill teams. Euro Toolworks is the importer behind both brands in North America. The Model 018 is the pad that the current generation of those teams' road and MTB programs would order if their service course needed to replace a Dura-Ace R9270 or XTR M9100 pad; the K-type pocket is in more current Shimano hydraulic brakes than any other shape, and that's why the Model 018 is the highest-volume single SKU in the Sinter catalog.

Pro tip from our mechanics

K-type pads have a longer total lifespan than the older Shimano resin pads they replaced. The friction-matrix design holds more usable material before the backing plate becomes the wear point. Use a rotor wear indicator to confirm the rotor is still within its service limit before installing fresh pads; a worn rotor will eat new pads at a much faster rate than it ate the OE Shimano set, and pad-on-worn-rotor is the most common cause of unexpected pad-life complaints on Sinter installs.

The pad-selection grid that starts with your brake and ends at the right Sinter model is in How to choose Sinter brake pads →.

FAQ

Which Shimano brakes does the Model 018 fit? The Model 018 pad fits Shimano four-piston calipers of the K type, such as XT, SLX, and Zee four-piston units. Because Shimano two-piston and four-piston calipers take different shapes, this is for the four-piston version, not a two-piston caliper. Pull a worn pad and match the backing-plate outline, the tab, and the pin hole to confirm, or read the model number stamped on the old pad. If you have any doubt about which pocket your caliper uses, send a photo of the old pad and we'll check.

Are these sintered or organic pads? They are organic, despite the Sinter brand name. Sinter only makes organic pads, not sintered-metal ones. Compared to sintered pads, organic compounds run cooler at the caliper, give more lever feedback and modulation, stay quieter, and cause less rotor wear and vibration.

How do I reset the caliper pistons so the new pads fit? As the old pads wore down, the pistons advanced to take up the gap, so a fresh, thicker set will not slide in until you push the pistons back. Remove the old pads, then gently spread the pistons fully back into the caliper with a plastic tire lever or a dedicated pad spreader. Once they are reset, the new pads and the spring clip will seat correctly.

Do I need to bed in the new pads? Yes. New organic pads need bedding in to transfer an even layer of material onto the rotor and reach full power. Find a safe stretch of road or trail, bring the bike up to a moderate speed, then brake firmly to a near stop without locking the wheel, and repeat around ten times per brake. Braking will feel stronger and quieter once they are bedded.