The P04C-MF is Shimano's finned metal pad for the current-generation 4-piston XTR and XT calipers, and the compatibility chart is where most of the buying decision lives. These fit the BR-M9220 (XTR 4-piston), BR-M8220 (XT 4-piston), and BR-MT805 calipers — and only those. If you're running the older M9120 or M8120 4-piston calipers, you want the N04C pad instead; the P-shape and N-shape are not interchangeable even though both are 4-piston pads. Check the caliper model stamped on the inside of the arch before ordering.

Metal compound is the play if you spend real time in wet conditions, on long alpine descents, or riding an e-bike where pad temperatures climb fast and stay there. Sintered metal shrugs off heat that would glaze a resin pad, keeps bite consistent from the first pull to the bottom of the descent, and lasts noticeably longer than resin when grit and water are in the mix. The tradeoff is noise — metal pads can sing, especially when cold or wet, and they're harder on rotors than resin. That's a fair trade for riders who prioritize stopping power and pad life over silence.

The MF suffix is the important part of the name. These are the finned version, with an aluminum radiator fin bonded to the stainless steel backing plate that pulls heat out of the pad and dumps it into the airstream. On sustained descents, the fins make a measurable difference in fade resistance, which is exactly where a metal compound wants to be paired with active cooling. Pair them with Ice-Tech Freeza rotors if you're building a system from scratch — the aluminum-core rotors work on the same heat-dissipation principle and the two together are what Shimano's downhill and enduro program runs.... Read More