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Questions tagged [brake-levers]

Hand control for actuating your bike's brakes.

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7 votes
2 answers
424 views

Function of the L•H adjustements on Shimano LX brake levers?

I have an oldish bike equipped with Shimano LX components. The brake levers have a L•H adjustment (see photo below). What could be its purpose? And as a bonus question, what were the drawbacks, as no ...
Rеnаud's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
69 views

Is a given cable disk brake caliper compatible with any cable disk brake lever?

I am looking to replace Tektro mechanical disk brakes on a gravel bike with drop bars. These brakes are Norco's factory brakes and the levers are Shimano Tiagra. The calipers should be one of these (...
Steven's user avatar
  • 213
7 votes
2 answers
753 views

Plastic guides in Shimano brake levers

I have a set of Shimano BL-M6100 brake levers that both are damaged in the plastic guides that guide the piston part from the lever to the actual brake piston. See marked items in photo below. Is ...
MagnusK's user avatar
  • 918
2 votes
1 answer
65 views

Replacing brake lever on Shimano Nexus integrated shifter/brake lever

I have a Shimano Nexus Revoshift shifter with brake lever, part number SB-C6000-8, to use with a Nexus 8 internally geared hub. The brake lever has been sheared off where it joins the body of the ...
Ainlina's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
86 views

Replace lever for hydraulic brakes

I was moving my mountain bike in a moving van, and the the brake lever was damaged in transit. The brake is a tektro hydraulic, and it is the Front brake. The connector to fluid tube is gone but no ...
Gary and Joyce VantHul's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Brake Line no Longer Connected to Brake Lever

Randomly a couple of days ago, my left brake stopped working. When I investigated, the bolt or nut or whatever that had held the brakeline inside the brake lever was missing! Image showing brake ...
Searke's user avatar
  • 151
0 votes
0 answers
47 views

Hydraulic road levers bleeding not working

a long time reader here that was usually able to find an answer, but not on this one. I've done some basic and slightly more advanced fixes and part replacements on bicycles, but I've never installed ...
nomve's user avatar
  • 123
1 vote
1 answer
220 views

MicroShift R9 derailleurs with Shimano Sora levers

I have been running a MicroShift R9 2x9 groupset (+ Shimano mechanical disc brakes, BR-M375 I believe) on my gravel bike, which is what it came with when I bought it. Now, I am fairly happy with it, ...
Matsiemats's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
340 views

How are brake cables installs for drop and flat lever combo brake system?

I have an old traitor wander which is a discontinued series. The brake system is curious but interesting. I'd like to reroute brake cables and levers but I don't want to open a can of worms. Is there ...
AdamO's user avatar
  • 417
3 votes
0 answers
55 views

Microshift AdventX drop bar lever spring position

My left brake lever spring was not pulling the lever back and I checked and it was bent. I removed the lever and fixed the spring, but I don't know how to put it back. I can't find any tutorials nor ...
Mircea Ispas's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
271 views

Front hydraulic brake lever dislodged

This is a brand new mountain bike for kids with hydraulic brakes. The bike fell on its side and when we picked it up, the brake handle got caught by a branch. With a little effort, we were able to ...
macxpat's user avatar
  • 13
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Replacing hydraulic brake lever

This is my first time dealing with hydraulic brakes. The front brake on my bike is Shimano BL-M4100 lever with MT410 caliper. I stripped the lever's clamp thread and going to replace the lever with a ...
Andrey Agibalov's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
556 views

What tool do I need to adjust the brake cable here?

I need to loosen very tight bicycle brakes(pads). This is the only thing running over the cable, have no idea what it is and don't have many tools to begin with so assuming I don't have what is needed ...
Tom hardy's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
253 views

Shigura - Can i use a Shimano XT Lever on A Magura HS33 Hydraulic Rim Brakes

Good day to Everyone, My Magura HS33 Lever on my ZHI Z3R trials bike broke, and i was wondering if i could replace it with a Shimano Deore XT BL-M775, as i have it stocked on my parts bin. And if i ...
Anni's user avatar
  • 316
0 votes
1 answer
142 views

Brake lever suddenly stuck due to an overtightened screw - what went wrong?

The issue I was biking when suddenly it felt like I was driving in the sand and not on a regular road. Upon inspection, I noticed that the brake was stuck on the 'closed' position, closing the disc ...
FunkyBezel's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
1k views

LBS won't Service Shimano Dual Control Lever

I have a bike with Shimano 105 dual-brake/control levers. But the right one stopped shifting, so I took it to my LBS to have it serviced. I asked them to take it apart and clean/grease the mechanism. ...
someguyinafloppyhat's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
154 views

Can i replace just the brake on a bike that has a combined shifter/brake lever unit

i’ve just bought a new bike with shifter and brake units together on the handlebars. i want to replace the brakes with hydraulics from my last bike (new bike has cable brakes), however i don’t know if ...
Liam Duffell's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
958 views

How do barrel adjusters for v-brakes work?

I have been thinking about barrel adjusters and I don't see how they can be truly effective although they appear to work, except on this particular bike where they don't seem to do anything. Is there ...
vfclists's user avatar
  • 329
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why is my brake lever loose on my hydraulic disc brake i took my wheel off and pressed the brake now the brake lever is loose and touches the grips

What i did in order : cleaned the brake pads -put them back in pressed the brake lever pushed the brake pads inwards put the front wheel on Now as a result of this the brake lever is loose
Harry Dolan's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
564 views

Shimano road bike lever leaking mineral oil

I have a leak in my Shimano DA 9170 (right) shifter. When I do a bleed, everything seems to work for a ride or two and then I start to lose braking power and the underside of the brake hood is wet ...
learnedhypothesis's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
189 views

additional brake lever as bullhorn lever

I want to change the handlebar on my folding bike, to get a less upright position. My idea is to pu a bullhorn-like bar, but I need both cable brake, and right shifter. Thus, I have either to use a ...
rvil76's user avatar
  • 734
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Shimano 105 - Shifter Internal Lever Broken

I've managed to snap an internal lever (it looks similar to the one on the right side in the pic) in my Shimano 105 (11-speed) right shift - think I just pushed it too far over and it snapped. I can't ...
Chano's user avatar
  • 21
3 votes
2 answers
499 views

Help identifying and sourcing a part for Shimano brake lever

A few weeks back, when trying to refit the v-brakes on my son's MTB after taking the wheel off, I shattered a threaded plastic washer on his Shimano brake & gear lever (ST EF500). I call it a ...
GrandMasterFlush's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
420 views

Cross (also called in-line or sub) brake levers compatible with SRAM Apex

Does somebody know of cross/in-line/sub brake levers compatible with SRAM Apex? Could the Shimano GRX sub brake levers perhaps work? See https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/grx-11-speed/...
Christian Vincenot's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
591 views

Campagnolo 2x11 Record with GRX derailleurs

I really don't like the Shimano 105 levers on my bike. I would like to switch them in favour of Campagnolo 2x11 Record, and would like to know if anyone tried to fit them with GRX system: Front ...
mrzob's user avatar
  • 113
-1 votes
1 answer
101 views

Mechanical bike disc brake caliper lever

Where can I find a data sheet for this part? I want to know if there is a magnification factor between the force which acts on the disc brake by pads, and the force that I pull the wire with, as I ...
المهندس محمد جابر's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
997 views

Stripped reach adjustment screw on GRX RX 815 levers

In trying to decrease the brake lever reach on my GRX Di2 shifters, I seem to have stripped the 2mm hex screws. They are located in an awkward position on the top of the shifters: https://si.shimano....
Rankeya's user avatar
  • 141
4 votes
2 answers
171 views

Identifying missing small part Campagnolo brake lever

I'm missing a small part that guides the brake cable in my Campagnolo brake lever. Any idea how to find one of these? Update: This is what the part looks like (taken from the other lever)
Tomer Weller's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to interpret Shimano compatibility chart?

How does one interpret the delineation of horizontally-aligned boxes on the Shimano compatibility charts? Below is a screenshot (with added blue numbering) for discussion purposes. For example, why ...
ETL's user avatar
  • 265
3 votes
1 answer
57 views

Dia-Compe Gran Compe shot lever - is there a fix for 31.8mm bars?

I have a Dia-Compe Gran Compe shot lever and want to change the bars on my track bike for 31.8 diameter bars — is there a fix (i.e. replacement clamp band) that anyone can point me to that I can use ...
PeteMFav's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
115 views

Is it possible to use brake levers with large-diameter fittings on a smaller-diameter handlebar?

I bought brake levers meant for 31.8mm handlebars (namely Tektro RL721, meant for cyclocross) some weeks ago, meaning to use them for a bike build which has a 20-something millimeter bullhorn ...
goose_lake's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

Where/how do I reduce travel on my brake levers?

How do I reduce travel my brake lever? (To brake currently, I practically have to depress it all the way to the handle bar.) I don't see any place to put an allen wrench anywhere. What am I missing?
mobeets's user avatar
  • 197
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Shimano Dura-Ace R9120 lever leaking

My bike's Dura-Ace R9120 rear-brake/front derailleur shifter (left shifter in UK) leaks brake fluid when I pull hard on the lever. It leaks from this specific place: I understand this lever is ...
Paul Suart's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
295 views

after multiple brake bleed, lever's max stiffness is still close to bar

so after a few bleeds i've done on these Shimano saints, because of new levers replacement, i've found that the rear brake lever, although on max stiffness, goes way further to the bar then the other ...
Ashton O'Connell's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
116 views

Performance of 'safety levers' [duplicate]

How do safety levers work exactly? When installed properly, what is their braking performance? What about when installed improperly? What faults do they have? How ergonomic are they? How good of a fit ...
Shidouuu's user avatar
  • 227
3 votes
2 answers
761 views

Would you be able to use mountain bike/straight bar cable brake levers as auxiliary/inline brake levers on drop bars?

Really dumb question, but would this be possible, with or without practicality? Drill a hole in them, perhaps?
Shidouuu's user avatar
  • 227
3 votes
1 answer
989 views

Best integrated road shifter/brake levers for people with small hands?

I’ve seen this subject raised a lot on various forums but with no definitive answer. Lots of opinions but no hard data. My questions are: Is there a measure of lever suitability for small hands? (...
camarones95's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can I replace my rear cantilever brake with a caliper brake?

Can I replace my damaged rear cantilever brake with a caliper brake? I assume there are two things to consider: frame and lever. Frame The frame has a black, hook-shaped part, which I believe Sheldon ...
pateksan's user avatar
  • 2,364
1 vote
1 answer
288 views

long-pull bar-end brake lever for bullhorn bar

I'm thinking of trying out a bullhorn bar but don't want to spend a lot of money on the experiment. My brakes require a long-pull lever. Is there such a thing as a long-pull bar-end brake lever? The ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 1,146
3 votes
1 answer
5k views

Repair Tektro HD-M275 brake lever

My girlfriend's son recently acquired a pre-owned Scott Aspect 760 for Christmas (2021 model) - essentially brand-new and ridden once or twice, if at all. We noticed the other day that something ...
DoctorClaw's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
112 views

when bike kept inside, brake/ lever goes extremely stiff

so, I've been through a lot of fiddling with my brake levers, giving them a small clean out and bleed, but I've noticed now that when i keep my bike inside (on heated floor) the brake levers go stiff, ...
Ashton O'Connell's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why do my side pull caliper brakes work better with linear pull levers

I have an older Windsor bike that came with some long arm side pull caliper brakes. I was using it with a pair of avid fr-5 brake levers that are stated on the specs as "Compatible - All levers ...
mo_maat's user avatar
  • 175
3 votes
2 answers
726 views

How to install dual shifter/lever on handlebar when clamp is too tight

I’ve got a Shimano GRX Di2 dual shifter/lever that I want to install on a new Carbon handlebar (Carbonda CGB01) . The problem is that it fits until it reaches the curvature and then it gets stuck. I ...
Daniele's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

failed brake bleed, lever is blocked up

My brakes are Shimano Saint. I tried bleeding my brake to identify a problem and no fluid went through. I took the brake lever off separately and pushed water through it, still blocked so I gathered ...
Ashton O'Connell's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Bleeding brake lever impossible (sucks air)

I did the bleeding procedure for my Avid Elixir CR (hydraulic disc brakes), following the Avid service manual. While performing the last step, bleeding the lever, it seems that air was sucked in from ...
Elbonian's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Brake lever suddenly lost its extra movement (extremely stiff). before the pads contact the Disk

a month back i had a crash where the brake lever got a clump of sand on it, so i washed it out with water and didn't have any problems, then one random day when i took my bike out for a ride i noticed ...
Ashton O'Connell's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Ultegra ST-R8020 Lever: crack near brake hose interface

I have a bike with a left ST-R8020 hydraulic disc Ultegra lever, and I just noticed a large radial crack on a what seems to be part of the brake connection path (see picture). The crack seems to ...
calofr's user avatar
  • 1,114
2 votes
1 answer
5k views

My Hydraulic Brakes Always Need To Be Pumped/Burped Before Braking Sharply

So my mechanic and I bled my brakes after it always needing to be pumped before it brakes, brake fluid came out black and seemed to have metal shavings at the bottom. The only problem now is weirdly ...
Naeem's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
3 answers
919 views

"Non-Aero" cable routing with "Aero" brake levers

Modern "Aero" brake levers, with their long bases and big hoods have some pretty significant ergonomic advantages over traditional levers. Personally though, I hate having to tear off my bar ...
T.C. Proctor's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Use Shimano 105 R7000 shifters for Disc brakes

I have 2 spare R7000 shifters which I used on my rim brake equipped road bike. I've upgraded to Ultegra some time ago. I also have a Tiagra gravel bike with mechanical disc brakes that uses Tiagra ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 661