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Questions and answers about sports

What is the matter with this Shimano disc brake lever?

4 min read

Asked by: Cheryl Shepard

Can you mix and match Shimano brake levers?

Also, just like SLX all the callipers, whether two or four piston, are interchangeable with the levers, so you can mix and match to your heart’s content.

How do Shimano hydraulic brake levers work?

Hydraulic brake systems use a piston at the hand lever called the “master’ piston. The piston pushes brake fluid through sealed brake tubing to another set of pistons at the caliper called the “slave” pistons. The slave pistons push the pads to the rotor.

What causes Shimano wandering bite point?

The wandering is caused by miniscule bit(s) of trapped air in the caliper. To stop the wandering bite point, you have to fully rid the caliper of air.

How do I choose a brake lever?

The type of brake lever you need will primarily depend on your bike type – BMX, MTB or road bike, followed by your brake type (cable-actuated rim brake or hydraulic disc brake) and finally other factors including handlebar diameter or groupset manufacturer.

Are Shimano brake lever blades interchangeable?

They are, pretty much all Shimano calipers and levers are interchangeable.

How do I identify my Shimano brake model?

The inside of the brake caliper (on the other side of the Shimano label) is a model number. Also on the bottom of the brake lever there should also be a model number.

How do you adjust a Shimano hydraulic brake lever?

Quote from video: So just loosen that guy up and slide it over slide. It pretty far over so it's out of the way next naturally place your hand on the grip. And extend your pointer finger.

Are hydraulic brake levers interchangeable?

So yup you definitely can, as long as they are designed to take the same type of fluid.

Are hydraulic disc brakes worth it?

Overall, hydraulic disc brakes are superior in terms of performance and efficiency because of the reduced friction by not having a mechanical cable. The fluid system is much more efficient than a steel cable which is more prone to wear, especially if it is exposed to the elements.

Why does Shimano mineral oil turn black?

Mineral oil may actually turn it black from pressure, and the phenomenon isn’t uncommon in hydraulic oil. Exposed to heat and pressure, the hydraulic fluid degrades. It is designed for this purpose, but can only perform for a finite number of hours; thus, it needs to be replaced.

What is Shimano free stroke adjustment?

The free stroke screw simply changes the starting point of the master cylinder piston. If the screw is all the way in, the master cylinder piston will be all the way in, and the free stroke will be the shortest. Turn the screw out a bit and the master cylinder will start further out.

How can I make my disc brakes work better?

Follow these tips. Don’t buy new ones before you try these tips about essential disc brake maintenance.



  1. Lever position. …
  2. Bleed your brakes. …
  3. Buy bigger rotors. …
  4. Clean your rotors and pads. …
  5. Buy new brake pads. …
  6. Improve your braking technique.


Can you swap brake levers?

It’s fairly easy to swap, but you’d most likely have to bleed the brakes afterwards to ensure you haven’t brought any air bubble in. So $20 is pretty alright if it’s for the pair. You could always buy some stuff to bleed them yourself, but if you’re not confident, just drop them at your LBS.

What is the difference between Shimano XT and XTR brakes?

Quote from video: Lineup this trail caliper though the m9120 uses the same new slimmer design of the xt and slx with the big difference being the materials used here xtr uses magnesium for the caliper. And the master

What is the difference between Shimano SLX and XT brakes?

Almost identical: there are almost no differences between Shimano’s new SLX and XT brakes. The XT lever comes with an additional free-stroke adjustment. A few subtle differences: the XT lever undergoes a different surface treatment and features a dimpled lever-blade, which is meant to improve the grip.

Are hydraulic brake levers interchangeable?

So yup you definitely can, as long as they are designed to take the same type of fluid.

Can you switch brake levers?

Quote from video: You'll see there's a little bit of fluid come up but don't worry about that we're going to let that fall to one side. We're going to get on to doing the other brake.

Why does my bike skid when I brake?

When braking, the inertia of the rider (and the bike) causes the load on the rear tire to decrease. It leads to lower friction against the surface, and possibly skidding.

Are MTB brake levers interchangeable?

Simply put, yes, bike brake levers are interchangeable. While it is not easy to find suitable replacements for the different types of levers and to install them properly into your bike, it’s not impossible and is more common than you would expect.