DIY: Changing Brake Levers

By -
A brake lever upgrade is a cheap way to improve braking and handling for your bike.

I purchased this Shimano Deore brake levers to replace the stock brake lever of my Tern Link D8.  The advantage of the new lever is its ability to take I-spec shifters which will be my next project for this bike. The weight savings is minimal but it is definitely a plus in the looks department.
Before

Remove the grips and stock levers

The challenge when removing the grips is how to pull it out of the handle bar. The grips are made of rubber and pulling it off without the proper technique would require very big muscles.

I removed mine with the following technique:
  1. Stick a flat tipped screwdriver at the end of the grip. Pry it a little bit then spray some WD-40 inside.
  2. Try to work WD-40 into the grips by twisting it a bit.
  3. Twist the grips while adding a pulling force until it comes off the handle bar.
Alternatively, if you will not use the grips or reinstall it again, you can get a knife or blade and cut off that damn grip away.

The stock levers can be easily removed with a hex tool. Also remove the shifter if it is in the way of the brake lever.
no more grips

Remove the cable from the stock lever

Before you can remove the brake cable from the lever, you need to unclip the v-brakes. Pinch the v-brakes and unhook the cable noodle from the brakes. This will open up the brakes and put slack on the cable.

Align the lever adjusters so the gap is inline with the lever gap. Pull the brake housing and cable out of the lever.

You can now slide the brake lever off the handlebar. Clean the handle bar and if possible, degrease the part where WD-40 is present to prevent the grips from slipping off when you install it later.

Install the new lever

Slide in the new Deore levers. Install the shifters and the grips before tightening anything.

To easily slide in the rubber grips, I spray water inside the grips before inserting it. This will lubricate the rubber and let you slide the grips easily. Don't worry about the water, it will dry out in time. Make sure to clean the inside of the grips thoroughly before installing it. Any oil or grease will make it slip off the handle bar.

Position the lever then tighten the clamps.
check position before tightening the clamps
Install the brake cables and adjust the brakes if needed.
nice!

upgraded

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Smirnoff Mule

By -
Image
There has been a surge of this "cocktail"-like drink in Shopwise. It's cheap enough, at around Php 30, so I thought I would give it a try. Smirnoff Mule sounds like something new and classy. It has that new look that makes you want to try it out. The label says that it's a combination of vodka, ginger beer and lime mix. Upon opening, it smelled like mountain dew. I thought its another one of those Tanduay Ice drinks. Initial sip tasted like lime soda with alcohol. It's carbonated so you get that beer or soda feel while drinking. After some time, the tastes grow old in your mouth. I easily grew tired of the taste and wanted to get this over. I don't know if I'm not in the mood for a late night soda drink or the drink is just not meant to please your taste buds. If you like the soda-ish and cocktail types of drinks, then this one is for you. For me, I would stick to beer for that evening movie fix.
Read more

Review: Andy Player Whisky and Cola

By -
Image
As I went through the beer isle, I spotted this Andy Player Whisky and Cola bottle.  I kinda heard the Andy Player name here and there and thought it to be a local whisky.  Now they're selling it mixed with cola. If you like hard drinks with cola as a chaser, this concoction will make you think twice. It has 5% alcohol content in a 330ml bottle based on the label.  Almost the same as other beers but not the same enjoyment. Taste-wise, I found the distinct whiskey taste diluted with a ton of cola. The cola sucks. It's like drinking cola that's sitting 4 hours on a glass when almost all the fizz has disappeared and all that's left is the sugary caramel taste. I can comment on the whiskey flavour since it's so washed out by the cola. I haven't tried their whisky as is either. I would not buy another one of this same with the Smirnoff Mule I tried before. It just doesn't give justice to alcohol. No to the premixed hard drinks. Well, to be fair, th...
Read more

Beer Review: San Miguel Cerveza Negra

By -
Image
  As the name "Cerveza Negra" implies, it is a dark beer. This beer has a very strong roasted malt flavour. There's also a bit of caramelly after taste. If you want a full flavoured beer, this one is for you. Bitterness is less compared to the Pale Pilsen. It seems that the main attraction of this beer is the dark malt flavour. The beer comes in a dark bottle with premium paper labels. Black and gold is the theme for this beer. I think this beer goes great with some meaty snacks and a great movie.
Read more