DIY: Changing Brake Levers

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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

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