I'm currently putting together my fist bike build and so far, so good. However I have noticed that there seems to be an excessive amount of outer cable on the brakes and it'd be a damned sight better to get them sorted sooner and not get hounded for the length if and when I post the completed pictures on here!
So, how easy is it to do? What kit do I need, where best to get it from and how much will it be? If it's a real pain with the likelihood of getting it wrong, how much roughly would it be to get it done down the LBS?
Ta
Shimano brakes are very easy to bleed. The 'kit' is just a bottle of fluid and a bit of plastic pipe, IIRC, for about £7
Instructions are available online somewhere..... SOmone will be along to tell you where soon I imagine, I can't remember! Or maybe they came with the brakes?
[url= http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/XTR/DiskBrakeSystem/SI_0037A/SI_0037A/SI_0037A_001/SI_0037A_001_EN_v1_m56577569830615973.PDF ]Bleeding instructions[/url]
I have the same long hose issue with my new SLX brakes, I have shortened Magura hoses before without the need to bleed. Found this advice on t'internet concerning Shimano, seems very similar. Anybody done this successfully? I'll have a go this weekend.
"Shimano brakes need an insert pushing into the cut end of the hose. But yes, you should be able to do it without any bleeding, or indeed topping up. As long as you don't do anything daft like pull the lever while there's no hose attached to it.
In a nutshell: Pull back rubber cover where the hose meets the lever. Undo nut with 8mm spanner. Waggle hose a bit until it comes out. Cut off excess hose with Stanley knife. Hold remaining hose in suitable nylon blocks in vice. Make sure the threaded collar is on the hose and pointing the right way. Slide olive on to hose. Tap hose insert into end of hose with hammer. Nudge olive up to the end of the hose, push end of hose back into lever, do up nut, check for leaks, replace rubber cover (which you hopefully left on the hose...). Obviously if the brakes are on a bike it can be tricky to get the hose into a vice."
Obviously if the brakes are on a bike it can be tricky to get the hose into a vice."
Vice not needed. Just hold the blocks in some molegrips or big pliers and tap gently. The barb goes in fairly easily
Yep, if you've got the tools and bits and bobs to hand then you'd be unlukcy to need a bleed when shortening the hoses.
Just remember the obvious things like putting the threaded collar and the rubber cover etc. (and the olive) onto the hose before you start pushing the barb in. Cough, not that I speak from expereince you understand....
I shortened the hoses on my new build last week. SLX brakes from Merlin, they came with the barb olive etc.
Followed the online shortening instructions, it went ok, I did not need to rebleed the system.
Here are the instructions I used. [url= http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/tech_support/tech_tips.download.-Par50rparsys-0008-downloadFile.html/02)%20Brake%20Hose%20Trimming.pdf ]Shimano SLX tech tip 2[/url]
Guys,
Cheers for the comments, in particular, the SHIMANO SLX TECH TIP 2.
I'll be giving it a go and hopefully will get rid of the excess cable AND still be able to stop when required!