So - despite much searching - cannot find out of you need to use a new olive/insert if all you are doing is replacing the lever unit of your hydraulic brakes (latest XT ones).
When you cut down the hose for length you use new ones. That's fine.
But if all you are doing is pulling out the existing hose with the insert and olive (already crushed I guess) on it, replacing the lever unit and reinserting the hose - do you need a new olive and insert? Anyone know for definite? I'm not even sure what the olive crushes against inside the lever unit to be honest as it's internal to the unit.
I can't see why a new insert would be needed. And you can't buy olives separately, so do you need to get the old olive off and put a new one on somehow without cutting the cable (not sure that's even possible - and I don't want to shorten an already quite short cable).
Existing olive & barb will be fine, you're just refitting it into an identical taper. It will seal.
[URL= http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/shimano-xtr-br-m965-brake-disc-hose-olive-8h2-0400-prod30185/ ]Olive without insert[/url]
Yeah, the existing ones will be fine. I got some euro ones and had to swap the hoses over so the levers worked the 'UK' way. Took 5 minutes and didn't require bleeding. Just hold the hose upright when you take it out, so you don't lose any fluid from it.
You ought to replace the olive really,it's a compression part. But that doesn't mean you can't- I've done it and did not die, but I wouldn't make a habit of it (I lost the new olive mid-job!)
i used the existing olive. not dead yet
Mr P - ta for that link.
All - ta for replies.
Northwind - yes makes sense. Think I'll just go for it and save myself some hassle. If if leaks I'll know soon enough - heh heh.
Cheers.