Unbending a Shimano...
 

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Unbending a Shimano brake lever

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Will it work or just snap?

I don’t have access to much in the way of tools as I’m away camping. 
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Posted : 18/12/2025 4:17 am
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Long answer:

probably could do it with the right tools and their careful application.

Short answer:

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Posted : 18/12/2025 5:24 am
saynotoslomo reacted
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Bends the question - how did that happen? By looking at the bend if have said no chance...but it would probably need a lot of heat and some very gentle persuasion to get a wee bit unbent.

Although you've tried and it hasn't worked.


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 8:23 am
reeksy reacted
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A pedal spanner got it moving but no chance. 
Kid took a slide crossed up his bars and hit a rock. That was the only damage.


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 8:47 am
 PJay
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I think I'd try a pipe or tube (old set of handlebars) over the end & slowly try and bend it back, although even if I could I'd be concerned about putting too much force through the rest of the brake.

If you're at a campsite with an address and this is going to spoil a big trip away you might be able to get a replacement blade on next day delivery (or perhaps Madison or Freewheel could get something to a LBS).


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 9:46 am
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It's aluminium, it will almost certainly break, slim chance you can carefully bend it back with heat but I suspect you'e out of luck


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 9:57 am
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I've seen loads bent up or down hinging at the flat section, but that's special...


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 10:39 am
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Too late for that lever but with aluminium usually the answer is heat (a lot, almost red hot) with a blowtorch then quench in water, bend a bit, repeat the heat and bend cycle.

Heating and quenching (more or less) resets the crystal structure in aluminium alloys making them softer for bending, and probably upsetting and heat treatment for strengthening that they may have had. Would also need a brake lever removing first so probably not useful when on holiday although a camping stove can work as an improvised blowtorch.

N.B. to anneal steel it's normal to heat them slow cool as quenching (usually) hardens it. Different alloys of aluminium and steel can need more exact approaches but for DIY bodges the above mainly works for me.

Also don't heat your aluminium or steel frame with a blowtorch as it will almost certainly make it fail faster.


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 10:45 am
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Speaking of alu having the crystal structure changed by heat, there was a brilliant before and after photo years back of a guy who had a Giant Reign frame powdercoated. Turned out lovely, but whoever painted it had the oven way too hot - the guy built the frame back up, rode it a couple of times, and realised the down tube was stretching, the whole bike elongated under his weight. Longer lower and slacker 🙂 


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 11:17 am
slowol reacted
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I've done that in similar circumstances.  I replaced the whole lever as it was the cheapest option.  Annoyingly i had a lever fail a month or so prior but it was the wrong side and the lever blades are "handed".


 
Posted : 18/12/2025 11:28 am
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Managed to source a replacement lever 40 mins drive down the mountain. Swapped the blade to save buying a bleed kit… man it’s a pain getting the spring in place!


 
Posted : 19/12/2025 8:19 am
slowol reacted
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Speaking of alu having the crystal structure changed by heat, there was a brilliant before and after photo years back of a guy who had a Giant Reign frame powdercoated. Turned out lovely, but whoever painted it had the oven way too hot - the guy built the frame back up, rode it a couple of times, and realised the down tube was stretching, the whole bike elongated under his weight. Longer lower and slacker 🙂 

Happened to a Marin of mine back in the day. I had it stripped and powder coated, but the frame had the strength of roofing lead. Powder coater had to replace the frame.


 
Posted : 19/12/2025 8:45 am
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Too late for that lever but with aluminium usually the answer is heat (a lot, almost red hot) with a blowtorch then quench in water, bend a bit, repeat the heat and bend cycle.

Of school was anything to go by... You rub a bar of soap on it and when the soap goes black bend it.


 
Posted : 20/12/2025 4:48 pm