Brake hose swap – shimano vs tektro vs hope

If it was hope brakes then I’d have no problems, I’ve done plenty and know how and what. I’m less familiar with the brakes I’m looking at now though so want to be sure

First up a cheapo pair of shimano brakes from Merlin. I suspect they may arrive Euro-style, with front left and rear right. Is it as simple as loosening the connection, then swapping the hoses?

https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-mt201-mt200-disc-brake-set-331239.html

I’m also looking at the bigger 4pot Tektro Gemini brakes, to put on the tandem. This will likely require a new hose. How complex will it be to source the required parts and fit them?

https://www.merlincycles.com/tektro-gemini-hd-m535-front-rear-disc-brake-set-with-magura-rotors-319696.html

Shimano just unscrew and screw back together easily. Just need to do the lever end. Do it carefully, ideally with an assistant and you might get away without rebleeding.

Tektro are pretty straightforward. Only issue is that they changed olive styles a few years ago. Just need to make sure you get the right ones. They are readily available

First up a cheapo pair of shimano brakes from Merlin. I suspect they may arrive Euro-style, with front left and rear right. Is it as simple as loosening the connection, then swapping the hoses?

Yes. But they may well arrive unattached with olives and connector in a bag so even easier. Shimano are a doddle so even if you lose a bit of fluid just top up from the lever with the little funnel thingy.

First up a cheapo pair of shimano brakes from Merlin. I suspect they may arrive Euro-style, with front left and rear right. Is it as simple as loosening the connection, then swapping the hoses?

Could be but you may need a bleed if any air gets in and realistically the hoses will need shortening, a new barb and olive then probably a bleed

I’m also looking at the bigger 4pot Tektro Gemini brakes, to put on the tandem. This will likely require a new hose. How complex will it be to source the required parts and fit them?

Uberbike have a discount on their hose kits and I think they come with a single 3000mm piece of hose (check with them), I would get the appropriate kit from them if a longer hose than supplied with the brakes is required.  Full bleed will be required.

All pretty straightforward but if you are asking then it may be worth giving to someone who has all the necessary kit and won’t mix up DOT and mineral etc

I’m not sure which hose Tektro use, TRP have a 5 and 5.5mm hose, a Shimano hose can be used in place of the 5mm hose with a Shimano olive

Tektro hose is 5.5mm vs shimano and hope at 5mm so take that into consideration. I have successfully used 5mm hose with tektro brakes but using the shimano bh90 barb and olives.

Fairly sure that tektro use 5mm hose, as I said I’ve done loads of hose swaps on hope brakes but not done tektro or shimano. Might still get someone else to do it, mind 😀

edit – product page says 5mm

https://www.tektro.com/products.php/product/20

I’m “I remember Hope switching from 6mm to 5mm” old

The last Shimano brakes from Merlin I fitted (yesterday) were connected up Euro style.

Easiest thing to do is:

Pump lever twice

Disconnect each brake

Connect up

Open bleed port

And then push pistons back

99% of the time no need to bleed

Which bleed port, lever?

Yes