How hard to replace an XT brake lever?

I managed to bend my rear brake lever on this morning’s ride.

A replacement lever seems to be around £35 and a full rear brake unit seems to be a tenner more …. so not a huge amount in it.

I know that replacing the whole unit will involve bleeding the brake, which I’m more than happy doing so I’m comfortable that is within my normal bike maintenance skillset.

I can go and have a look at removing my current brake lever but wondered if the STW collective can share whether it’s really simple task or something that’ll have small springs pinging around my shed that will quickly see me stomping around swearing my head off?

Seems false economy not to change the whole thing for a tenner more?

If the full brake also comes with pads then it’s effectively cheaper than just buying the lever.

From just after 39 minutes. XTR but probably similar

I’ve swapped lever blades a few times and it’s a bit fiddly getting the little spring in the right position. It’s not impossible though and a tenner saved buys a post-ride pint and crisps (probably).

Please post the link to the full brake for £45!

Tried just bending the lever blade back? I badly bent an M8000 lever 18 months ago and it’s still good following a bit of judicious pressure with a big spanner.

It’s a bit fiddly but really straightforward. 8000 series blades are about £20 so definitely worth doing that. There was a change in thickness between 785 and 8000 even though they look pretty much identical so make sure you buy the right one.

Left and right are separate part numbers, but the blade itself is the same.  It is only the spring that changes so if you have the original spring, you can buy either.

Thanks everyone.

Sorry – caused a bit of confusion (and excitement) …. £45 is for a complete lever unit including reservoir not a full brake with hose/caliper.

You’ll be able to find a 2nd hand one cheaper. I think I actually have one in my spares box for eg.

I’ve had to do this 3 times on my XT brakes, the levers are thin and crap at surviving crashes, replacing them is pretty easy, a little fiddly lining it up at the end before pinning it, but make sure you get the right lever blade, the 8000 and 8100 are not interchangeable.

Swapping as said is doable but fiddly.

I highly reccomend doing it in a clean place where you can easily hunt around on the floor to find the missing part that just went ping for the third time.