Brake lever swap

[gungi]

okay, i want my brakes swapped around so they are the same as my mx bike, keep getting confused about which brake to grab a handfull of. usually on a steep downhill section if i just swap the levers my resevoir is upside down... can i somehow swap the cables around? and how?

[intern]

You can definitely change them around - but take it to a bike shop so they can drain the brake fluid and put new stuff in. I prefer front brake on right hand....a lot of bikes come set up with front brake on left. First MTB race I did on a borrowed bike with this configuration. Went over the handlebars, of course....

[Piernas Flacas]

....a lot of bikes come set up with front brake on left. 

 

Yes, I think those are overseas bikes with the handlebar on the left-hand side

[gungi]

i would prefer to do it myself if possible? i'm one of those guys that would rather learn the hard way than not learn at all:) even if it means walking into the bikeshop with a pile of parts

[Piernas Flacas]

i would prefer to do it myself if possible? i'm one of those guys that would rather learn the hard way than not learn at all:) even if it means walking into the bikeshop with a pile of parts

 

I agree with you. I have a suspension maintenance job that is long overdue

[gungi]

thats another job i need to learn

[TNT1]

I swapped mine over to be the same as the motard on saturday... much better with right front...

[gungi]

did you swap just the cables? can you give me the procedure? is it just drain, swap, bleed, done?

[AndreZA]

You can't swop cables on hydraulic brakes, because there are no cables to swop.

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

Dont drain the hose. Unscrew it, swop levers. rescrew and then fill the reservoir making sure it is parallel to the ground. Every now and again squeeze the lever until little bubbles stop popping up. Keep doing this (which might take some time) until no more bubbles appear, top up your fluid and carefully screw the reservoir cap back on. Clean off spillage and adjust into posistion. Voila!

[gungi]

You can't swop cables on hydraulic brakes' date=' because there are no cables to swop.

 

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[/quote']

 

I am such a tit!

[gungi]

Thanks dirtbreath! thats exactly what i needed to know i would have drained the whole system! one more question... what brake fluid do i use? i remember it saying mineral oil? i know that on my mx bike you can only use dot 3/4 brake fluid.

[TNOSE_E]

I swapped mine. just undid the housing and reattached to the other perch. No bleeding no fuss.

 

NO BREAK FLUID!  Use your MX bikes fork oil, same as mineral oil.-

[Hog_]

 

Thanks dirtbreath! thats exactly what i needed to know i would have drained the whole system! one more question... what brake fluid do i use? i remember it saying mineral oil? i know that on my mx bike you can only use dot 3/4 brake fluid.

 

What brand of brakes are they? Some brakes work both ways around, others have a 'this way up' side. Also, some brakes can use brake fluid, all others need mineral oil. Buy this from your LBS, maybe get a whole bleed kit.

 

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

Thanks dirtbreath! thats exactly what i needed to know i would have drained the whole system! one more question... what brake fluid do i use? i remember it saying mineral oil? i know that on my mx bike you can only use dot 3/4 brake fluid.

 

Depends on what brakes you use. Shimano uses mineral oil. Have never tried MX oil so dont know. Most of the other guys use dot fluid. Check on your manufacturers website. You dont mention what brakes they are. Must be fancy though using cables instead of hoses.

[Hog_]

 

Most of the other guys use dot fluid.

 

I'm not too sure about that one. I'll need to check my Zinn book, but I sort of remember only about 2 manufacturers using DOT fluid.