Free stroke - Shimano please explain!!!

AlsTrance · Jan 2, 2012

After a recent bike build I decided to go the Shimano XTM785 brakes over Avid because I was told that the 'free stroke' adjuster was equivalent to Avid's contact point adjustment.

After stuffing around with these brakes for hours I still cannot figure out what the 'free stroke' adjuster does or how it works. :madman:

Shimano has basic information on what it does but no information on how it works or how to use it!

I've read bike forums, searched the whole of the interwebs and travelled to every corner of the globe and still cannot figure out how these work (okay I exaggerate, but I did got to France last year and saw a MTB or two).

Can someone who understands this black art please explain it to the rest of us? Heck, even if the legend at Shimano who designed the unit could write a brief explanation that would be really cool. :thumbsup:

PissedOffCil · Jan 3, 2012

It does basically nothing, and it's a well known fact.

Squash · Jan 3, 2012

It's supposed to work in a similar fashion to the Avid PCP system. The adjuster changes the point in the lever stroke that the piston in the MC starts pushing fluid to the caliper. Turn it to the + side and the fluid moves earlier in the stoke, pads move sooner, etc. and you get less "free stroke". Turn it to the - side and you get the opposite effect.

The big difference, as Cil noted, is the Avid system works, Shimano's does not.

Good Dirt

PissedOffCil · Jan 3, 2012

I'd really love to see the internals of Shimano's free stroke. What I experience on my XTRs is that the free stroke changes the "slack" there is at the lever when pushing it away from the bar (You know the slack that should help prevent damage in case you crash).

The lever doesn't move, and the feeling when pulling it remains the same. It made me wonder if that was what the free stroke was supposed to adjust... For the 770, the manual seems to indicate this is the case as their picture show a fixed pad contact point. The XTR manual has the same statement and picture.

Mr Pink57 · Jan 3, 2012

From what I am reading here it basically controls the modulation of the lever, more pull or less pull. I should have my set tomorrow/following day and will test this all out.

PissedOffCil · Jan 3, 2012

Mr Pink57 said:
From what I am reading here it basically controls the modulation of the lever, more pull or less pull. I should have my set tomorrow/following day and will test this all out.

No need to test it, it won't affect lever pull.

IntenseMack10 · Jan 3, 2012

Yeah, it doesnt effect lever pull. As already pointed out, it also doesnt work. I have it on the 810 Saints and the 785 XT's and its the same for both.

This being said, I love both sets of brakes. But in order to change the amount of free stroke in the systems (especially the Saints) you really need to pull the caliper, give the lever a squeeze or two, and replace it. This pushes the pistons out closer to the pads. The downside is potential pad drag. On my Saints I have given up caring about this, and focus on the pull of the lever and the feel of the brake. Since its on a DH bike it doesnt make much difference.

On the XT's I havent had to do this yet, and my lever pull has remained very good. It should be noted however that the bike the XT's are on sees probably less than half the use of my DH bike.

Also, I prefer the lever pull to be very short compared to what it seems most people like. The Saints I got after selling a set of Codes that I hated because no matter what the lever had to be pulled to the bar basically for it to contact.

AlsTrance · Jan 3, 2012

Thanks guys. This all confirms my thoughts. It's still very disappointing though for a company as big as Shimano to include a 'feature' that's basically useless. It's also frustrating as it was the one feature I wanted in my new brake set up. Hmmm may have to revisit the Avids.

IntenseMack10 · Jan 3, 2012

AlsTrance said:
Thanks guys. This all confirms my thoughts. It's still very disappointing though for a company as big as Shimano to include a 'feature' that's basically useless. It's also frustrating as it was the one feature I wanted in my new brake set up. Hmmm may have to revisit the Avids.

I do feel your pain about a "feature" not actually working, BUT give the XT's some time. Ive had and tried many Avid brakes and have not liked a single one of them. Even with the feature essentially missing teh SHimano's are still great brakes.

Mr Pink57 · Jan 4, 2012

That is unfortunate on the free stroke. I do hope mine have some solid modulation I like to get a lot of pull on the lever, my XTR levers (v brake) pull just about to the bar.

006_007 · Jan 4, 2012

Mr Pink57 said:
That is unfortunate on the free stroke. I do hope mine have some solid modulation I like to get a lot of pull on the lever, my XTR levers (v brake) pull just about to the bar.

Isnt that also a feature of reach adjustment?

IntenseMack10 · Jan 4, 2012

006_007 said:
Isnt that also a feature of reach adjustment?

Not really. The reach adjustment simply moves the lever closer or further from the bar in its static position. So, while if its moved further away, it will also be further from the bar when the lever is fully engaged, you need the longer finger(s) to be able to effectively reach it.

The free stroke adjusters are SUPPOSED to change the amount of lever pull required to go from static to fully depressed, regardless of the lever position.

702Biff · Oct 17, 2016

Perhaps something has changed since 2012?

Cleared2land · Oct 17, 2016

AlsTrance said:
Hmmm may have to revisit the Avids.

For me personally, I will never return to Avids. Even a non-functioning Shimano component eclipse my best days with Avids.

IstongKowldPaRin · Oct 22, 2016

nice post 702biff. im gonna try that on mine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lone Rager · Oct 22, 2016

Free stroke adjustment controls how far the lever piston must travel before it closes off the port between the reservoir and the cylinder and starts pressurizing the brake line. The screw moves the piston further away or closer to the port. Screwing it in moves it closer so less travel is needed. Lever position is different from this.

Schulze · Jan 27, 2017

My XT8000 brakes came with this free stroke screw all the way in. The problem is that the front lever has much less free stroke than the back brake lever. I want to reduce the free stroke in the back lever to match the front but I'm having no success. Thoughts?

I just bled the brakes and got some air bubbles out but the free stroke remains unchanged.

alexbn921 · Jan 27, 2017

If it's bottomed out then you have to adjust the fronts so they match the rears. Free stroke moves the lever so it will need reset it to the original height after you get the fee right. You could also move the rear brake level further from the bar to have a similar bite point. I played around with both methods to get them to engage at the same point.

Schulze · Jan 27, 2017

Observing how the pads moved, my free stroke seems to be ok. The problem is that the pads have a longer space to travel before contacting the rotor. I pulled the wheel out and pumped them a bit and now they sit closer.

Schulze · Jan 28, 2017

After one ride they are backed out again and I have to pull the lever almost to the bar to get contact. What should I do?

Free stroke - Shimano please explain!!!

AlsTrance

PissedOffCil

Squash

PissedOffCil

Mr Pink57

PissedOffCil

IntenseMack10

AlsTrance

IntenseMack10

Mr Pink57

006_007

IntenseMack10

702Biff

Cleared2land

IstongKowldPaRin

Lone Rager

Schulze

alexbn921

Schulze

Schulze

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities