Mixing levers and calipers

sbsbiker · Nov 26, 2020

Hi, I have an older set of XT brakes on my fatbike, and want to use a pair of xtr’s ive taken off my xc racer.
I like the bigger levers and servo adjustment of the XT lever.
Also, one of the XTR levers was damaged in a fall, thus it was retired, the caliper was undamaged.
Can I put on the XTR caliper and use the XT levers without any problems?
Anyone mix and match across Shimano products?

Timothy G. Parrish · Nov 27, 2020

See my reply here:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...ad.php?t=1151891&share_tid=1151891&share_fid=23347&share_type=t&link_source=app

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sbsbiker · Nov 27, 2020

I dont see any lever/caliper chart on the link to shimano, but from the other thread you posted on it appears most shimano levers and calipers will work fine together.
Thanks

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askjasonbowen · Dec 6, 2020

Hi do the hose work across different models?
I have a set of Shimano M506 brakes and want to just change out the calipers for BR-6100 models.
The current brakes have a hose with model number SM-BH59-JK-SS but the new have a model number SM-BH90-SS.
What's the difference. diameter?

Aglo · Dec 6, 2020

askjasonbowen said:
Hi do the hose work across different models?
I have a set of Shimano M506 brakes and want to just change out the calipers for BR-6100 models.
The current brakes have a hose with model number SM-BH59-JK-SS but the new have a model number SM-BH90-SS.
What's the difference. diameter?

The diameter on the BH90 is smaller but they are also stiffer.
One thing you have to do is to make sure you get the correct fittings for your calipers. I think all the recent levers use the barb and olive fitting, so you should be ok regarding the lever, but the calipers is another story, some use the barb and olive, others use the banjo, so make sure you are getting the correct combo for your brakes.

askjasonbowen · Dec 6, 2020

Aglo said:
The diameter on the BH90 is smaller but they are also stiffer.
One thing you have to do is to make sure you get the correct fittings for your calipers. I think all the recent levers use the barb and olive fitting, so you should be ok regarding the lever, but the calipers is another story, some use the barb and olive, others use the banjo, so make sure you are getting the correct combo for your brakes.

I picked the M6100 model as they used the straight through connecting bolt. Well I will just have to wait till the new caliper arrives and see.

MikeR91 · Dec 6, 2020

Although I didn't use your exact combination, I've done some mixing and matching with Shimano parts, and the fittings were the only thing to sort out. I ended up buying a couple Jagwire kits to get the parts I needed, and I have plenty of leftovers as a result, but once I had all the right pieces, the brakes worked as I had hoped.

sbsbiker · Dec 6, 2020

I'm up and running with a 2 year old XTR caliper, and 13 year old XT lever.
The fittings were easy to retrofit, and the squeal from my leaky worn out calipers is gone.
My LBS mechanic said the noisy brakes was probally due to oil getting past the O ring seal at the caliper from hanging all summer (fatbike) and drying out, allowing contamination of the pads, and rotors.
Thank god that squealing nightmare is over.

sbsbiker · Dec 6, 2020

Cheers!

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mevnet · Dec 9, 2020

You have a lot of info about this here

GreenOps · Jul 14, 2021

askjasonbowen said:
Hi do the hose work across different models?
I have a set of Shimano M506 brakes and want to just change out the calipers for BR-6100 models.
The current brakes have a hose with model number SM-BH59-JK-SS but the new have a model number SM-BH90-SS.
What's the difference. diameter?

The ID of the BH59 is 2.3mm (ish), use the brass barb. The ID of the BH 90 is 2mm (ish), use the silver barb. Both hoses are 5mm OD. Same olive.

Mixing levers and calipers

sbsbiker

Timothy G. Parrish

sbsbiker

askjasonbowen

Aglo

askjasonbowen

MikeR91

sbsbiker

sbsbiker

mevnet

GreenOps

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