Bicycle Mechanics - rattling brifter

I had these Dura Ace brifters installed a couple weeks ago and since noticed a slight rattle on the right brifter when I get up there in speed or ride over rougher surface. No big deal I thought. I dropped by the place that put them in and they were scratching their heads, bouncing the bike trying to replicate the slight rattle, as well as one of the guys taking it out for a little spin. Also, they did a quick check to see if there were any loose screws and such. Next they want me to leave it, the guy telling me he needs to put his own peddles on it and a take it out for a 15/20 Mi ride.

I told them I'll bring it back another day, but left feeling like, what the....? Is a slightly rattling brifter such a mystery? Does it require such extensive road and diagnostic testing? I won't touch them, won't dabble in such a sensitive mechanical area (and possibly nullify the warranty) but isn't it just a matter of reinstalling the brifter?

This is a well respected bike shop and they're known for having the most skilled mechanics around so it seems strange that this is such a baffling problem to them.

Maybe I'm wrong, is it?

Don't know what the issue might be but what shop is it? There are a lot of no-nothings (or very little) even in the better places. Probably, you'll get better help here on BF.

Could be cable slap on the frame or just hitting each other.

My cables have been known to do this and it is really annoying. Nothing a bit of black insulation tape won't fix though.

In my experience, a brifter only rattles when it's knackered. Can't see that from a 2-week old DA unit myself.

I'm surprised to hear that you're getting such noises on new Dura Ace brifters. The obvious first step is determining the source of the rattle. It shouldn't take 15-20 miles to figure this out, but I doubt that it could be devined by bouncing the bike up and down. I would guess that it is coming from one of two places: the little lever rattling against the big lever, or the Dura Ace nameplate. The best way to determine the source is to individually press or hold onto the suspected parts when the noise is audible during your next ride. You have located the source when pressing on a part stops the noise . Just to be sure, press on only that part again when the noise re-occurrs.

I'm surprised to hear that you're getting such noises on new Dura Ace brifters. The obvious first step is determining the source of the rattle. It shouldn't take 15-20 miles to figure this out, but I doubt that it could be devined by bouncing the bike up and down. I would guess that it is coming from one of two places: the little lever rattling against the big lever, or the Dura Ace nameplate. The best way to determine the source is to individually press or hold onto the suspected parts when the noise is audible during your next ride. You have located the source when pressing on a part stops the noise . Just to be sure, press on only that part again when the noise re-occurrs.

Thanks guys. I've cupped my hand over the entire brifter to quiet the rattle but just pressing the face plate has no effect. I'll check out the levers as I make my way to the shop tommorow. I suppose I'll leave it with them, let them do their thing, stand behind their work.

I got a little nervous the way they arrived from Performance - The outer box it came in was undamaged yet the original Shimano packaging looked as it had been trampled upon and the contents in a state of disarray. I complained about it and got a refund on the shipping. The brifters themselves seemed fine, unblemished and aside from this slight rattling they function flawlessly. However, I must note that when it came out of the shop, I did notice a tiny indendation in the middle of the face plate of the right brifter - didn't notice it before, thinking it superficial and not being particularly vain or perfectionistic, I said nothing about it. Maybe it's nothing. I hope it's nothing.

Could be cable slap on the frame or just hitting each other.

My cables have been known to do this and it is really annoying. Nothing a bit of black insulation tape won't fix though.

In my experience, a brifter only rattles when it's knackered. Can't see that from a 2-week old DA unit myself.

BINGO! I love it when it's this easy. Thanks.

BINGO! I love it when it's this easy. Thanks.

Are you serious? Or are you being sarcastic? If serious, no probs, if sarcastic, make it clearer!!!

Are you serious? Or are you being sarcastic? If serious, no probs, if sarcastic, make it clearer!!!

Don't be such a cynic. I'm 100% serious. It was, afterall, the cables hitting one another. I secured the cables together with a tie band and gone was the rattle. Had nothing to do with the brifters themselves.

Don't be such a cynic. I'm 100% serious. It was, afterall, the cables hitting one another. I secured the cables together with a tie band and gone was the rattle. Had nothing to do with the brifters themselves.

Law student = cynic! I didn't want to infer that you were being sarcastic, it's just that I've been very wrong about these things in the past!

Glad it was the cable rattle and not the brifters. The last thing you want to do is buy another set of DA levers within the fortnight.

Glad I could help, too.

Law student = cynic! I didn't want to infer that you were being sarcastic, it's just that I've been very wrong about these things in the past!

Glad it was the cable rattle and not the brifters. The last thing you want to do is buy another set of DA levers within the fortnight.

Glad I could help, too.

No, I'm happy you thought to post your thoughts on the matter. Otherwise my bike would be at the bike shop today.

No, I'm happy you thought to post your thoughts on the matter. Otherwise my bike would be at the bike shop today.

Yeah, with them bouncing it up and down! That's such a poor way of testing for a rattle, it made me laugh a lot when I read it. I can imagine it now... "Yeah, we found the rattle, it was coming from all the spokes we snapped when we started jumping up and down on it." ;)