Does a regular person fix an STI brifter?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Does a regular person fix an STI brifter?
The internals in my front der STI shifter have developed some problems. I've taken it apart enough to find a plastic part broken; the next step will yield springs, cogs, and the like all over the place. Does a regular person have access to the individual replacement parts? Do LBSs repair these? Or, are these considered kaput when the guts stop working properly?
thanks,
Kevin
thanks,
Kevin
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Davis, CA.
Posts: 214
Bikes: '78 Raleigh Grand Prix, '85 Trek 510
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are they Shimano or Campagnolo? If you search google you can find a lot about Shimano STI shifter rebuilding.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks. Shimano 105.
For all the time I spend googling mindless crap, I can't believe I didn't think to simply start with a google search.
thanks again,
-K
For all the time I spend googling mindless crap, I can't believe I didn't think to simply start with a google search.
thanks again,
-K
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Gainesville/Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,343
Bikes: Trek 1000, two mtbs and working on a fixie for commuting.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hmm, I've always heard that Shimano brifters are not "rebuildable", but then I never really looked into it.
#5
Young and unconcerned
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Merry Land
Posts: 4,123
Bikes: Yeah, I got a few.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Shimano shifters 'are not rebuildable' - that said, it's been done, but isn't for the faint of heart. You may also have trouble getting the piece.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Mountain Brook. AL
Posts: 4,002
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 303 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 136 Times
in
104 Posts
Shimano does not sell repair parts for brifters, so the only way to get parts is to cannibalize
another brifter. The mechanical complexity of Shimano brifters is enough to make further
disassembly inadvisable as rebuilding requires well above average skills even if you found
some repair parts. Campy brifters are simpler, more robust and repair parts are available.
No word yet on SRAM.
FWIW it is unusual for the FD brifter to malfunction, the RD brifter much more
commonly fails, so in theory there are probably a lot of left over functional FD
brifters floating around rendered worthless by a broker RD brifter I have four
of them, 1 8 spd and 3 9spd. Not offered for sale just a comment on how many
Shimano brifter sets I have gone through in 35kmi of riding on brifters.
another brifter. The mechanical complexity of Shimano brifters is enough to make further
disassembly inadvisable as rebuilding requires well above average skills even if you found
some repair parts. Campy brifters are simpler, more robust and repair parts are available.
No word yet on SRAM.
FWIW it is unusual for the FD brifter to malfunction, the RD brifter much more
commonly fails, so in theory there are probably a lot of left over functional FD
brifters floating around rendered worthless by a broker RD brifter I have four
of them, 1 8 spd and 3 9spd. Not offered for sale just a comment on how many
Shimano brifter sets I have gone through in 35kmi of riding on brifters.
Last edited by sch; 03-25-07 at 05:17 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by sch
Campy brifters are simpler, more robust and repair parts are available.
No word yet on SRAM.
No word yet on SRAM.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Eugene OR
Posts: 130
Bikes: VooDoo Limba, 2000 GF Kai Tai, old lugged fixies
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Personally, if I can't get the shifter to index correctly after working in a ton of Tri-Flow, I generally call em gone. I've had some luck rebuilding main components of an STI, but they are not user friendly.
Also the 105's are notorious for having problems.
Get campy. Much better.
Also the 105's are notorious for having problems.
Get campy. Much better.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 1,383
Bikes: Cinelli Supercoursa 69, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Mondonico Diamond Extra 05, Coors Light Greg Lemond (built by Scapin) 88, Scapin MTB, Stumpjumper 83, Specialized Stumpjumper M4, Lemond Poprad 2001
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
The arguments about the high cost of campy are true until you have a Shimano go bad. I have been rebuilding campy shifters for years for myself and friends. Typically the cost is less than $50 for parts which are readily available. See the site Campyonly.com for instructions. Your campy dealer will have the parts or can order them.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Mountain Brook. AL
Posts: 4,002
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 303 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 136 Times
in
104 Posts
With Shimano price increases to the retail buyer over the past 2-3yrs, Campy is no longer
the high price leader it was. SRAM has certainly not chosen to compete on price in
their road groups and the recently released barend/TT/Tri shifters are really pricey at
$200.
the high price leader it was. SRAM has certainly not chosen to compete on price in
their road groups and the recently released barend/TT/Tri shifters are really pricey at
$200.