teterider

Search didn't find it, and a general search found opposing answers all over the place.

I'm replacing a broken left 5600 shifter on a friends bike, and I did find just the left to buy. But for not much more $$ considering you can get a full set of 5700 shifters (with new cables) and get them faster too, and he wants to go that route.

From what I understand, the rear compatibility is no issue, but the "official" Shimano chart shows that 5700 shifters won't work with 5600 front derailleur - but of course they are "wrong" often in order to sell parts. I then read that this actually applies to Dura-Ace 7900/7800 but not the rest.

So I need to hear from somebody actually using it. Is there an issue using new 5700 shifters with the previous 5600 front derailleur?

znomit

Was this the common issue with double chainrings where the left 5600 jams? Just had one replaced under warranty that was 3 1/2 years old.

Otherwise the front derailleur is pretty cheap. My understanding is it will work with the old der but will be hard on the cables.

kissTheApex

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question teterider, but my suggestion as well would be to take a look into the warranty replacement issue.

mikehattan

According to Sheldon, you should be fine. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/front-derailers.html

I've mixed and matched Shimano (Tiagra/105/Ultegra) shifters and derailleurs and only encounter problems when mixing road/mtb or double/triple FDs and cranks.

equipe

I'm running 5700 brifters and 5600 FD and it works fine so far (been a few months)

libero

https://www.celebrazio.net/bicycling/...atibility.html

This site has a bunch of shimano compatibility charts posted from the past several years.
Shimano will try to upsell but only when there's valid reason. In this case, pull down the 2011 "front" chart and the 2010 "front" chart and it's interesting to note that Shimano is not even consistent year-to-year. The ST-6700 had dotted line compatibility to the FD-6600 one year; but in the next year's chart (2011) this combo doesn't show up. To their credit, there are too many possible lines to include every last one so I give them the benefit of the doubt. (the 5700 didn't exist until 2011 so using this 6700 to make the point).

However, there is one important difference in the FD setup as I understand it: the newer series (5700) crank / derailer spec is different in the spacing between chainrings on the crank. So this affects the way you trim the FD with the brifter, the amount of cable pulled per mm of finger movement, and probably the FD settings (inside / outside stops).

Now the original post doesn't mention double vs. triple. I'd be more leery to attempt this on a triple. The 105 level brifters are pretty basic and it's hard to screw up a double so as equipe mentions it basically works for him. You're either big or small - shift up / shift down. Kind of hard to screw up a binary state machine.

You want the official word: per Shimano the word is "no-go". But you want the word on the street: follow Equipe's wisdom and you should be ok.

One more word of advice: have your LBS decide, especially if they're going to be doing the work. there may be extenuating circumstances in your case that they should be clued in to.

Ask me? I'd rather save time than money so I go by the shimano book. So I'm always certain if the thing goes Fubar it's not because of the specs, it's because of the condition and my LBS can bail me out. I have less down time, more time for bikes and beer when I stay true to the book.

AdelaaR

All these things can be mixed if properly set up.
I have a hybrid with mixed MTB/road components and it has been shifting without any hickup for over a year without adjustments.

gus6464

The only thing that Shimano doesn't recommend when it comes to 5600 and 5700/6700 are the brakes as the pull ratio are different but they will still work. You can get a 5700 FD at ribble for 40 bucks though if you really want to match.