Replacing STI hoods

Yardstick

The rubber hoods on my winter / commuting bike have worn out after 22,000 miles, so I have ordered some new ones (9 speed Tiagra). Quick question - is there an easy way to get the new hoods onto the shifters without removing the STI unit and cables from the bars?

Yardstick

I'll take that as a no then.

What a a pain, I'm going to have to:

remove the bar tape
remove STIs and cables (brake and gears)

then,

replace hoods (2 minute job at most for each lever)
replace STIs and re-attach gear and brake cables
redo bar tape

and finally
re-adjust gears (front and back) !

JustRidecp

You shouldn't need to remove the gear cables as these enter the unit beyond the hood. The brake cables, on the other hand, run underneath the hood so these will have to come off, along with the tape that holds them in the handlebar groove, bar tape and levers.

I dont envy you!!

JustRidecp

Shit, I just thought. If the levers have to come off then you might need to undo the gear cables as there may not be enough cable length to slip them off the drops.

Eeek! :shock:

Steveorow

Completely undo the allen screw at the side of the STI under the rubber hood ; the one that holds the STI to the bars . The whole unit will come of and leave the ring in place on the bars . I accidently done this when replacing the bars on the winter bike. I presume its the same on all Shimano STIs ( it is on my SORA and Ultegra STIs ) .

thebikeliker

I've just (last week) replaced my 9 speed tiagra lever and all I had to do was undo the allen screw, pull the cables out of the sheaths and then put the new lever on. Didn't touch the bar tape. Suggested by the lbs and it was easy. BTW I'd change the cables unless they are quite new.