Flip flopping XT M775 brake levers

MikeMc

I can get a set of XT M775 disc brakes at a good price but the levers are back to front for me ( front L/H - rear R/H ). Is it possible to just remove the hoses at the levers and swap them so the R/H lever controls the front brake and the L/H lever operates the rear or are the levers for the front and rear different. I realize that I will need to bleed the brakes if I do this but it sounds like a simple solution to me if the levers are technically the same.

Bikehawk

About to replace one of those levers, the guy who owns the lbs says that it's a fairly easy job. Just unscrew the hose and screw on the new one. Looking at Shimano's tech docs it doesn't give a great view of those levers but all their other hydraulic levers seem to feature an olive style assembly so should be interchangealbe (spelling) :? . I run them the way you want and he runs them the way you currently have. I wait to be corrected by someone with more knowledge/sleep .

ali$tair

Cant you just swap them on to the correct sides without removing the houses, ie. flipping the lever upside down?

MountainMonster

ali$tair wrote:

Cant you just swap them on to the correct sides without removing the houses, ie. flipping the lever upside down?

I'd bet that would change the feel of them quite a bit, levers being a bit odd shaped and fingers sliding off, and the shifters not being in the right place and comfortable to reach.

As far as the lever assembly, why would you want to reverse it? Front should be left side, and the rear right!

MountainMonster

ali$tair wrote:

Cant you just swap them on to the correct sides without removing the houses, ie. flipping the lever upside down?

I'd bet that would change the feel of them quite a bit, levers being a bit odd shaped and fingers sliding off, and the shifters not being in the right place and comfortable to reach.

As far as the lever assembly, why would you want to reverse it? Front should be left side, and the rear right!

Andy B

[quote="MountainMonster"As far as the lever assembly, why would you want to reverse it? Front should be left side, and the rear right![/quote]Anywhere but the UK yes, front brake = left, but in the UK we do front brake = right

Shimano brake levers are not designed to be run upside down

Swap the hoses over very carefully, there is a chance you may not have to bleed the bakes afterwards

MountainMonster

Andy B wrote:

[quote="MountainMonster"As far as the lever assembly, why would you want to reverse it? Front should be left side, and the rear right!

Anywhere but the UK yes, front brake = left, but in the UK we do front brake = right

Shimano brake levers are not designed to be run upside down

Swap the hoses over very carefully, there is a chance you may not have to bleed the bakes afterwards[/quote]

Ah fair enough, never got seriously into biking back in Cambridge cause it was a poo area to ride in, but all my commuter bikes there had front brake was the left one; was a bit confused.

CraigXXL

Simply undo the hose and keep it upright so you don't lose any fluid do the same with other and reconnect as required. Another person would help to hold the hose upright whilst you work on the other.
Once swapped over pull the levers in and hold for awhile and the resistance should come back.

cooldad

MountainMonster wrote:

Andy B wrote:

As far as the lever assembly, why would you want to reverse it? Front should be left side, and the rear right![Anywhere but the UK yes, front brake = left, but in the UK we do front brake = right

Shimano brake levers are not designed to be run upside down

Swap the hoses over very carefully, there is a chance you may not have to bleed the bakes afterwards

Ah fair enough, never got seriously into biking back in Cambridge cause it was a poo area to ride in, but all my commuter bikes there had front brake was the left one; was a bit confused.

Anywhere in the civilised world front=right. UK, SA, Aus, NZ ie where ever they drive on the left. But as motorcycles work the same way, it's much better to keep front right anyway.

MikeMc

Thanks guys I couldn't see any reason that I couldn't swap the hoses. I was just a bit worried that the levers for front and back may have been internally different but it sounds like they are the same. I have more than 1 bike so want to keep them all the same. You can imagine the carnage if I slammed on the left lever to slide the back out only to lock up the front wheel. I'm sure anyone watching would think it was funny.

hennez

what do you call 'cheap' for a set of XT's???

jairaj

The hoses are easy to swap on the XT, although I think you're supposed to change the olives as they are one use only. double check on this I may be wrong.

martin9er

You can just swap the hoses each other and also use old olives if they were not damaged/screwed too tight (its recommended to use new olives and bleed the system too by Shimano), if you will be very careful the system will work. In case you drop out some oil from hose or lever(minimum quantity) just open bleeding cup on lever and push the lever 2-3times to get air out, this might help.

Anonymous

Excuse my ignorance on this, but aren't motorcycles always front brake on right, clutch on left, in every country?

cooldad

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this, but aren't motorcycles always front brake on right, clutch on left, in every country?

I think so. All the ones I've ever ridden anyway.
Foreigners however (those who drive on the right) set up bicycles differently. The Daily Mail should say something about it.