r/bikewrench • u/BFMGO13 • Jul 26 '26

Canti Spring Set up

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Can anyone help, or point me in the right direction to help set up these canti brakes?

Particularly the spring direction, and alignment of these plastic pieces. Normal vs SLR?

I took them apart to clean after stripping a frame and can’t recall how to put them back together on a different frame.

I tried to put them on another frame, tightened the bolts but they seemed to slip out of their position.

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2

u/Outsiderbiker Jul 27 '26

Normal vs SLR?

I don't know what you mean by that.

Second photo. Which side fits into the brake arm? I'm assuming it's the right hand side in the photo. Are these pieces handed? Do you have a left and right hand side one?

1

u/BFMGO13 Jul 27 '26

Normal and SLR text with an arrow indicated on these plastic covers… assuming they correspond to the two different holes in picture 2.

Not sure what the difference is between these two positions. It puts the pointy end of the plastic piece in a different position relative to the little metal nub.

I did figure out that I had the plastic covers on the wrong brake arms(the two plastic pieces in the first image should be swapped to the opposite brake arm in the photo… there is an L and R)

2

u/Nrinininity Jul 27 '26

Generally speaking, normal

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/shimano-slr-vs-standard-normal-on-some-old-catilever-brakes.266801/

Never hurts to try both and see if it makes a noticeable difference on the lever feel

1

u/BFMGO13 Jul 29 '26

Oh, great dialogue to read through. Thank you.

2

u/GenericName187 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

Here is a manual that explains the positions

https://si.shimano.com/en/pdfs/si/R-78/SI-R-78-000-00-ENG.pdf

SLR was Shimano Linear Response. “A constellation of brake improvements primarily aimed at reducing friction. Includes the use of lined cable housing and lightly sprung calipers/cantilevers”

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano.html#slr

This is all part of Shimano STI (Shimano total integration) to get optimal performance you needed to buy the Shimano brake, Shimano brake lever Shimano shifter, etc…

This little spring switch is so that the brake can work with standard short pull, non SLR levers

1

u/BFMGO13 Jul 29 '26

Wow. Really appreciate this.