Shims for Shimano dual-control levers?

[Kalidurga]

I finally went for a "real" fitting at a shop with the Serotta fit system. The one thing that we were not able to improve was the reach to the brake/shift levers. Unfortunately, when the tech guy looked in the Shimano catalog, he could only find one style of levers for which Shimano had shims and of course, it wasn't mine. Does anyone have any idea whether it's possible to get shims for the Shimano Sora dual control lever system?

I have a feeling I'm gonna have to call Shimano directly. There's no way I can afford a new lever system this year.

[Fuji Girl]

Specialized makes shims for Shimano, and I'm pretty sure they work with Sora. You should try giving them a call or going to your Specialized dealer. After installing your shims, you have to adjust the brake cables, so you might be better off having them do that.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=14890

[velogirl]

I do a lot of bike fit for women. I've been shimming levers for years (before Shimano came out with their fancy shims). I use those little felt/wool carpet squares that you put under furniture that goes on wood floors (I'm sure they have a real name but I can't think of it). They're felt on one side and adhesive on the other. Just depress the lever and insert the shim on the solid part of the lever (inside). You may need to adjust your brakes after doing this if they're running too close to your rims. This, of course, only works on Shimano. I haven't figured out how to do this for Campy, but I understand that there's a shop in Santa Cruz, CA that fabricates custom Campy shims.

[Kalidurga]

fujigirl: I had looked at the Specialized site, too, and seen the shims that work on the Dura-Ace and Ultegra levers. I'm going to try calling both Shimano and Specialized tomorrow to ask if they'll work on Soras.

velogirl: That's an interesting idea. Does the wool/fabric part compress over time? Do you trim them to make them fit the lever? If I can't get real shims, I may try that.

Thanks to you both for the suggestions!

[Fuji Girl]

fujigirl: I had looked at the Specialized site, too, and seen the shims that work on the Dura-Ace and Ultegra levers. I'm going to try calling both Shimano and Specialized tomorrow to ask if they'll work on Soras.

The DA and Ultegras are identical in shape to the 105s and Tiagras. I think that must be a load of hooey. Dunno about Soras, though, so definitely check. Sometimes I think that Specialized is full of BS. They advertised their 2005 version of the Jett as "women's specific" but in reality it was *exactly* the same as the current Avatar in 155mm, which is "unisex".

2005 Jett:
http://kozy.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=1&id=3860

2006 Avatar 155:
http://kozy.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3859

[velogirl]

fujigirl: velogirl: That's an interesting idea. Does the wool/fabric part compress over time? Do you trim them to make them fit the lever? If I can't get real shims, I may try that.

I haven't found them to compress. They're meant to go under heavy furniture, remember, so they seem to remain pretty true.

I don't cut them. I've used both the round and the square and they're smaller than the space where you attach them, so no need to cut. You could also get larger sheets or shapes and cut them down to size.

And for a buck for a sheet of 20, you can afford to replace them once a year or so if you need.

[esther231]

I have Tiagras on my bike. And it just got shims. My LBS did it. They went on painlessly and did a great job of making my brakes reachable.