Many thanks for posting this, just what we needed. We've had Shimano roller brakes since 2016 and noticed a deterioration in performance. We have now learned the need to grease them and the Shimano grease is on it's way and will hopefully improve the brakes performance. Thanks again.
Proper roller brake maintenance >>>> Loosen and remove spokes. Throw roller brake boat anchor hub in the scrap bin. They stop spinning faster than my Rohloff14. LOL. Buy SA XL DRUM brake, or better yet a dyno drum. Set and forget for 30 to 40,000 MILES with ZERO FUSS. Will need a bearing change sometime, same as any wheel. My tour bike was 120 lbs both tours. ZERO worries in ANY conditions.
What if they sound like a FROG while biking? When i use the break just a little the sound is gone. Its a brand new bike so im hoping something just needs to be tightened.
A great video! Just a question. My rear drum brake stuck when i take brake. I have to pull the cable by my finger back so it's released and the wheel is free to move. Any remedy for this?
@@Netherlands031 Exactly. I remember that changing cable and wire solved it. There was dirt and grit inside the cable and wire barely slided through it. It seems 4/5 cases drum brake issues are wire/cable related. The brake itself seems pretty sturdy. Thanks for your answer though.
@@MS-zt8zq so how exactly they wear out? I am used to regular and disc brakes but recently moved to Netherlands and almost all bikes have these weird brakes
@@Rainaman- I never worn any of them in my bikes, but, as far as I heard and red from various places, pads and body, both, wears and has to be trown out... ...alltogether with other things, what basically means- all brake has to be thrown out as no seperate parts are available from Shimano. BUT- if you grease these brakes right away when they starts to squek or braking gets sharp and difficult to dose, brakes lasts very long time. I strongly suggest to use Shimano original grease (and many pro shops has noticed the same), with it brakes always works best. Yes, that tube is somewhat expensive, but it lasts long and anyway is cheaper than running on daily basis any other brake types.
@@MS-zt8zq yeah, bought that grease today. On internet you can get it pretty cheap and as far as cycling goes 20€ for a tube in a store ain't that bad.
@@Rainaman- I suggest to grease once per year or 1000km. Do NOT wait until you hear grinding noise. It might be too late. Rollerbrakes are super easy to maintain as this video shows. Just don't forget adding the Shimano grease. Don't use anything else that may become hard, dry or evaporate on heat (grease becomes hot).
If you have th choice - don't choose roller brakes. I have shimano roller brakes on one of my bikes and I don't like them. It's only run about 500 Km so it's not like they should be worn out. My roller brake started making a slight squrring sound so thought it might be time to lubricate it and google how. Got here. So it has to be special lube. Wonder if ordinary high temperature lube will do. Sucks if you have to buy that original snake oil. Also if you want the brake to be able to really bite then you get the feeling it's dragging - so no you can't. Without dragging the brake is mushy and stopping even from 25-30 km/h is just inefficient and I wouldn't be surpriced if it has lives on it's conscience. My bike also has mounts for traditional rim brake and I really consider converting it to ordinary rim brakes. Rim brake while perhaps not as refined feel they're far easier maintained and they'll stop the bike in an instant if required - the roller brake won't. Roller brakes just sucks big time. Give me any brake but roller brakes!
Maybe your brakes need some service and adjustment? I have been using roller brakes for 15 years / 15 000 km and they still work well - I have not noticed any lack in performance either.
@@pistool1 They probably need lubrication more often than I though. However it doesn't change that roller brakes are the worst bike brakes - period. Have tried other bikes with roller brakes and even at dealers. They're all the same even when bike was all new. Mushy and if you want then to really bite to stop almost instantly - they're not able to. Rim brakes might be old fashioned and less refined. But they require much less maintenance and they'll stop the bike instantly - something that might save the bike - and even your life. If you rim brakes are good quality they can even block your front wheel at low speed - again roller brakes can't at that really says it all. Rim brakes got lots of braking power - rollers don't.
@@HifiCentret Hell, my last bicycle used roller brakes and my current one uses roller brakes. I have had 1 emergency brake application (an ambulance that suddenly turned left while waiting for straight and ran a red with no lights or sirens on) where I was nearly thrown off my own bike, that's how powerfull I could brake with it. Though rim brakes feel tougher, switching from roller brakes to rim brakes can even be considered dangerous. The front wheel will block and will launch me if I keep braking full force. I rather prefer to stay on my bike instead of being thrown into the path of a vehicle I intended to avoid by braking...
@@HifiCentret have to disagree on the low maintenance part, my bikes go years without needing new roller brakes, however when I had rim brakes I had to replace the brake pads multiple times a year. The brake modulation is pretty sub-par, but for city bikes I feel that's OK.
@@Netherlands031 Which is a quick easy job. It can be I ask too much of the roller brake and rides (stopping at least) faster than most grandpa types who use roller brakes. Or perhaps mine was improperly lubed from factory. Bottomline it really sucks. Seems to require endless lubing while it can't deliver if (when!) you need to stop on a dime. Rim brakes may be old fashioned and give a less refined feeling but the maintence they require is easy and they deliver when you demand.
All right to pull the lever all the way to the handlebar? Wow. No. Also, Rollerbrakes do not have enough heat-dissipation capacity for safe use on a cargo bike in hilly terrain.
