How to install a Shimano Bike Brake Booster

In this video I’m going to explain how to correctly install this Shimano Bike Brake Booster I was lucky enough to accidentally find online.
Although a bit more exotic, they fall into the same category as bar extensions in terms of being a decidedly ’90s tech upgrade for mountain bikes.
In general, original vintage bike brake booster are quite rare to obtain and I’ve never seen one on any of the marketplace listings.
A brake booster prevents the flex that occurs in the brake bosses when the spinning rim forces the brake pads to move forward and outward.
The bike brake booster keeps the bosses in place, which in turn increases the brake performance and lowers the risk of brake pad squealing.
Join the Facebook Group: / 996447607429641
I've also written a blog post with more information. If you want to read this article go to www.restoration.bike/bikes-an...
Visit my website for more bike restoration tutorials: www.restoration.bike/
Instagram: / restoration.bike

[@keanoscarermitano619]

I also luckily scored one of this for my rear cantilever setup. Very flashy and improved the Deore LX Cantilever Brake Performance by a huge margin. I’m glad I saw this video then was reminded when I saw one pop up on our local Facebook Marketplace.

[@FancyAnimal]

A brake booster works by preventing the fork brake bosses from spreading apart from one another under brake clamping loads. It's essentially an I-beam with an arc that increases the break clamping stiffness and thus force. There's no possible way this device would do anything to stiffen the bosses in the wheel travel / circumferencial direction without anchoring the brace to another part of the fork. The strcutural shape tells you everything about it's operation, ie-the brace resists bending or spreading open within the plane it is contained in.

[@ControlAltGar]

If i only have one , on Wich brake should I apply it? The rear seems the best aesthetic reason but on theory the front one is the brake that flex more...

[@restorationdotbike]

The front brake takes the far majority of the weight. Just imagine braking so hard your rear wheel lifts. That's zero force in the rear and all the force in the front.

[@pikola24]

Just curious, because I have never ridden with those devices: How different is the braking performance with and without brake boosters? have you noticed it?

[@restorationdotbike]

There are multiple factors that constitute brake performance. But with a correct brake setup, the brake booster gives your v-brakes a consistent disc brake feel. There's simply no movement in the brake setup which means all the power is transferred to the brake pads, as it should be.
I've read in some threads that even with brake boosters, people still feel their brakes are not performing as desired. It's true that unlike disc brakes, dirty rims might still have a negative impact on braking performance, but I have a hard time trying to understand why adding a brake booster would do nothing in those cases, other than it's some other factor which might cause an issue than bending brake bosses.

[@amd65ak47]

My biggest question is why wouldn't they put them behind the brakes and stop it from happening before it happens which really surprises me that they go on on the front of the brakes instead of behind the brakes when the tire rotation is from the back anyhow.

[@restorationdotbike]

brakes have springs that sit in one of three holes in your frame. You can't put a thick brake booster in between the spring and the frame.

[@DaveMustaine.]

I came across one and I'm willing to sell it.

[@restorationdotbike]

You got me interested. My suggestion would be to use the facebook group (link in description) to DM me.