Replacing Shimano Altus Cantilever Brakes (Cracked Plastic Collars)

In this video I replace Shimano Altus cantilever brakes with broken plastic spring covers. All three bikes I was working on had the Shimano Altus brakes with the grey plastic spring covers (BR-CT90). All of them were broken, or at least cracked. I have tried to fix the plastic collars with epoxy and model glue, but they just break again. Zip ties might work, but that would be ugly. So I am replacing the brakes with brand new Shimano Altus BR-CT91 brakes. The newer brakes have black plastic spring covers which I am hoping are stronger than the gray ones. At least they should last a while.
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[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@hnwinanda5747]

what if it is left without using the spring plastic?

[@jbri1]

Brilliantly done! Very easy to follow and you don't seem to miss any info!

[@sillyshrapnel]

cracked grey plastic... exactly what happened to my Altus brakes. I upgraded to the black ones, thanks for the video on how to install them. Fingers crossed they hold up for another 20 years!

[@MrPoppabear255]

I'm saving all your videos to my favorites. They will come in handy this winter as I have a couple of bike re-build / refurbish projects planned.

[@janetsers4895]

I love my Canties! adjusted properly they work awesome

[@199gSauerkraut]

Exactly the same problem with broken plastic spring covers on my old bike, i will replace them,thanks for your helpful video. 👍

[@gchrestani]

What a coincidence! I changed my pads today, and do not know if I was doing it correctly. Thank you for the video!

[@mikel4510]

Master Jedi of the Bicycle - please take me as your apprentice!

[@MoeRubenzahl]

I successfully repaired these by using a cable tie around the great plastic and JB Weld epoxy. Lasted years. One rebroke and I used stainless steel wire and moreJB Weld. That did it. But yes I really should have just replaced them!

[@gerardkelly4745]

Hi RJ another great usefull video although I personally would adjust the brake arms before doing the pads, I find doing in this order makes the pad adjustment much easier as the brakes are already held in place .

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I do the brake pads first, then I know how much to adjust the arms.

[@edfeifert9838]

Thanks very much. I had exactly the same problem on an old bike.

[@alexoneal1029]

Hey shy....you might find it helpful to hold the front of the adjustment bolt with a 5 mm allen when you tighten the back nut....great vid btw...been enjoying seeing a fellow mechanic work on bikes...

[@roncooke2188]

Great video interesting yes i also find it can be tile and error to get it right

[@poiuytrewdfghjksa]

Can you post a tutorial for Shimano Deore MT62 cantilever install/adjustments? I know these are quite similar but the plastic washer and spring system on thet MT62's seem to be slightly different. Much appreciated!

[@spirittravels.]

Thanks for video. I've a touring bike with these exact style brakes and i found them so confusing to adjust that i've paid bike mechanics to fit them. You explain it so easily and clearly that now i know what i need to fix myself. I saw another video by someone else using a cable tie on rear of brake pads to help align brake pads with 'toe in' adjustment made easier. Have you tried that method?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+Bwa Ha I haven't. I just started playing with these to see how they work: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007FWPD2Q/ref=nosim/youtube25-20

[@HockeyPlayoffRun]

Amazing how that is the same frame as my Norco Firenza

[@tijuanero4154]

Great video , thank uuuuu !!

[@gottenwheel14]

I recently put new brakes on my mtb as they wasnt strong enough and i also had to change my rear wheel as my rim had worn out which was also the main problem why i couldnt stop

[@jamesg871]

I have these current brakes on an old bike that I want to replace the brakes on. Can I just buy any type of Cantilever Brakes or will only a certain model work?

[@chanceisaac2691]

Make it look so easy .these canter lever brakes kick my ass every time.

[@gottenwheel14]

Good cutters

[@spacefolder]

Hi Rj! Question: If I replace the cables, but I use the original housing, should I lubricate the cable with some product? Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+spacefolder Get new housing. No, new housings with plastic linings do not require lubricants and in fact they can be detrimental.

[@mg181]

Where do you recommend finding replacement Altus front brakes? Trying to do same project on my old bike. Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001GSQO1E/ref=nosim/youtube25-20

[@imansubekti8482]

Which one is better, canťilever or v brake ? Thx

[@ca4Gochops]

what kind of degreaser do you use here? I didn't see you rinse off with water. I like Zep, but I hate having to rinse.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

LA's Awesome Orange degreaser from the Dollar store.

[@OjStudios]

I really hate adjusting these bulk type cantilevers. I've seen few with kind of a balljoint thingie which is very easy to adjust.

[@jimbob036]

What height do you usually set the brake pad clamps along the arm? There's a fair bit of up-and-down adjustment possible. I usually set mine in the middle of the groove initially, is that the right approach? I guess you want the pads to hit the rims squarely?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yes, adjust then so the pads to hit the rim squarely.

[@jimbob036]

Thanks, that's what I thought. It can be hard with cantilever brakes to get them to back-off the rim by the same amount on both sides. I seem to be constantly adjusting them. Otherwise, you get one shoe dragging on the rim..

[@jimbob036]

Also wondering, what's the difference between the old style metal straddle bridge hangers and the round type in your video? Are the newer ones better?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

These newer ones are always centered. And they also come in different lengths to vary the angle.

[@jimbob036]

Thanks.

[@rchandos]

Thanks for a nice clear explanation. Isn't the toe-in accomplished by mturning the variable-thickness washer that rests against the smooth post?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

By swiveling the pad.

[@rchandos]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I seem to have an older version of the Shimano brakes that uses a variable-thickness washer to create and adjust the toe-in (photo 1 at the tip of the screwdriver). The second photo is of that washer. By rotating the washer with a screwdriver (note the tang), you can set the desired toe. drive.google.com/file/d/1oS0L-P0wsMvkKbfyjuU5jaoZ-jKyWi8B/view?usp=sharing drive.google.com/file/d/1YztRys-AmdN2-9utLpFKdEYMWjJvpmPJ/view?usp=sharing

[@rchandos]

@@RJTheBikeGuy It looks like your brakes also has a washer, but I can't tell from the video if it's beveled/variable thickness.

[@tomhsia4354]

@@rchandos These don't have that adjustment washer, these use the bevelled washers. I've seen these brakes, the Shimano Alivio BR MC-12, and the Shimano Deore BR MT-62, only the old Deores had that special washer. The Altus brakes I saw had broken plastic and thus didn't work.

[@rchandos]

@@tomhsia4354 That explains it. Thanks.

[@peterjv8748]

Hey Rj. Sometimes with older/used cantis I need to use the 3 holes (for mounting the spring) to get even tension. Meaning the left might be mounted to the top hole while I keep the right spring in the middle hole. Is this ok to do? Like I said, sometimes with some cantis it's the only way to get even tension centered.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yes, you can use different holes. But generally use the center hole, and adjust the spring tension first. You can also bend the spring a little for more tension.

[@peterjv8748]

@@RJTheBikeGuy - Ok good because I've been doing this for retail bikes for a year now and everywhere I look they say to use the same holes. Also how do you bend those small coiled springs? Maybe you can make a video for that?! Thanks for the vids!

[@isaiasprestes9759]

In case you want to keep your original Altus cantilever brakes, you can print in 3D. Google "printables Spring Cup for Shimano Altus Cantilever Brake Designed to replace broken originals for the BR-CT-90-M brake" - I will not add link here because KZbin block it. Thank you RJ!

[@danielschulman6578]

I installed the same brakes. I continue to have a problem. One of the blocks is extended in, the other is out. This is the only way I can get them to function. I would like to be able to have them the same distance on each side. I wonder whether the fork is out of alignment. Any insight into this problem will be apprecaited.

[@danielnagy9717]

I think those little screws on the side need to be adjusted which controls the spring tension.

[@w6263]

RJ can you please answer this question: what is the name of the 'washer thing' that the brake shoe stem sits against? I'm looking to replace one on my cantilever brakes at the back. Cannot tighten brake shoe to stay in place without this 'washer thing'.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I don't know what washer thing you are referring to. If it's part of the brake, replace the whole brake. You can't really get brake pieces.

[@w6263]

@@RJTheBikeGuy Much appreciated for reply.

[@Wissassin]

I just replaced the exact atlus brakes on a trek 720 fork and even with the washers they are loose as in their is wiggle room bottom of post out away from the fork? why is this?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+Travus Baker They need to be a little loose so they can move. But not sure how loose yours are, or why they might be looser than normal if in fact they are.

[@MstrMark]

Is there an easy upgrade path from smooth post to threaded post? The smooth-post design seems all but impossible to adjust with any precision.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No idea what you are talking about.

[@MstrMark]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I am hoping to retrofit brakes like these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKepmqWXZ8l0hrs or maybe Shimano V-Brakes.. You seem quite knowledgeable about this, so I thought you might know which ones would fit, much as you did with the BR-CT90 to BR-CT91 upgrade. But if not, I thank you anyway.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@MstrMark The posts are the same.

[@johnbaca8692]

As Alex said, hold the front of the adj. screw with a 5 mm wrench helps to hold the pad in position while you tighten it. Bike Man 4 U uses a 5 mm wrench too. I say, just get a set of V-brakes and forget about the canti-gyrations if your brake lever has enough leverage. I have seen the black covers crack too.

[@shorty235z]

Does anyone know where I can simply buy the spring collar piece? The plastic housing on my mountain bike also broke, but I don't want to have to shell out a $100 to have the whole thing replaced just for one simple piece.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Just buy new brakes. They aren't $100. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001GSQO1E/ref=nosim/youtube25-20

[@griftereck]

yeah. Ive got a bike with similar cantis. stupid idea to put plastic collars on a high stressed part

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I haven't seen the issue with the black collars. Only the gray ones.

[@shorty235z]

Well if they never broke, they'd never make any profit. Why do you think people buy new iphones every single year? Same story.

[@ofthelord1020]

@@shorty235z It's called wasting money for someone else's bank account to profit.

[@ForbinColossus]

Effin' Shimano! Same problem on the shimano ALIVIO cantis I have, except the spring collars/covers are much narrower, as the metal part of the cantisurrounds more of the spring, but the plastic collar still has a hole for the spring end to go through. Crack is at that hole. With the Shimano BR-CT91 Altus Cantilever Brakes costing approx $14 bucks, would you recommened just buying them or spending more for another brand of cantilever ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

ForbinColossus the Shimano BR-CT91 Altus Cantilever Brakes are decent. I have replaced a bunch of the older Altus brakes with them. The newer ones with the black collars are much better. I haven't seen any of them broken yet.

[@ForbinColossus]

RJ The Bike Guy RJ, since I'm working on a 1995 MTB I want to keep and I need to replace the cracked Alivio cantis on it, do you have an opinion as to the better vintage cantilevers, for example Dia-Compe 987 Cantilevers or Suntour XC Pro, to name two good oldies? Thanks for all your vids - super helpful and to the point!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Nope. You gotta do your own research as to what fits your needs.

[@ForbinColossus]

OK. I figured you ran into different brands with the bikes you rebuild and flip. Take care.

[@taylerthompson7559]

can you mount the front brake without the little guide at the headset?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Cantilever brakes need a cable hanger somewhere.

[@taylerthompson7559]

@@RJTheBikeGuy crap I have no idea where I put the front hanger

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@taylerthompson7559 Then buy a new one.

[@taylerthompson7559]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I'm converting from suspension fork to rigid fork on a vintage mtb, I think the original cable hanger was built to a metal triangular looking thing that originally attached to the suspension fork. Does that sound about right?

[@elmarko9051]

Guess what I just did? Change out some Altus brakes with plastic collars! With some shiny black Shimano Deore LX cantilevers. The bikes stops like hitting a tripwire now. Never saw this vid before I did it, but I can attest that the Altus brakes are not the greatest.

[@robertshreffler6155]

Lubrication, I don't like you putting the new cable into housing and not mentioning any cable lube. It's needed because of water infiltration over time.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Modern cable housings have plastic linings that don't require lube. Lubes can damage the linings.

[@Farrago]

Can I just buy a new collar instead of replacing the whole thing?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I doubt it. I have never seen them sold separately.

[@Farrago]

Well, I got these (www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Cantilever-Brake-Tension-Springs-NEW-/331334745282?pt=US_Derailleurs_Rear&hash=item4d2516fcc2) from Ebay, but the consensus on the web is just to buy the whole system since it is cheap. Since I already got the springs, I was hoping I could make it work, but I'm kind of new to bike repair.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Those look like the right parts. Good find.

[@Farrago]

Oh, good. Hopefully it fixes it. Your videos are very helpful... thanks.

[@MrPhotodoc]

Why in the world did Shimano use plastic instead of metal on the collars. Everyone I've ever seen have been cracked.

[@user-wh3uw9vc7g]

отличный показ все понятно без знания языка --БРАВО ,

[@evanswinford7165]

When the plastic breaks those brakes are a goner. Worst brakes ever.,