Shimano BR-IM41, BR-IM50, BR-IM53 Service Instructions

General Safety Information

WARNING

– To avoid serious injuries:

It is important to completely understand the operation
of your bicycle's brake system. Improper use of your
bicycle's brake system may result in a loss of control
or an accident, which could lead to severe injury.
Because each bicycle may handle differently, be sure
to learn the proper braking technique (including brake
lever pressure and bicycle control characteristics) and
operation of your bicycle. This can be done by
consulting your professional bicycle dealer and the
bicycle's owners manual, and by practicing your riding
and braking technique.

The BL-IM45/BL-IM60 /SB-7S45/SB-8S20 brake
levers are equipped with a mode switching
mechanism. Be sure to use the BR-IM50-R/BR-IM41­R/BR-IM53-R with the mechanism in the C.R mode
position.

When securing the brake arm to the frame, be sure to
use a brake arm clip that matches the size of the
chainstay, and securely tighten them with the clip
screw and clip nut to the specified tightening torque.
Use a lock nut with a nylon insert (self-locking nut) for
the clip nut. It is recommended that standard Shimano
parts be used for the clip screw, clip nut and brake
arm clip.
In addition, use a brake arm clip that matches the size
of the chainstay.
If the clip nut comes off the brake arm, or if the clip
screw or brake arm clip becomes damaged, the brake
arm may rotate on the chainstay and cause the
handlebars to jerk suddenly, or the bicycle wheel may
lock and the bicycle may fall over, causing serious injury.

Obtain and read the service instructions carefully prior
to installing the parts. Loose, worn, or damaged parts
may cause serious injury to the rider.
We strongly recommend only using genuine Shimano
replacement parts.

Always make sure that the front and rear brakes are
working correctly before you ride the bicycle.

If the road surface is wet, the tires will skid more
easily. If the tires skid, you may fall off the bicycle. To
avoid this, reduce your speed and apply the brakes
early and gently.

Read these Technical Service Instructions carefully,
and keep them in a safe place for later reference.

CAUTION

– To avoid serious injuries:

The Shimano Inter-M brake system cannot be used

1.

with mountain bikes. Furthermore, when using this
brake system with other kinds of bikes, avoid
continuous application of the brakes when riding down
long slopes, as this will cause the internal brake parts
to become very hot, and this may weaken braking
performance. It may also cause a reduction in the
amount of brake grease inside the brake, and this can
lead to problems such as abnormally sudden braking.
The design of the Shimano Inter-M brake system has
been carried out based on standards such as ISO
4210 and DIN 79100-2. These standards specify the
performance for an overall weight of 100 kg. If the
overall weight exceeds 100 kg, the braking force
provided by the system may be insufficient for correct
braking, and durability of the system may also be
reduced.

C.R mode position

V

V

C R

C R

The C indicates the mode position for
compatibility with cantilever brakes.

The R indicates the mode position for
compatibility with roller brakes.

In order to get the best performance from the

2.

Shimano Inter-M brake, be sure to use Shimano
brakes cables and brake levers as a set.

The amount of movement of the inner cable must
be 14.5 mm or more when the brake lever is
depressed. If it is less than 14.5 mm, braking
performance will suffer, and the brakes may fail
to work.

If the hub nuts are cap nuts, use a frame with

3.

dropouts that are at least 7 mm thick.

Check that the brake unit is firmly secured to the hub

4.

body with the brake unit fixing nut.

GREASE

MIN.2Nm

JAPAN

BR-IM50-R

Brake unit

Brake unit fixing nut

Tightening torque:
20 – 25 N·m {174 – 217 in. lbs.}

Check that the wheel is fixed securely to the frame

5.

with the hub nuts.

GREASE

MIN.2Nm

JAPAN

BR-IM50-R

Hub nut

Tightening torque:
30 – 45 N·m {260 – 390 in. lbs.}

Check that the brake arm is securely fastened to

6.

the chainstay by the brake arm clip. If it is not
installed correctly, braking performance will suffer.

Brake arm clip

Chainstay

Brake arm

When installing the clip screw, securely hold
the clip nut with a 10 mm spanner while
tightening the clip screw. After tightening,
check that the clip screw protrudes about 2 –
3 mm from the surface of the clip nut.

Brake arm

Clip nut

If excessive
force is applied
to the brake arm
to secure it, the
wheel will make
noise and
become difficult
to turn. Make
sure that you
don't apply
excessive force
when installing.

Brake arm clip

Clip screw
(M6 16 mm)

2 – 3 mm

Tightening torque:
2 – 3 N·m {17 – 26 in. lbs.}

If any of the following occur while using the brakes,

7.

stop riding immediately and ask the place of
purchase to carry out inspection and repairs.

1) If abnormal noise is heard when the brakes
are applied

2) If braking force is abnormally strong

3) If braking force is abnormally weak
In the case of 1) and 2), the cause might be not

enough brake grease, so ask the place of purchase
to grease the mechanism with special roller brake
grease.

If the brake is used

8.

frequently, the area around
the brake may become hot.
Do not touch the area
around the brake for at least
30 minutes after you finish
riding the bicycle.

If the brake cable becomes rusted, braking

9.

performance will suffer. If this happens, replace the
brake cable with a genuine Shimano brake cable
and re-check the braking performance.

The BR-IM50-R/BR-IM41-R /BR-IM53-R brake units

10.

should never be disassembled. If they are
disassembled, they will no longer work properly.

Area around the brake

NOTE:

Use a wheel with 3x or 4x spoke lacing. Wheels with
radial lacing cannot be used because the spokes and
the wheel can be damaged when applying the brakes
and brake noise can be generated.

The Inter-M brake is different from conventional
brakes in that the inside of the brake drum is filled with
grease. This may cause the turning of the wheel to be
slightly heavier than usual, particularly in cold weather.

Parts are not guaranteed against natural wear or
deterioration resulting from normal use.

For maximum performance we highly recommend
Shimano lubricants and maintenance products.

For any questions regarding methods of handling or
adjustment, please contact the place of purchase.

SI-75J0H

BR-IM50-R
BR-IM41-R

Inter-M Brake

BR-IM53-R

Technical Service Instructions

In order to realize the best performance from the Inter-M
brake, we recommend that the following combinations be
used.

Brake

Hub

Lever

Brake cable

BR-IM50-R / BR-IM41-R /
BR-IM53-R

FH-IM50 / FH-IM45 /FH-IM40 /
SG-7R46 / SG-8R20

BL-IM45 / BL-IM60 /
SB-7S45 / SB-8S20

Disconnecting the brake cable

from the brake unit

Push the link back until it stops. Then slide the

1.

inner cable fixing bolt unit along the guide hole
and remove it from the hole. If the inner cable
fixing bolt unit is difficult to remove, turn the
cable adjusting bolt clockwise to loosen the
cable tension and then remove the inner cable
fixing bolt unit.

Inner cable fixing bolt unit

While
pushing
the link

1

2

Pull strongly

Slide the outer casing holder along the guide

2.

slot in the brake arm to remove it from the
slot.

Outer casing holder

Cable adjusting bolt

To install the brake cable again, carry out
the above procedure in reverse.

Link

Guide hole

Brake arm

Guide slot

Note:

While looking from the rear of the link,
check that the inner cable fixing bolt unit is
firmly seated in the position shown in the
above illustration.

Inner cable fixing bolt unitGuide hole

Depress the brake lever to check the
braking performance. If the braking
performance is poor, adjust the brake
cable once more while referring to
"Adjusting the brake cable".

Installing the brake cable

Slide the outer casing holder along the guide slot in

1.

the brake arm to set it into the slot.

Brake arm

Guide slot

Outer casing holder

While holding the link to secure it so that it does not

2.

move, slide the inner cable fixing bolt unit along the
guide hole to install it.

Inner cable fixing
bolt unit

Guide hole

1

Secure the link

2

Pull strongly

Note:

While looking from the rear of the link, check
that the inner cable fixing bolt unit is firmly
seated in the position shown in the above
illustration.

Inner cable fixing
bolt unit

Guide hole

Place the cable adjusting bolt so that it is 20 – 22

3.

mm from the end of the outer casing holder, and
then pass the inner cable through the cable
adjusting bolt and then through the hole in the inner
cable fixing bolt.

Outer casing
holder

Cable adjusting
bolt

Hole in the inner cable
fixing bolt

Should be
20 – 22 mm

Check that both ends of the outer casing are

4.

securely inserted into the cable adjusting bolts of
both the brake lever and brake arm.

Cable adjusting
bolt

Push the link back until it stops. Then, while pulling

5.

the inner cable to apply the full amount of tension to
the cable, tighten the inner cable fixing nut.

Both ends of the outer casing
should be securely inserted.

Cable adjusting bolt

Tightening torque:
6 – 8 N·m {52 – 69 in. lbs.}

3

Tighten

While
pushing
the link

1

Inner cable fixing nut

2

Pull strongly

Note:

Set the inner cable so that it
passes below the link.

Adjusting the brake cable

After checking that the wheel does not easily turn

1.

while the brake cable is being pulled, depress the
brake lever about 10 times as far as the grip in
order to run in the brake cable.

Depress about
10 times

Note:

If the brake cable is not run in, it will need to
be adjusted again after only a short period of
use.

Turn the cable adjusting bolt of the brake unit or

2.

brake lever so that there is about 15 mm of play in
the brake lever.

The amount of brake lever play is the distance
from the position where the brake lever is not
operated to the position where a force is felt
suddenly when the brake lever is pulled.

Cable adjusting bolt

15 mm of play

Cable adjusting bolt

After depressing the brake lever to check the

3.

braking performance, secure the cable adjusting
bolt with the cable adjusting nut.

Cable adjusting nut

Tightening torque:
1 – 2 N·m {9 – 17 in. lbs.}

These service instructions explain how to use and maintain the
Shimano bicycle parts which have been used on your new
bicycle. For any questions regarding your bicycle or other
matters which are not related to Shimano parts‚ please contact
the place of purchase or the bicycle manufacturer.

These service instructions are printed on recycled paper.

Please note: Specifications are subject to change for improvement without
notice. (English)

One Holland, Irvine, California 92618, U.S.A. Phone: [phone]

Industrieweg 24, 8071 CT Nunspeet, The Netherlands Phone: [phone]

3-77 Oimatsu-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai, Osaka 590-8577, Japan

C

Sep. 2006 by Shimano Inc. PIT. SZK. Printed in Japan