Shimano BR-IM80-R, BR-IM45-R, BR-IM81-R, BR-IM55-R Service Instructions

SI-8G80B-003-00

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.

●

If the front brake is applied too strongly, the wheel

may lock and the bicycle may fall forward, and serious
injury may result.

●

The SB-8S20/ST-8S20/SB-7S45/BL-IM60/BL-IM65/

BL-IM45 brake levers are equipped with a mode
switching mechanism. Be sure to use the BR-IM81-R,
BR-IM80-R, BR-IM55-R, BR-IM45-R with the mechanism
in the C.R. mode position.

C.R mode position

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

●

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 specifi ed 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:

When using the Shimano Inter-M brake system,

1.

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.
However, BR-IM81-R is designed with the overall
weight assumed to be 130kg. If the overall weight
exceeds 100 kg (130kg for BR-IM81-R), the braking
force provided by the system may be insuffi cient for
correct braking, and durability of the system may also
be reduced.

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 fi rmly secured to the hub with

4.

the brake unit fi xing washer.

Brake unit Brake unit fixing washer (manual insertion)

Check that the wheel is fi xed securely to the frame

5.

with the hub nuts.

Hub nut

Tightening torque:
30 – 45 N·m {261 – 392 in. lbs.}

Check that the brake arm is securely fastened to the

6.

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

Brake arm clip

If excessive force is

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

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 x 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.
Before applying grease, be sure to remove the
cable unit. Then, remove the grease hole cap and
press-fi t the tube into the back of the hole 12 mm or
more, and apply the appropriate amount of grease
(approx. 5g) while turning the wheel slowly.
After application, check that braking is properly
applied and that no abnormal noise is heard.

Grease hole cap

12 mm or more

Grease for
roller brake

Turn slowly.

Cable unit

If the brake is used frequently, the area around

8.

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

Area around the brake

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 brake unit should never be disassembled. If it

10.

is disassembled, it will no longer work properly.

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 fi lled
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-8G80B-003

BR-IM81
BR-IM80
BR-IM55
BR-IM45

-R

-R

-R

-R

Inter-M Brake

Technical Service Instructions

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

Brake BR-IM81-R/BR-IM80-R

Hub SG-8R36/SG-8R31/SG-7R46

Lever

Brake cable

Installing the brake cable

After checking that the adjusting bolt and adjusting nut

1.

are fully tightened, insert the outer casing holder unit
into the inner cable in the direction shown below.

Adjusting nut

Adjusting bolt

After checking that the stamp of the back side of the

2.

inner cable fi xing bolt unit is “R”, pass the inner cable
through the hole of the inner cable fi xing bolt unit.

Inner cable fixing bolt unit

Place the components as shown in the following

3.

fi gure and tighten the inner cable fi xing nut. At this
time, if the TL-IM21 is used, it will be possible to
mount the inner cable fi xing bolt unit easily.

Tightening torque
6 – 8 N·m {52 – 70 in. lbs.}

Align the mark of the inner cable fi xing washer (red)

4.

with the direction of the groove of the winder unit,
and insert the inner cable fi xing bolt unit and slide
strongly along the groove of the winder unit as far as
possible.

Groove of winder unit

Slide the inner cable fixing bolt unit
strongly along the groove of the
winder unit as far as possible.

BR-IM55-R/BR-IM45-R

SB-8S20/ST-8S20/SB-7S45/

BL-IM60/BL-IM65/BL-IM45

Outer casing holder unit

Stamp "R"

99 mm

Inner cable
fixing nut

Mark of inner cable
fixing washer (red)

Inner cable
fixing bolt
unit

Route the inner cable along the groove of the winder

5.

unit.

Inner cable Groove of winder unit

Insert the outer casing holder unit into the hole of the

6.

brake arm from underneath and slide it to the lower
section of the hole.

Brake arm

Outer casing holder unit

After checking that the outer casing holder unit is

7.

inserted as far as it will go into the guide slot in the
brake arm, install the inner end cap.
After this, set the inner end cap so that it does not
touch the fi ns and the spokes.

Outer casing holder unit

Turn the cable adjusting bolt to tighten the inner

8.

cable.

Cable adjusting bolt

Installation of brake cable can be completed by the
above procedure. When detaching the cable, perform
in reverse order.

Inner end cap

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 braking

3.

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.

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-shi, Osaka 590-8577, Japan

∗ Service Instructions in further languages are available at :

http://techdocs.shimano.com

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

Sep. 2010 by Shimano Inc. AWS. Printed in China

©