Help! Removing Freeride Brake arms

**smolakian** · 11-28-2007, 07:03 PM

So, I've heard about how Solly/FR brake arms are interchangeable. I was planning on mounting up my freerides tonight. But, after taking apart the brakes, I can't seem to get the brake arms out without cutting away plastic. The brakes are different from my S914's in that they are a continuous piece the loops back down in the shape of an M.

Give me some advice if you've done this before...

I can see how the Solly brakes would work. But, getting the Freeride arms out is the trouble.

**BeastOfTheEast** · 11-28-2007, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by smolakian

So, I've heard about how Solly/FR brake arms are interchangeable. I was planning on mounting up my freerides tonight. But, after taking apart the brakes, I can't seem to get the brake arms out without cutting away plastic. The brakes are different from my S914's in that they are a continuous piece the loops back down in the shape of an M.

Give me some advice if you've done this before...

I can see how the Solly brakes would work. But, getting the Freeride arms out is the trouble.

Search 'sally thread'. It's explained in the first one that pops up.

**smolakian** · 11-28-2007, 07:30 PM

Thanks. But, it's the freeride arms I'm having trouble with.

**hemas** · 11-29-2007, 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by smolakian

Thanks. But, it's the freeride arms I'm having trouble with.

They come out the same way as from the Solly... Just a bit more fiddly.

**smolakian** · 11-29-2007, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by hemas

They come out the same way as from the Solly... Just a bit more fiddly.

I don't really understand how that's possible considering both arms are actually 1 continuous piece. Are the newer/wider ones different? I'll post a pic tonight to better explain my dilemma. Maybe it's possible to remove or dremel out the plastic arm retainer on the plate and epoxy it back later. (I was hoping it wouldn't come to that)

Basically though, I'm taking my S914s off of my Apache Chiefs and mounting them on my Praxis. I am putting freerides on the Chiefs. I want to use my previously bent Sally brakes on the Chiefs with freerides. Then, I plan to bend the freeride brakes for use on the Praxis. The reason for switching is just because the Solly brakes were origionally narrow and the freerides are long and wide...perfect for fitting around a 130+ waist.

**El Chupacabra** · 11-29-2007, 11:03 AM

Are these Freeride Plus brakes?

I know the older white/red and grey/yellow Freeride brakes (and the Diamir models before) are interchangeable with Salomon brakes. Each brake consists of a baseplate plus two individual brake arms -- each arm comes out separately.

I don't know if the FR+ brakes are different.

**Idris** · 11-29-2007, 11:41 AM

Freeride brake arms are two seperate arms. They just look like one...at least in every pair I've seen.

To remove, just like sallys. Undo the brake mounting screws. Twist arms from mounting plate. Twist the arms towards each other to remove from the strike plate (the bit your boot pushes on). Try to keep the amount of twist relative to the strike plate the same for both arms. If one is twisted a lot more than the other you can crack the stike plate.

Some sally strike plates can be used on the freerides. They just look wrong, but work fine. This makes swapping the brake arms much simpler.

Now putting sally brake arms in dynafits is a whole different ballgame, but possible.

**Pooze** · 11-29-2007, 11:42 AM

FR+ are different...they're one continuous looped piece.

**LeeLau** · 11-29-2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Idris

Freeride brake arms are two seperate arms. They just look like one...at least in every pair I've seen.

To remove, just like sallys. Undo the brake mounting screws. Twist arms from mounting plate. Twist the arms towards each other to remove from the strike plate (the bit your boot pushes on). Try to keep the amount of twist relative to the strike plate the same for both arms. If one is twisted a lot more than the other you can crack the stike plate.

Some sally strike plates can be used on the freerides. They just look wrong, but work fine. This makes swapping the brake arms much simpler.

Now putting sally brake arms in dynafits is a whole different ballgame, but possible.

Idris - have you ever tried putting Dynafit Vertical brakes on a TLT heel piece? I've tried and had no luck

**Idris** · 11-29-2007, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by LeeLau

Idris - have you ever tried putting Dynafit Vertical brakes on a TLT heel piece? I've tried and had no luck

Sorry I only have old TLT's myself.....I will be in the land of skiing next week, will have a look see.

**smolakian** · 11-29-2007, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Pooze

FR+ are different...they're one continuous looped piece.

I'm pretty sure that's what I have....Although, I don't have +s. I bought the freerides from SAC a couple of moths ago when they were up for $200. So, they came with + brakes for some reason. Dammit! I guess I'll have to bend out the Salomon brakes some more or get another pair if they aren't long enough.