>>If there is enough slack, then you could consider switching the hydraulic lines over.
...well, I know you're not going to do it, but I think I'd advise caution if you were. ;-)
I acquired the replacement brake-lever from Germany (it has to be a specific model, as it combines with the (undamaged) left gearshifter in a single mount). Luckily, and I expect because the company has a UK VAT registration, etc. I didn't get hit with any supplements to the price even though it had to go through customs clearance.
The unit afixes to the hydraulic line via an "olive" much like a copper pipe compression joint, but because the line is plastic/nylon, it requires a short metal insert to push into the open end, onto which the olive can clamp the line.
Both olive and insert might have been re-usable (though I don't think I'd fancy that on a brake line) but I'd wrecked a bit of trim that covers the line, and is the wrong side of the olive and impossible to pass over, so it had to come off anyway. Needless to say, the insert and olive didn't come with the lever (the trim did!) so eBay came up trumps at c£1.70.
People have pulled the olive off with pliers, but it wouldn't work for me, so the line was cut (losing 5mm at most), and the olive and insert removed. Everything was placed in order on the line (trim, nut, olive, insert) and it was offered up to the lever and firmly fixed by compression.
Success.
Now, only the line to bleed. I have a bleeding kit, and have done this before, but it absolutely wasn't playing ball this time. Repeated attempts to pump mineral oil and expel air were required, until I was getting rather fraught (not least because a leak appeared to have hit the pads and rotor).
Finally, though, against my growing fears, I have a lever that is firmer than it has ever been, and squeaky brakes which I put down to contamination. The rotor is relatively easily cleaned using Isopropyl Alcohol, but the pads may well be a write-off (I am going to see if they bed in).
It took rather more time than it should have, but it is a result (at worst, a new set of pads, which are not expensive should cure the squeak). I'm please I've done it and got it over with, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't got a day on their hands.
On a short test, the bike seem to ride OK. I'm not so sure about me though ;-)
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