Published: November 13, 2015 By: cduerkop
Last Modified: February 14, 2017

Update: since the first time we shared this shift-lever-hack, dropper post manufacturers have really improved their offerings and there’s a lot more aftermarket options out there. However, this little how-to still kicks ass for those folks who’ve shed their front derailleur and have a spare SRAM shifter sitting around. Enjoy!

We love dropper posts. Everyone who rides with one decides they’ll never go back to a traditional seatpost. The remotes for dropper posts, however, leave much to be desired in most cases: awkward placement, funky actuation—not terribly human in design. For that reason, we really like the Specialized SLR Lever for their Command Post as it mates to our favorite SRAM brakes via the MatchMaker OR to Shimano brakes via our own MisMatch adapters. That doesn’t help us with other dropper post models, so Problem Solvers engineer DutchE made his own. This is some next-level hacking, so if you care deeply about the condition of your front shifter, look no further.

  • First, take the four machine screws out of the bottom of your sacrificial shifter body
    First, take the four machine screws out of the bottom of your sacrificial shifter body
  • Pop off that cover, pal. Take a picture of this so you remember how things fit together...
    Pop off that cover, pal. Take a picture of this so you remember how things fit together...
  • For reference: this is the nubbin' we're going to remove
    For reference: this is the nubbin' we're going to remove
  • To get access to the indexing plate, remove red thingmabobber.
    To get access to the indexing plate, remove red thingmabobber.

All right! We’ve sufficiently made a mess of things. The next part is the key step. There are two nubbins (indexing fingers) on triple shifters and one on double shifters. Those all have to go so the cable fully releases after each lever push.

  • Find that little index finger and file it off
    Find that little index finger and file it off
  • Get rid of that [now] worthless second lever
    Get rid of that [now] worthless second lever
  • This concludes the destructive portion of the process.
    This concludes the destructive portion of the process.

If your dropper post is of the variety where the cable is anchored at the post, you can reassemble this thing!

  • Put the modified indexing plate back into place
    Put the modified indexing plate back into place
  • Put the spring back in.
    Put the spring back in.

BUT! If the cable head goes in your post and the cable gets anchored at the lever, you’ve got a few more steps to go.

  • You're going to need a cable knarp. They look like this.
    You're going to need a cable knarp. They look like this.
  • Grind away some plastic to make room for the knarp.
    Grind away some plastic to make room for the knarp.
  • Cable goes in...
    Cable goes in...
  • Knarp goes on...
    Knarp goes on...
  • Reassemble--make sure all the cable is pulled through the housing
    Reassemble--make sure all the cable is pulled through the housing
SRAM Shifter to Dropper Post Remote Conversion

​Clean, classy, human, cheap.