Are brake return lever springs essential?

[Rhysito]

I am restoring a bike for a friend and these return springs from the shifter lever (Shimano EF65, 9-speed) are rusted through. I cannot find keep replacements - how
essential are they?

Thanks so much - really appreciate all the help I have got from these forums

 

[Drago]

Probably not essential - plenty of flat bar levers do without them - but it may help to give a positive feel in oepration and reduce rattling.

 

[fossyant]

Not essential, especially if your cables are in good condition.

 

[T4tomo]

you could probably fashion a replacement out of suitable wire if you find the levers are a bit comprised without them.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Brake levers never used to have return springs at all, they relied on the cable doing the job.

 

[Ajax Bay]

The rattling would get to some, after a while. Echo @fossyant 's caveat: try to minimise friction in the cables.
Edit: have just checked a few of mine: they all exhibit rust but by no means 'rusted through'.

 

[DCBassman]

ST-EF65s are not that ancient, as these things go - what has happened to rust them out to that extent?
Any how, easier to fit new:
ST-EF65-9

 

[ColinJ]

ST-EF65s are not that ancient, as these things go - what has happened to rust them out to that extent?

Sweat?

I once rotted through a turbo trainer in one winter of hard training! (I mopped the TT down after each session, but hadn't realised that sweat was running round the frame of it and rusting it from underneath.)

 

[Punkawallah]

The head mechanic at the shop is pretty firm on the subject of 'spare parts' after a job, so I'd say 'yes' :-)