Originally Posted by
mkeller234
I do file the ends of the cable housings so that they are flat. However there are 2 things that I can think of being wrong with the housings. 1) the front is too short because I raised my stem after installing the cables.
Get the cables right then see where you're at. If the cable is too short and you pull the lever, it may have nowhere to go leaving you with little or no braking. I see brakes all the time that have poorly routed cables, or a system with excessive friction causing poor performance. Even some of the cheapest wally world components can be made to perform adequately.
Do your brakes "spring back" right away after you release the lever or do they slowly return and stick?
http://sheldonbrown.com/cables.html