Grey tube on canti brakes?
 

Hi

Im trying to fix up an old MTB (1993 KHS Montana Comp) it has old shimano canti brakes (deore lx) I think.. and on them is a sort of grey tube like the one in this picture. (this isn't my bike though)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7...leverbrake.jpg

The one on my back brake is all worn down at the top so it's shorter than it should be and I think it's affecting the way my back brake works

I don't know what that grey tube is called so I can't search google for a new one... does anyone know?

Would it be ok to just cut a piece of black shimano break/gear cable outer casing to the right length and use that?

Link wire -

Here is an example -
http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=12365

The grey tube is there to ensure that the legs of the triangle are equally long. With it in place the geometry of the brake will be in the Shimano-approved ballpark for decent performance. Straddle wires can be set up in a few different ways, and as long as the geometry stays the same there's no functional difference between them.

You'll need to get the correct length of link wire though, depending on your brakes. You should measure the length first. A link wire isn't totally necessary to operate these brakes though. You could just use a short length of brake cable cut to the correct length and a cable yoke. Read this article for more good info: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

This is a straddle cable, your LBS should have these in stock.

HI, It looks like it had the brake cables replaced. In the pre-MTB era cantilevers were on tandems and cyclocross bikes. I'm 49 and have owned 2 cantilever bikes that came stock and prefer them. I can check the brake pad surfaces quickly and change a rear flat tire in 12 minutes.
The books are out there. In 8th grade I read the "Babs,,," something ,Bike Repair Guide'. I bought "Richard's Bicycle Book" in 1982. In the late '90's I bought "Richard's Bicycle Repair Manual" First American Edition 1994. I got on the Internet,and was able to usually find decent answers.SincerelyTirelever07.

Thankyou very much for all the help :)