KB12

Hi, I am replacing the cables and housing for both the brakes and derailers on my 84 Trek 510. Please bear with me its my first time. My cables and housing hasn't come yet so I have not attempted it yet. My question is: the derailers require no housing except the rear derailer loop right? Can I use the same housing I bought for the brake cables for that loop? https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...oducts_id=2241

Also am I going to need any ferrules? What size for the housing I bought? Where exactly will I need these? Just inserting the cable into the loop and out into the derailer or will the brakes require any of these?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Chombi

Yes, you can use Brake cable housing for the rear derailleur cable loop. Per my experience many bikes came that way from the factory anyway. The brake housing tends to be a little bigger in diameter than proprietary derailleur loop housing as supplied by the derailleur manufacturers, so sometimes you cannot fit a ferrule at the tips to go into the stops unless you have a stepdown on it small enough to fit the chainstay cable stop. If you take the plastic skin off the brake cable housing, it usually fits nicely into the chainstay stop, so most of the time people just dont use any ferrules. Same goes for most stops on rear derailleurs.
Or....you can also just try and find yourself some Campagnolo spring cable loops that have the proper smaller diameter and ferrules that fit the RD and chainstay cable stops if you want a very nice looking installation. Just look for Campy part number 617. They look very nice and period appropriate on most classic and vintage bikes. I recently obtained a suplly of these for my bikes after a longish search for them at ebay. I finally snatched a few of them about a month ago, so although not that common out there anymore, they still pop up with most Euro eBay sellers once in a while.

Chombi

Bianchigirll 

there are plenty of instructional videos on the web for this sort of thing. however

if your '84 is friction shifting yes you can use the same housing for the RD. you can likely use the ferrules from your current cables on the new cables.

Idealy a ferrule should be used on any housing end. the assist in ensuring the housing is straight in the adjusting barrell or housing stop, therby reducing friction. just look at your current setup and see where they are.

coloneluw

1984 Trek would tell me pre indexed which means you can use standard cable housing. Ferrules are dependent on the frame. You may need a reduced ferrule for the frame/housing contact but aren't necessary on the derailleur contact. (ferrules look nice and clean but you can just cut housing and grind/file the end square) Be sure to properly collapse the housing when you install them. Install everything tight and squeeze levers and pull shifters without actually shifting the gear. You should have a noticeable slack in the cable. Then loosen the locknuts and take up the slack. If you have indexed shifting, you will need a indexing cable housing and not standard brake housing. Indexed cable housing was made with wires running the length of the housing(verses coils) and prevented cable collapse, thus slop in your shift. These do need ferrules and many times are pre made to size with sealed ferrules. They also improve friction shifting. Making things crisper.