I invested some money on tools and doing my first ever build at the moment.

I'm not sure if I installed my crank correctly. There is no side-side play and the crank seem to move freely but I'm worried about the space on the bolt here:




the spacing seem to be ok (prior to putting the washer the cranks were rubbing the BB, but it's now ok)



And what are these things called? How do I get rid of the cable in the middle? I need them for my brakes but I had no idea on how to loosen the cable inside so I just cut my cable:



I thought I could just pinch it and it'll come off but I was wrong. Tried an allen key but the hole is round and not hexagonal. I use single pivot breaks and these "clip in" the calipers.

Thanks.