Just picked up a Trek 2100 Composite and was all like, "Ooh! Internal cable routing!" Pulled out the cable and housing to see if it needed replacement but they were clean as a whistle; when it was time to put it back in, it was one of the most aggravating things ever . Here I was, thinking that the internal routing was one solid tube but I've come to find out that they're possible just little rings inside to help facilitate the guidance. Tried the vaccum and string method but that didn't work and I didn't have a strong enough magnet to lure the cable through the top tube. Finally, I did a coat hanger-like method to pull the cable back from the other side, but now my brake lever has 1/4 of initial free play and it still doesn't brake as good as before, which leads me to think that the cable skipped one of the rings inside the top tube and is arching over it instead.

Any tips?