Originally Posted by
FBinNY
One critical consideration. Compressionless housing's long spiral wires are end-on to the fittings and ferrules. If not used with special flat bottom or reverse cone ferrules designed for them, the housing strands can work down the conical bottom of typical fittings and either bind the wire, or extrude through leading to total brake failure. This may be why the brake maker suggest standard spring wind brake housing.
Also, when used for brakes, the housing must be of a design buttressed with a structural layer surrounding the strands. Otherwise, as the plastic outer cover degrades, the wires can burst through and buckle leaving you without a brake (of course, the odds of both failing are near zero).
Thanks – that's very helpful.
I'm using the Jagwire-supplied ferrules on the caliper end of things, and since I'm running campy levers, I'm using no ferrules at the brake lever end. I was very careful to cut the housing square, open it up with a pick tool, and grind it down perfectly flat with a dremel tool.
It may be that what I have now is a good setup, and I just need to let the brakes bed in and then I'll have firmer lever feel. I should probably put some miles on this setup before I tinker any longer.