Originally Posted by
friday1970
I'm still new to doing my own repairs, and I'm looking to spend the winter upgrading a few bikes.
My question is the housing. Is there any difference in the housing used for brakes and for shifter cables?
Traditional shifter housing has close to parallel strands of wire to negate compression and provide for accurate indexed shifting.
Traditional brake housing has wound wire reinforcing it to prevent the housing ripping apart under hard braking.
Today there is also compressionless brake housing that resembles shifter housing, but is wrapped with Kevlar or some similar material to resist braking forces.
Get lined housing whenever you can. I have good luck with Jagwire Sport housing, and there is a whole world of more exotic housing if your budget and inclinations lie in that direction.