Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Is this brake cable installed right?

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Is this brake cable installed right?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-24-25 | 02:39 PM
  #1  
hrdknox1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
Likes: 61
Is this brake cable installed right?

This is my first build with disc brakes. The frame has the rear brake cable outlet on the inside of the chainstay (pictured) and the best way of connecting the cable housing to the caliper is routing it underneath the chainstay (pictured). Is this how it belongs, or are there calipers better designed for inside outlets? The brakes are mechanical. Thanks.


hrdknox1 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 02:47 PM
  #2  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,137
Likes: 6,183
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Although the routing looks tortured, it doesn’t look like the cable could run any other way. Going over the top of the chainstay would kink the cable even more.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 02:50 PM
  #3  
Amateur Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 5,114
Likes: 8,488
From: SoCal

Bikes: Cuevas & Cimmaron are my full time riders, small MB-3 and large Competition GS are my sometimers

What is the bike in question?
SoCaled is online now  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 02:56 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 990

Bikes: *'00 LS Vortex/Chorus 12/Campag Zondas*98 LS Classic - S&S couplers/Chorus 12/Rolf Vector Pros*'95 DeBernardi Cromor S/S, Mavic Open Pros on Phil Wood track hubs*

Originally Posted by hrdknox1
This is my first build with disc brakes. The frame has the rear brake cable outlet on the inside of the chainstay (pictured) and the best way of connecting the cable housing to the caliper is routing it underneath the chainstay (pictured). Is this how it belongs, or are there calipers better designed for inside outlets? The brakes are mechanical. Thanks.

that looks like a front caliper - rotate it 90 degrees clockwise, picture it attached to the left fork and the cable routing sort of makes sense
13ollocks is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 02:56 PM
  #5  
hrdknox1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
Likes: 61
Originally Posted by SoCaled
What is the bike in question?
The bike in question is an Elves Falath Pro Disc
hrdknox1 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 03:17 PM
  #6  
Amateur Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 5,114
Likes: 8,488
From: SoCal

Bikes: Cuevas & Cimmaron are my full time riders, small MB-3 and large Competition GS are my sometimers

Originally Posted by hrdknox1
This is my first build with disc brakes. The frame has the rear brake cable outlet on the inside of the chainstay (pictured) and the best way of connecting the cable housing to the caliper is routing it underneath the chainstay (pictured). Is this how it belongs, or are there calipers better designed for inside outlets? The brakes are mechanical. Thanks.

Originally Posted by cyccommute
Although the routing looks tortured, it doesn’t look like the cable could run any other way. Going over the top of the chainstay would kink the cable even more.
that's what I was thinking
Originally Posted by 13ollocks
that looks like a front caliper - rotate it 90 degrees clockwise, picture it attached to the left fork and the cable routing sort of makes sense
might be on to something

Different Elves, but this shows a caliper with much better routing -


SoCaled is online now  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 03:22 PM
  #7  
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 264
Likes: 32

Bikes: Space Horse Disc, Domane SL5 Disc

It looks to me like these calipers are designed for external routing or full housing brake cable routing. I think this frame would work better with hydraulic brakes and hose routing.
RocThrower is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 03:25 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,175
Likes: 1,929
Seems to me the frame was designed to work with a different caliper.
TiHabanero is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 03:27 PM
  #9  
hrdknox1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
Likes: 61
Originally Posted by SoCaled
that's what I was thinking
might be on to something

Different Elves, but this shows a caliper with much better routing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcjWnk4ci4Q
Yeah, a different caliper is needed.....one with the cable insert on the inside. I'll search for one.
hrdknox1 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 03:46 PM
  #10  
Clark W. Griswold
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,205
Likes: 6,606
From: ,location, location

Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26

It looks like a hard pass frame for me. Looks expensive from a long distance but get close and you notice they spent little time on R+D which is how they get it so low in price.I would go with hydraulics and hopefully that solves it or skip the frame entirely and find something designed with better routing, that is pretty atrocious.

There is only one El Vez and he is the Mexican Elvis!
veganbikes is offline  
Reply
Old 11-24-25 | 06:20 PM
  #11  
grumpus's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,810
Likes: 1,754
Originally Posted by hrdknox1
This is my first build with disc brakes. The frame has the rear brake cable outlet on the inside of the chainstay (pictured) and the best way of connecting the cable housing to the caliper is routing it underneath the chainstay (pictured). Is this how it belongs, or are there calipers better designed for inside outlets? The brakes are mechanical.
That looks like the less bad option, but it's not great. Have you checked to see how much the cable drags?
Other calipers have the cable stop more towards the inside, you might want to spend a while looking for one that would let the cable run inside the stay.
grumpus is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 08:20 AM
  #12  
hrdknox1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
Likes: 61
Originally Posted by grumpus
That looks like the less bad option, but it's not great. Have you checked to see how much the cable drags?
Other calipers have the cable stop more towards the inside, you might want to spend a while looking for one that would let the cable run inside the stay.
I have ordered these....

hrdknox1 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 08:38 AM
  #13  
sweeks's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 1,028
From: Chicago area

Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"

I have an ignorant question, having no experience with disc brakes. Is that a cable-operated caliper, or is it hydraulic? If the latter, why does the tortuous path matter?
sweeks is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 09:44 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 1,449
From: UK
Originally Posted by sweeks
I have an ignorant question, having no experience with disc brakes. Is that a cable-operated caliper, or is it hydraulic? If the latter, why does the tortuous path matter?
It’s the former, says so above.
choddo is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 09:49 AM
  #15  
sweeks's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 1,028
From: Chicago area

Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"

Originally Posted by choddo
It’s the former, says so above.
I couldn't see the cable. Looking again, I see the place where the cable is supposed to be clamped. Thanks!
sweeks is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 11:09 AM
  #16  
hrdknox1's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 216
Likes: 61
Originally Posted by sweeks
I have an ignorant question, having no experience with disc brakes. Is that a cable-operated caliper, or is it hydraulic? If the latter, why does the tortuous path matter?
It is a mechanical (cable operated) caliper.
hrdknox1 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-25-25 | 11:27 AM
  #17  
sweeks's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 1,028
From: Chicago area

Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"

Originally Posted by hrdknox1
It is a mechanical (cable operated) caliper.
Thanks. I don't have any experience with disc brakes, but I didn't see the inner cable. On second (third, fourth) look, I saw the attachment point.
Well, based on what I know about other cable-actuated components... that's quite a severe bend. Luckily, it's the rear brake!
sweeks is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-25 | 08:40 PM
  #18  
maddog34's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,327
Likes: 3,195
From: NW Oregon

Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike

Originally Posted by sweeks
Thanks. I don't have any experience with disc brakes, but I didn't see the inner cable. On second (third, fourth) look, I saw the attachment point.
Well, based on what I know about other cable-actuated components... that's quite a severe bend. Luckily, it's the rear brake!
that's a front flat mount caliper, that got slapped on the rear mounts.
maddog34 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-25 | 10:05 PM
  #19  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,137
Likes: 6,183
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Originally Posted by maddog34
that's a front flat mount caliper, that got slapped on the rear mounts.
While Shimano does seem to make a front and rear caliper, I can’t see any difference between them other than the adapter plate.



The rear would have the same cable routing as we see in hardknox1’s pictures. The Spyres will probably be a better routing.


__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 11-27-25 | 10:47 PM
  #20  
Kontact's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,627
Likes: 4,781
This bike seems to have a dip in the stay just before the brake, which isn't helping matters. But this is your serving suggestion:


Note the silver noodle and the adapter. The noodle comes with the caliper from Shimano.
Kontact is offline  
Reply
Old 11-28-25 | 06:30 AM
  #21  
Full Member
 
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 291
Likes: 269
Originally Posted by veganbikes
It looks like a hard pass frame for me. Looks expensive from a long distance but get close and you notice they spent little time on R+D which is how they get it so low in price.I would go with hydraulics and hopefully that solves it or skip the frame entirely and find something designed with better routing, that is pretty atrocious.

There is only one El Vez and he is the Mexican Elvis!
The amount of effort you're putting into blaming a completely normally routed frame just for the 'sin' of not costing enough is impressive.
hidetaka is offline  
Reply
Old 11-28-25 | 10:25 AM
  #22  
curbtender's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,165
Likes: 5,350
From: SF Bay Area, East bay

Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11

About 12 minutes into it they install the brakes. Looks like you'll need a different setup.
curbtender is offline  
Reply
Old 11-29-25 | 11:17 AM
  #23  
oldbobcat's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 709
From: Boulder County, CO

Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track

Modern road frames aren't made for cable-actuated disc brakes, are they?
oldbobcat is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.