Hey all

I'm trying to install new brake cables on my Trek 2300, and I'm having trouble with the rear brake. I have to thread the line inside the top tube, and i can't get it to come out the other end. It seems like it gets hung up on something, or it could be hitting the downtube and i just need to pull it out. Any ideas as to how i can get this to work? Thanks!

Inside the downtube?? They make bikes with that cable routing?? Why??

haha no, not inside the downtube. it has to go inside the top cross tube and out a hole where it connects with the downtube. i can't get the cable or housing to come out the hole so i think they are just hitting where the top tube and downtube meet. i need to know if anybody has ideas/tricks for getting it out the little hole.

Inside the top tube?? They make bikes with that cable routing?? Why??

well this is a road bike, so maybe to reduce what little wind resistance the cable housing would cause? to tell you the truth i'm not too sure since i'm new to this whole road biking thing

heres a thread i found

https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-41064

Use a coat hanger or some stiff wire and snake that through first. Then attach your cable to it and pull it through.

Tip to all with internal cable routing: Tape a piece of string to the old cable before removing.

Are you really that thick?

Ya know, I had a Trek 2100 with the same routing. There is no guide in there so it is a pita especially if you remove both the casing and cable and didn't use a string on the casing to pull it back thru. Anyway, with no internal guide the casing would slap around inside the tube and drive me nuts. So I just zip tied it to the outside of the tube. Solved both issues.

You can thread a piece of string into the headtube end of the top tube then apply a vacuum cleaner to the exit end of the top tube. The vacuum will suck the string out the exit. Tie the string to the inner wire and use the string to pull the wire through the holes. Use the inner wire to guide the housing. NEVER remove the housing again.