The brake cable on my kids bmx is pretty slow. Should I use graphite or something like WD-40 or chain lube in the housings? Or, is it a fairly simple job and preferable to replace the cable? I don't really know how old the bike is. Any tips would be appreciated.

Mike.

When brake cables are slow on the return, it is generally that there is rust, dust, or other gunk in the housing. Maybe the cable has a kink. In any case, you can take it all apart then clean and lube it but since cables and housings are so cheap, I would just replace both.

Thanks. I'll just replace it.

A little light oil dripped into the cable housing can work wonders (3in1 or something like that). By holding the bike at different angles, oil can be poured into the housings and distributed along the full length of the cables. For all the time and effort it takes to replace and adjust all the cables on a bike, oiling only takes about 10 minutes and it's worth a try.

Thanks, Sprint75. I did some adjustment and it works a lot better. I'll try oil tomorrow. If that doesn't work, then I'll replace it.

Agreed... and there is an easier way. I have a large Syringe type of thing a mate give me (he was a Vet, and they use some pretty big syringes). He fitted latex tube to it, large enought to fit over the cable and fits tight over the cable housing, I just fill it with oil and inject it. I do get reststance, but if I leave it eventually oil will seep through the other end of the housing. It saves having to remove the cable from the housing.

I like grease in my cables. I'm talking new cables. if the cables are old and in good condition, pull it out and wipe a little grease onto the cable and slide it back in, do about 5 inches and slide it into the housing and repeat. much smoother!

Problematic cables are definitely a possibility, but you should check the brakes also. Caked dried grease could prevent the brake springs from doing their job, and in the case of cantilevers or v-brakes, it might cause one brake pad to stick on the rim.

In most cases, it's very easy to unhook the brake cable from the brake. You could then move the cable in the housing to lubricate it properly (and check for kinks...), and squeeze the brake itself to see if it works well.

With cantis or v-brakes, unscrew the pivot bolts to remove both arms; clean and grease; reinstall. With sidepull brakes, you'll have to find similar tricks, but usually dissolving the old grease with WD-40 and re-lubricating should do the job.

When I was a wrench at an LBS working assembly, we greased all cables. We would get back bikes that had lived outdoors for years (in Wisconsin) that had perfectly operational brakes, chain and freewheel were fused into a lump of of rust, but brakes worked!

Using white grease in a spray can from the automotive supply section of Wal-mart works great and is very easy. Just put the straw taped to the side of the spray can on the nozzle. Stick about 1/4" of the straw into the cable housing, squirt in the grease and stick the cable back in before the grease has time to jell. This will push the liquid grease down the housing and soak the cable and housing in grease preventing rust. The cable will slide in the housing very well with almost no drag even in the tightest bends and extra long housing runs. Works great on shifter cables as well.