czarmurphy

So I'm having an issue with my front brakes. I've got (mechanical) Avid BB5's at the wheel and a standard brake lever system to them.

The problem is, when pulling the cable (via the lever) to clamp the calipers, the tightening motion produces a bumpy feel, not smooth like the movement of the rear brake system. As I pull on the brake lever, it feels bumpy, like there's dirt along the cable or something.

I recently cleaned my bike, and the problem has only just now begun. Is it possible some degreaser may have found its way along the cable?

Thanks for the help.

dsbrantjr

czarmurphy: It sounds like you are feeling the inner cable wire strands moving past something which has recently begun touching them. Did you possibly dislodge your cable while cleaning the bike? Or maybe you washed some dirt into the cable. Check to be sure the outer cable housing is properly seated in the lever and brake sockets.

Isolate the problem; disconnect the cable from the brake mechanism and check that each component, lever, brake and cable moves freely. If the cable is gritty or bumpy feeling, just replace it with a good quality lined housing and stainless wire. Cables are cheap; by the time you removed, cleaned and reinstalled your cable you could have replaced it with new.