spinnaker

I have my first set of cantilever brakes. How is the brake cable removed from the brake set?

As I turn the screw that holds the cable the cable just binds.

Is that backing nut just removed then the cable slips out through the center of the screw?

I am guess that I have the cable so twisted up, it is not coming out without cutting it.

Where did I mess up ? Is that particular cable a one shot deal once installed? Of no how do I prevent crushing it?


Also will I at some time need to replace the small cable that goes from shoe to shoe? If so do I replace the whole assembly or does that center clamp come off somehow?

Andrew R Stewart 

Not completely sure of your nomenclature. But the primary cable (from the brake lever to the canti straddle/cross cable) usually has a clip with anchor bolt which tugs the on straddle cable. This clip's anchor bolt is loosened and the primary cable is pulled out through the bolt's tiny hole. Some more modern Shimano cantis have the primary cable serving as one half of the straddle cable and a "link" wire as the other half. The primary cable still is held with an anchor bolt, although sometimes the bolt has a plate that clamps the cable. Either way the anchor bolt is loosened and the cable is removed.

What am I missing in your question? It is a very simple system. much like many other brake and gear cable anchoring systems. Any chance of a photo? words are easily mis read. Andy.

spinnaker

Yep you understand it exactly. The cable is not going to pull through because the cable is not crushed either do to my twisting or perhaps it was already crushed by the LBS on initial install. Besides there is that end cap that is crimped to the end of the cable that would need to be removed anyway. So it is an install once and if reinstalled I need to replace the primary cable?


So if I need to disconnect the cable for disassembly for a tour, I would disconnect the straddle cable from the brake set instead? Seems that is a lot easier.

Andrew R Stewart 

Yes, dissconnecting the clip from the straddle cable, if possible, is far better then dealing with anchor bolts. If the cable run has an adjusting barrel then the slack to unclip the clip is easier to be had.

Don't forget to bring along on your tour a primary cable (both gear and brake) just in case. Andy.

spinnaker

Thanks. What about the straddle cable? Does it ever need replacing? If so does it come as a unit with the primary cable anchor? Or does the anchor come off the straddle cable somehow? I can see one Phillips head screw on the one side of the anchor but the cable appears to still be attached to the other side.

1 Miyata Biker

Here is a very good link I found that expalins the process of replacing the cantilever brake cable. The explanation and photos are very good. https://www.localmotion.org/document...Cantilever.pdf

Panthers007

Hey! Thanks for posting that! I've been trying to get an address for this outfit for a while now - and I live in Burlington, Vermont!

Thanks!