Problem with new brake cable housing.
05-02-20, 01:38 PM
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Problem with new brake cable housing.
I put new brake cables and housings on my Sequoia and need to change the pads. The brakes have been very weak.
I noticed when I put on the brakes hard the other day the caliper started pulling back more and more. After inspection
I notice that inside the caliper the brake housing was starting to shred.I could see the wire from inside the cable
housing coming out of the end.
I noticed when I put on the brakes hard the other day the caliper started pulling back more and more. After inspection
I notice that inside the caliper the brake housing was starting to shred.I could see the wire from inside the cable
housing coming out of the end.
05-02-20, 01:41 PM
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Did you use ferrules on the housing ends?
05-02-20, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
Did you use ferrules on the housing ends?
05-02-20, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
Did you use ferrules on the housing ends?
05-02-20, 01:53 PM
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Can you show us a picture? I've seen something like what you describe when shifter housing is used instead of brake housing. Particularly, if "wires" are poking out of the housing, it's likely that it's compressionless shifter housing, which is reinforced with wires. Ordinary brake housing is normally reinforced with a flat steel spiral. The upshot is, shifter housing can't stand up to the forces exerted on brake cables, and will come apart, usually at or near the ends.
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05-02-20, 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by scarlson
Can you show us a picture? I've seen something like what you describe when shifter housing is used instead of brake housing. Particularly, if "wires" are poking out of the housing, it's likely that it's compressionless shifter housing, which is reinforced with wires. Ordinary brake housing is normally reinforced with a flat steel spiral. The upshot is, shifter housing can't stand up to the forces exerted on brake cables, and will come apart, usually at or near the ends.
05-02-20, 02:05 PM
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Eep, yes that’s shifter housing. (Not my pic...)
05-02-20, 02:07 PM
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If you were able to use your levers in the past without a ferrule, it's most likely because the ends were properly "finished" with a bench grinder to be flat at the ends. If you don't have one, you can also use a pair of diagonal cutters and a metal file.
Another solution is that you find a pair of "step-down" ferrules that fit your levers. Most of the major brands made them for their road levers. Be sure to "finish" the ends flat; the ferrules are often made of soft aluminum. If a picture is needed, I'll try and fish one out.
Edit: I just saw the pictures. That's shifter housing, not brake housing. Coiled = brake, Shifter = in plane.
Another solution is that you find a pair of "step-down" ferrules that fit your levers. Most of the major brands made them for their road levers. Be sure to "finish" the ends flat; the ferrules are often made of soft aluminum. If a picture is needed, I'll try and fish one out.
Edit: I just saw the pictures. That's shifter housing, not brake housing. Coiled = brake, Shifter = in plane.
05-02-20, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by noobinsf
Eep, yes that’s shifter housing.
Does brake cable even fit in shifter housing?
05-02-20, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by robertj298
Also, always use ferrules if possible. They improve performance. Just because someone wrote something on the internet doesn't mean it is true.
05-02-20, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by noobinsf
Eep, yes that’s shifter housing. (Not my pic...)
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05-02-20, 04:11 PM
#12
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Shifter housing has the parallel strands and is usually 4mm wide. Brake cable housing has the coiled metal and is usually 5mm.
Into the brake lever you can usually place a ferrule. I have them on my campagnolo levers and the superbe ones are a copy.
Into the brake lever you can usually place a ferrule. I have them on my campagnolo levers and the superbe ones are a copy.
05-02-20, 04:21 PM
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BTW, that's the lever. The caliper is on the other end. My rough guide is -- whether its at the lever, the caliper, a stop on the frame, whatever, if a ferrule fits, use it. But +1 above, try actual brake housing, and a ferrule.
05-02-20, 07:17 PM
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Ha, called it!
I first saw shifter housing used accidentally in place of brake housing back in '99. My dad was new to indexed shifting and did it on the front of his tandem and it exploded in wires just as in your picture.
Since then I've encountered a couple bikes where this has also happened.
I think it was his first experience with shifter housing being different from brake housing! Back in the day, it was all the same.
I love those Superbe brake levers with the cutout. They are gorgeous. I have a set on my Vitus 979. I got some thin steel ferrules in there, fyi.
I first saw shifter housing used accidentally in place of brake housing back in '99. My dad was new to indexed shifting and did it on the front of his tandem and it exploded in wires just as in your picture.
Since then I've encountered a couple bikes where this has also happened.I think it was his first experience with shifter housing being different from brake housing! Back in the day, it was all the same.
I love those Superbe brake levers with the cutout. They are gorgeous. I have a set on my Vitus 979. I got some thin steel ferrules in there, fyi.
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05-02-20, 07:41 PM
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Technically that's "indexed" shift housing with longitudinal wires. Plenty of spiral shift housing in C & V
05-02-20, 07:56 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by robertj298
Yep I didn't realize they sent me both brake and shifter housing. I though it was all the same.
* (Before anyone busts me on this, yeah, I know there are exceptions, I speak of the general case)
