Cable and housing
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
Cable and housing
Hi, im new to cycling and i would like to change all my cabling include the housing, all i know is i need 2 shifter cable and 2 brake cable and also the housing cable. The question is what else i need like the end caps and also adjuster. thanks alot
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,563
Likes: 735
From: Melbourne, Oz
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Depends on your bike, how many housing ferrules you need.
A typical machine has two pieces of housing for the rear brake and also for the rear derailer, but yours may be different. And it also depends on whether ferrules will fit in your brakes and levers.
As for inline adjusters, you only need one for the front, and if so you probably already have one.
A typical machine has two pieces of housing for the rear brake and also for the rear derailer, but yours may be different. And it also depends on whether ferrules will fit in your brakes and levers.
As for inline adjusters, you only need one for the front, and if so you probably already have one.
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,563
Likes: 735
From: Melbourne, Oz
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Anyway, you probably don't need new called and housing, just to lube the old ones.
At most, probably just new cable and housing for the rear derailer, maybe the front too if the housing has disintegrated. You can usually reuse the rear cable on the front derailer if it isn't frayed at the shifter.
At most, probably just new cable and housing for the rear derailer, maybe the front too if the housing has disintegrated. You can usually reuse the rear cable on the front derailer if it isn't frayed at the shifter.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 303
Likes: 41
From: Folsom, CA
Bikes: Road, Commuter, Mountain, Tandem and a couple others
I did this job by myself for the first time. Here's what I recommend:
A good friendly bike shop close by (I went there 3-4X)
Most of a day
Beer
A good friendly bike shop close by (I went there 3-4X)
Most of a day
Beer
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 2,015
From: San Diego, California
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
I just get the Jagwire kits that include everything. The Jagwire Road Pro kits work for me (traditional setup with exposed shift cables on the down tube). You also need a way to cut the cables and housing cleanly - either a bike cable cutter or I've heard some people use a Dremmel tool with cutting disc.
#7
moving target
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,952
Likes: 156
From: birmingham, al
Bikes: looks like a specialized crux now
a pair of cable cutters will save you grief in the long run in my opinion when replacing ends and installing new cables. It just helps keeping everything neat, plus if you install new parts like handle bars and need to shorten or lengthen your housings it helps take care of all of that quickly. as for cables, I recently purchased this set for a new build, going to give it a try. it comes with everything you need for a first time plus a few extras in case you drop one or two. Haven't had a chance to install it yet, so I am not sure if they included enough housing. That would be an unfortunate place to cheap out .
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Shift...bike+cable+set
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Shift...bike+cable+set
#9
Tools
If you plan to do this again in the future, get good tools. It'll be frustrating if you try it with hardware store diagonal cutters, they mash the internal wire. And cutting the housing would be difficult.
Park tool cable cutter. This makes very clean cuts in the wire, and easily cuts the housing, but then you'll want to grind or file the housing end flat and smooth. The spiral brake housing will have the end of the spiral mangled, so it needs to be smoothed. The shifter housing needs to have an even, 90 degree cut of all it's internal reinforcing wires, and this often needs trimming after cutting. And the cable cutter crimps the cable ends effectively, too.
Dremel grinder to easily smooth the cut end of the housing. And it has lots of other non-bike uses, too. You could use a file, but the Dremel is fast and easy.
Some BF posts claimed to use the Dremel cutoff wheel to cut the internal cable wire. I tried this as an experiment, and it just frayed the strands completely. I don't see how they could make it work.
~~~~~~~~~
You'll need to know how to adjust your derailleur shifting after the new cable is installed.
I start with the adjusters screwed in most of the way, clamp the cable into the derailleur, then unscrew them part way. Then adjust from there.
~~~~~~~~~
My local bike shop sold me bulk Jagwire housing off their 50 foot spool, and two internal shifter cables.
I like doing it myself, so I can cut the under the tape housing to the "just right" lengths. I cut it approximately correct, then insert one end into the shifter, and use temporary electrical tape to hold it against the bars, then mark the other end at the frame stop. A second cut makes it fit nicely.
If you plan to do this again in the future, get good tools. It'll be frustrating if you try it with hardware store diagonal cutters, they mash the internal wire. And cutting the housing would be difficult.
Park tool cable cutter. This makes very clean cuts in the wire, and easily cuts the housing, but then you'll want to grind or file the housing end flat and smooth. The spiral brake housing will have the end of the spiral mangled, so it needs to be smoothed. The shifter housing needs to have an even, 90 degree cut of all it's internal reinforcing wires, and this often needs trimming after cutting. And the cable cutter crimps the cable ends effectively, too.
Dremel grinder to easily smooth the cut end of the housing. And it has lots of other non-bike uses, too. You could use a file, but the Dremel is fast and easy.
Some BF posts claimed to use the Dremel cutoff wheel to cut the internal cable wire. I tried this as an experiment, and it just frayed the strands completely. I don't see how they could make it work.
~~~~~~~~~
You'll need to know how to adjust your derailleur shifting after the new cable is installed.
I start with the adjusters screwed in most of the way, clamp the cable into the derailleur, then unscrew them part way. Then adjust from there.
~~~~~~~~~
My local bike shop sold me bulk Jagwire housing off their 50 foot spool, and two internal shifter cables.
I like doing it myself, so I can cut the under the tape housing to the "just right" lengths. I cut it approximately correct, then insert one end into the shifter, and use temporary electrical tape to hold it against the bars, then mark the other end at the frame stop. A second cut makes it fit nicely.
Last edited by rm -rf; 06-12-18 at 07:33 PM.
#10
Full Member

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 457
Likes: 90
From: Melbourne, Australia
Bikes: depends what week it is..
Unless you're planning on being a pro bike mechanic, cheap tools are OK rather than the expensive brands like Park. Unbranded cable cutters on ebay are from $8 shipped and will last years if used sporadically like most home mechanics do. Or buy a bicycle tool kit which will get you going and you can upgrade as you need.








