How to pick the brake cable housing size?

Asked by: Carlos Marcon

What is the size of a bike brake cable housing?

4. Brake housing standards. With bicycle brake housing standards there aren’t any differnces – they are all 5 mm outer diameter with steel end caps.

What diameter is brake cable housing?

Generally 4mm is for shift housing, 5mm for brake housing. The two types of housing aren’t constructed the same and generally you don’t want to use shift housing for your brakes (but some do it).

What size of shifter cable housing do I need?

Housing comes in two common diameters: 5 mm or 4 mm. 5 mm was once very common, and is more rigid and resistant to bending. It will typically have a larger inner diameter giving the cable inside more wiggle room. Currently 4 mm is the most common housing size for shift housing.

What size is brake cable?

Brake cable kits generally consist of two lengths of 1.5mm or 1.6mm inner wire (one longer length for the brake brake and one shorter for the front), a single length of cable outer which is then cut to size and all associated end caps and ferrules etc.

Is there a difference between brake cable housing and shifter cable housing?

Brake housing consists of an inner liner, spirally wound stainless steel wire, and an outer plastic sheath. This design makes for good, consistent braking performance. Shift housing, similar to brake housing, uses steel surrounding an inner liner, and then coated in plastic to impede moisture infiltration.

How do you cut cable housing?

Quote from video: I'll cut some brake cable housing first I'm sending out of the way. So that you can see the cutting. What you'd want to do is then the cable a little bit to keep it out of the way of the tool.

What is the end of a brake cable called?

Brake cables are commonly sold with two ends. The mushroom or teardrop end is for the drop bar style lever. The round or disc end is for the upright handlebar brake lever.

Are all shift cables the same?

No, all shifter cables are not the same. If after inspecting your shifter cables, you discover they are frayed, bent, or rusted and need to be changed, you can’t just buy any shifter cable you see out there. Different bikes have different shifters, which determines the type of shifter cables to be used on them.

Are all dropper post cables the same?

Most all dropper posts come in a variety of different options, most usually broken down between the seatpost diameter and the post’s travel. The seatpost diameter is the diameter of the post that gets inserted in to the frame, usually either 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm, or 34.9mm.

How do I replace shift cable housing?

Quote from video: Pull back on the housing. And push on the cable to free the cable. Head grab the head and pull to fully remove the old cable to install a new cable.

How is shifter cable length measured?

Quote from video: The first measurement is from the control back along the gunnel to the point where the gunnel and the transom meet at your first measurement.

What are bike brake cables called?

A Bowden cable (/ˈboʊdən/ BOH-dən) is a type of flexible cable used to transmit mechanical force or energy by the movement of an inner cable relative to a hollow outer cable housing.

Can I use brake cable for gears?

You can’t mix and match gear cables and brake cables – you need the right set of inners and outers for each job. Using gear cables for brake cables is exceptionally dangerous and you should never do it. You run the risk of them snapping at the worst possible moment, with potentially very serious consequences.

What is shifter housing?

Shifter cables and housing are what connects the shift levers to their respective derailleurs. Shifters use a 1.2mm diameter shift cable and a 4mm diameter compressionless shift housing. They might seem uninteresting at first, but the type of cable and housing you use can affect your bike’s shifting performance.

How long should bike cables be?

Quote from video: Похожие запросы

Are all bike shifter cables the same?

No, all shifter cables are not the same. If after inspecting your shifter cables, you discover they are frayed, bent, or rusted and need to be changed, you can’t just buy any shifter cable you see out there. Different bikes have different shifters, which determines the type of shifter cables to be used on them.

Are all dropper post cables the same?

Most all dropper posts come in a variety of different options, most usually broken down between the seatpost diameter and the post’s travel. The seatpost diameter is the diameter of the post that gets inserted in to the frame, usually either 27.2mm, 30.9mm, 31.6mm, or 34.9mm.

Are bike shift cables and brake cables the same?

The jobs done by brake cables and gear cables are different, so they’re built differently. Your brake needs to work without risk of failure and to transmit significant force to the brake caliper, so the inner cable is built thicker than a gear cable.

How long should bike cables be?

Some mechanics stick to a rule that the cables should be long enough so the bars can spin 180° before encountering resistance from the cables.

Should I change cable housing?

As a rule of thumb, always replace the housing together with the cable. The reasoning is probably mostly the low cost of materials which is a few dollars. To the other extreme, do not replace the housing unless you get some indication that it needs replacement.

When should brake cable housing be replaced?

Quote from video: And housing approximately every two to three years to keep your brakes functioning properly I like to perform preventive maintenance before have problems prevention is the name of the game.