Replacing brake cable inner

PeteinSQ

I need to replace my rear brake cable, and I can never, ever cut the cable outer correctly so if I can avoid replacing it I want to.

Is it advisable to grease the cable before putting it through the old casing? If it is what sort of lubricant do you use?

andrewgturnbull

PeteinSQ wrote:

I need to replace my rear brake cable, and I can never, ever cut the cable outer correctly so if I can avoid replacing it I want to.

Is it advisable to grease the cable before putting it through the old casing? If it is what sort of lubricant do you use?

Hi there.

I usually just squirt a bit of gt85 through the outer to clean it out, then add a dob of lithium grease onto the end of the cable before I pass it through.

Cheers, Andy

ps I use lithium grease for everything 'cos I bought a big tub from a motorbike shop about 5 years ago and am still only half way through it...

topdude

Just wipe a little grease (any sort) along the cable and install.
Obviously it is advisable to replace the outer as well but if you don't want to it will most likely be ok.

andrewgturnbull

topdude wrote:

Obviously it is advisable to replace the outer as well but if you don't want to it will most likely be ok.

No need to replace the outer unless it is damaged or has frayed ends. I usually end up replacing 3 or 4 inners (maybe more) before the outer needs attention.

PeteinSQ

That's great news. I just can't cut the outers properly.

Would any kind of grease do the job? I don't have lithium grease but I do have some of that purple extreme stuff and also might have some copper slip somewhere.

andrewgturnbull

PeteinSQ wrote:

That's great news. I just can't cut the outers properly.

Would any kind of grease do the job? I don't have lithium grease but I do have some of that purple extreme stuff and also might have some copper slip somewhere.

I'd use any old grease - some people may be more particular.