Cable compatibility?

jc-bike-person
jc-bike-person Posts: 69
edited January 2011 in Workshop
A couple of novice/ newbie questions…
1) Is there any difference between road cables (gear/ brake) and MTB cables
2) Are Shimano cables compatible with Sram?
Thanks
... must train harder

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    MTB brake cable inners have a barrel end whereas road are 'pear' - but outers are generally the same. Many inner cable spares are double-ended, you simply cut off the end you don't need.
    Most cable sets are not brand-specific. The only exception being Campagnolo, where the gear cables nipples are smaller and the gear outers slightly smaller in diameter
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Sorry MontyDog, but outers are not the same.

    Gear cable outers are structured so the strands in the wire sheath run in the direction of the cable. This is to reduce friction and aid shifting precision. Brake cable outers, on the other hand, are spiral wound for strength as they must support high compressive loads.

    As a result of this difference in sheath structure, gear cables cannot support the same cable loads as spiral wound brake cables. It is possible to for the cable to find its way between the strands in the sheath under heavy loads (especially if the outer has not been replaced for some time), which will cause a loss of braking power.

    It's important therefore that you do not use gear cable outers on braking systems (although you can use brake cable outers on gear systems - you may experience sub-optimal shifting with this arrangement).
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  • Berk Bonebonce
    Berk Bonebonce Posts: 1,245
    jc-bike-person wrote:
    A couple of novice/ newbie questions…
    1) Is there any difference between road cables (gear/ brake) and MTB cables
    2) Are Shimano cables compatible with Sram?
    Thanks

    Geezer was asking if any difference between road and MTB cables, not difference between gear and brake cables.

    And Shimano cables will work with SRAM.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Berk Bonebonce wrote:
    jc-bike-person wrote:
    A couple of novice/ newbie questions…
    1) Is there any difference between road cables (gear/ brake) and MTB cables
    2) Are Shimano cables compatible with Sram?
    Thanks

    Geezer was asking if any difference between road and MTB cables, not difference between gear and brake cables.

    And Shimano cables will work with SRAM.

    Oh yes. My mistake. :oops:
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  • Berk Bonebonce
    Berk Bonebonce Posts: 1,245
    I've heard there's £100 quid on offer for the first one to spot something that MD gets wrong.
  • Stuy-b
    Stuy-b Posts: 248
    i thought it was campag brake inners that the the smaller nipple?
  • gethmetal
    gethmetal Posts: 208
    Stuy-b wrote:
    i thought it was campag brake inners that the the smaller nipple?

    Yup. That's what MD said...
  • jc-bike-person
    jc-bike-person Posts: 69
    Cheers - answered my question + bonus extra knowledge about gear v brake cables.
    Bought some jagwire road cables in the end - I now await everyone’s comment on why this was a really bad/ good decision...
    :wink:
    ... must train harder
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Bugger all this technical b0llocks; does the colour match the bike??
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Campagnolo gear nipples are smaller that Shimano - nothing that a few minutes with a file can't sort, but do make sure it's not a tight/force fit cos' they're bugger to get out!

    Brake inners are near universal IME - allowing for road/MTB types.

    Shimano/SRAM - I'm not aware of any intercompatability issues.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..

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