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Nashbar Derailleur Cable Housings = Brake Cable Housings

Started by Mike Beauchamp · · Last activity · 13 posts · 368 views

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Cycling Equipment
Published
7 August 2004
Last activity
8 August 2004
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Mike Beauchamp
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  1. Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    Mike
    http://mikebeauchamp.com

  2. Mike Beauchamp said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    Mike
    http://mikebeauchamp.com

    Go to your LBS and get the right cables. You can get index shifting to
    work with brake cables, but it won't work well and you'll probably go
    nuts in the process. SIS cable not only has a liner in it, but the
    strands that make up the housing run parallel to the cable.

  3. Quoted message said:

    Go to your LBS and get the right cables. You can get index shifting to
    work with brake cables, but it won't work well and you'll probably go
    nuts in the process. SIS cable not only has a liner in it, but the
    strands that make up the housing run parallel to the cable.

    Yeah man, I knew this already.. my post was more of a heads-up sort of thing
    for anything as stupid as me to think that that the nashbar cables would
    actually be good.

    As for the LBS thing, I rode over to the 2 on the other end of the city
    today but both were closed. The one closest to me has [censored] me off about 10
    solid times, the most recently being when I went to buy spokes from them
    yesterday.. only to get 8 spokes that all varied in length and guage.

    Mike

  4. Mike Beauchamp said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    You say "recabled" so I assume you finished the job, but you do not say
    how it shifts with the new cables. If everything works fine why change it?
    Seems like the worst that could happen is it starts shifting not so
    smoothly some time in the future, at which point you could say "you know,
    all this talk about special shifter cable really is true." and you would
    then be an expert on the subject.

  5. Jim Smith said:
    Mike Beauchamp said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    You say "recabled" so I assume you finished the job, but you do not say
    how it shifts with the new cables. If everything works fine why change it?
    Seems like the worst that could happen is it starts shifting not so
    smoothly some time in the future, at which point you could say "you know,
    all this talk about special shifter cable really is true." and you would
    then be an expert on the subject.


    Back when I was a mechanic in a LBS I ran across the brake cable instead
    of SIS cable problem a few times. My experience tells me everything is
    not going to work fine, even from day one. The liner is only part of
    the package, the other part is the way the cable housing is constructed
    to minimize compression during shifting.

  6. Right, it is made up of strands instead of a spiral..

    The shifting DOES infact work. it isnt' smooth and it isnt' pretty.

    "Threeducks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Jim Smith said:
    Mike Beauchamp said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc)


    did

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    Quoted message said:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku


    =2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they


    don't

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which


    means

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big


    brake

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo


    it?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    You say "recabled" so I assume you finished the job, but you do not say
    how it shifts with the new cables. If everything works fine why change


    it?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Seems like the worst that could happen is it starts shifting not so
    smoothly some time in the future, at which point you could say "you


    know,

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    all this talk about special shifter cable really is true." and you would
    then be an expert on the subject.


    Back when I was a mechanic in a LBS I ran across the brake cable instead
    of SIS cable problem a few times. My experience tells me everything is
    not going to work fine, even from day one. The liner is only part of
    the package, the other part is the way the cable housing is constructed
    to minimize compression during shifting.

  7. Threeducks <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Back when I was a mechanic in a LBS I ran across the brake cable instead
    of SIS cable problem a few times. My experience tells me everything is
    not going to work fine, even from day one. The liner is only part of
    the package, the other part is the way the cable housing is constructed
    to minimize compression during shifting.

    If it minimizes compression better than regular brake cable, wouldn't
    it be better for brakes, too?

  8. papercut said:

    Threeducks <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Back when I was a mechanic in a LBS I ran across the brake cable instead
    of SIS cable problem a few times. My experience tells me everything is
    not going to work fine, even from day one. The liner is only part of
    the package, the other part is the way the cable housing is constructed
    to minimize compression during shifting.

    If it minimizes compression better than regular brake cable, wouldn't
    it be better for brakes, too?

    Never do it. That's the recommendation, though I've never experimented
    with shifter cable outers on brakes and will never do so.

    As long as the plastic covering (outside of the cable outer strands)
    always holds, you should of course get great breaking. But brake
    pressure can cause it to rupture, with the strands buckling outwards.
    Result can well cause the brake handle to bottom out on the handlebar
    before you get braking power. Very nasty.

    The forces require to move a derailleur are much less than those
    required to activate brakes. Derailleur cable outer is designed to
    maintain shifting accuracy - and it does that very well - but not to
    withstand high compressive forces.

    If you see anyone trying this stunt, warn them . . .

    BR /Robert

  9. Dude, don't try derailleur cables for braking..

    The loads are way different, and the construction of derailleur cables is
    such that strands of steel that run lengthwise are held together basically
    by the outer plastic casing. When you put a lot of pressure on it, for
    braking.. that can easily split, and your cable goes bye-bye.

    Brake cables however are made of a spiral (or rings) of steel that can't
    split like that.

    "papercut" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Threeducks <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Back when I was a mechanic in a LBS I ran across the brake cable instead
    of SIS cable problem a few times. My experience tells me everything is
    not going to work fine, even from day one. The liner is only part of
    the package, the other part is the way the cable housing is constructed
    to minimize compression during shifting.

    If it minimizes compression better than regular brake cable, wouldn't
    it be better for brakes, too?

  10. "Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:


    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    Quoted message said:


    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cables.html

  11. Mike Beauchamp said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    Are you certain it is brake housing, and not 5mm derailleur housing?
    Lots of 5mm (vs 4mm) derailleur housing out there. 5mm is the same
    diameter as brake housing, so the bigger derailleur housing is
    supposed to have a bit more room inside. Easy to distinguish by the
    construction of the metal housing inside the plastic. I've converted
    all my bikes to 5mm derailleur housing; bit better shifting.

    - rick

  12. "Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    If you have Oshman's near you, they have original Shimano SIS housing
    for ~$0.5/foot, brake housing I believe is even cheaper. They are
    black only though. My LBS charges ~>$2/foot and they were OEM. These
    are 4 mm if you prefer >4mm, I can't help you there. Also, Colorado
    Cyclist (or Excel?) sells the silver Shimano cable kit for $20 to $25?

  13. On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 17:27:31 -0400, "Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    Heyo,
    Stupid me, I just recabled my whole bike with cheap Nashbar cables and
    housings. Only after I completed the job (with nice dremelled ends, etc) did
    I realize that the Nashbar derailleur housings are just brake cable
    housings:

    http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=74&subcategory=1029&brand=&sku=2164&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

    They arent made like SIS cables at all, and from what I can tell, they don't
    even have lining in them. THe only difference between the Brake and
    Derailleur option is the cable that comes inside the housing. Which means
    that the thinner derailleur cable has a lot more play inside the big brake
    cable housing as well.

    It's not much of a question, but should I get some proper cable and redo it?
    I'm assuming the answer is yes..

    I'm taking this as a "heads up."

    Thanks.

    Ron

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