11.1 cables

Brake Cable Replacement (Mechanical Rim or Disc Brakes)

Brake Cable Replacement (Mechanical Rim or Disc Brakes). Step-by-step procedure for bike maintenance — tools, time, and what to watch out for.

Difficulty ★★☆ moderate
Time ~20 min
Applies to Bikes with mechanical cable brakes

Tools

  • Cable cutter
  • hex (5mm typically for cable pinch bolt)
  • new brake cable
  • optionally new housing and ferrules

Procedure

  1. Loosen the cable pinch bolt

    at the brake caliper.

  2. Pull the cable out

    through the lever.

  3. For housing replacement

    measure the old housing as a guide for length. Cut new housing to match using a cable cutter — clean square cuts. Open the inner liner with a pick if crushed.

  4. Cap each housing end

    with a brake-specific ferrule (these are wider than shift ferrules — don't substitute).

  5. Lubricate the new inner cable

    with a light oil.

  6. Thread the cable

    through the lever — the cable head sits in a recessed pocket. Make sure it seats. The pocket location depends on lever style (drop bars: open the lever hood and access the pocket through the hole that appears).

  7. Route cable through housing and frame guides

  8. Pull through the pinch bolt at the caliper

  9. Pull cable taut

    and tighten the pinch bolt to spec (4–6 Nm).

  10. Cut excess cable

    leaving 30–40 mm.

  11. Crimp on a cable end cap

  12. Test brake feel

    Adjust at the barrel adjuster if lever travel is too far before bite.