Do you need housing for brake cables
No. If you don't know the type you need take the old cable including the end with the nob on it to the shop for a replacement. Cable lengths are typically universal but if your bike is out of the ordinary you might want to measure.
Can you use brake cable housing for derailleur
Will it work? No. The cable diameters for brake and derailleurs are different. The brake cable housing will be too large for a derailleur cable.Aug 15, 2008
Can you use brake cable housing for shifter cable
It's really not recommended. Brake cable housings have a coiled metal spiral embedded in them, while compressionless shift cables have a series of tiny round wires running parallel along the length of housing. If you were to use brake cable housings on shift cables the result can be very poor shifting.
Can I use brake outer cable for gears
in short, yes. Brake cable outers are compressible to a small degree when curved (the wire in the outer is wound like a spring). If you use one for indexed gears, the cable pull could vary slightly as the outer compresses across a curve in it's route.
Do bike brakes need housing
Housing must be used from the handlebars to the frame, to accommodate the turning of the handlebars as the bicycle is steered. Housing must also be used where a cable moves the two arms of a brake in opposite directions. Sometimes, the inner wire is stationary and only the housing moves — see this example.
Can I use brake cable outer for gears
in short, yes. Brake cable outers are compressible to a small degree when curved (the wire in the outer is wound like a spring). If you use one for indexed gears, the cable pull could vary slightly as the outer compresses across a curve in it's route.
Is there a difference between brake cable and gear cable
Gear cables are wound through particularly tight curves within the shifters too, which means there's a lot of potential for wear. Brake cables normally have an easier time of it because their runs are straighter, but there's much more force travelling through them.
Are brake and gear outer cables the same
While brake and gear inner cables are nominally similar, the housings are different – brake cables use conventional 'helical' housing which consists of a tightly-wrapped helix of steel wire lined on both inside and outside by a plastic coating.
Can you use brake cable housing for gear cables
No. If you use brake housing for the derailleur cable, your bicycle will shift very poorly or perhaps fail to shift. Brake cable housing can compress, which gives some modulation in braking.
What is brake housing
Brake housing is a single piece of wound wire so to cut the wound housing, use diagonal cutters, and reach to the end of the jaws where there's the most leverage. Flex the housing slightly to open up the coils and achieve a cleaner cut. Sometimes there will be a sharp burr.