Brake cable replacement - Shimano STI levers and Canti brakes

[Shut Up Legs]

I need some tips on how to replace my brake cables on my commuting bike (Vivente World Randonneur tourer).

I bought a pair of cables from my LBS, after checking with them on the type, which I believe for the above-mentioned bike is the MTB style cable? I have Shimano STI brake levers and cantilever brakes (see pics below).

Brakes:

Levers (side view):

Levers (top view):

I've done a thorough search on these forums, but couldn't find anything on how the cable is replaced at the STI lever end. I searched online, and the Parktools page on cable replacement doesn't mention how it's done with STI levers. I couldn't find any other web page relating to this, either.

Does anyone have a link handy?

I have a cable cutter, by the way, as part of the Park Tools AK-37 tool box I bought, and also have a box of ferrules to cap the brake end of each cable. I even have some cable doughnuts to stop the rear brake cable rubbing on the top tube.

 

[HLaB]

You just pull the lever, which exposes the brake cable and pull it out, there isnt much to it.

 

[HLaB]

3mins into this video shows it.

 

[mcshroom]

Also you want road cables not MTB ones. The difference is in the head of the cable that feeds into the shifter.

(Top one is a road brake cable)

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the video link . I was hoping I wouldn't have to do anything complicated, like reassembling the STI unit, because my Google-fu told me it wouldn't be worth it, because apparently it's better just to replace them than reassemble them.

Re: cable type: I do have the road cables as per the above picture, so thanks for confirming I got the right cables .

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I just replaced both brake cables, including the cable outers and even cable doughnuts, then replaced both pairs of brake pads, and replaced the handlebar tape (since I had to remove the old tape to remove the cable outers, anyway). I made a few minor mistakes along the way, since this was my first brake cable replacement, but it was nothing that I couldn't correct before continuing. It looks good, now .

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I just replaced both brake cables, including the cable outers and even cable doughnuts, then replaced both pairs of brake pads, and replaced the handlebar tape (since I had to remove the old tape to remove the cable outers, anyway). I made a few minor mistakes along the way, since this was my first brake cable replacement, but it was nothing that I couldn't correct before continuing. It looks good, now .

Well done. So many jobs on a bicycle can be completed easily by anyone who has the confidence to try.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Well done. So many jobs on a bicycle can be completed easily by anyone who has the confidence to try.

Thanks . I'm finding that out with every new job I do. The brake cables replacement actually took me about 3 hours (including replacing the handlebar tape, and both pairs of brake pads), but I have no doubt I could do it in half the time, the next time it needs to be done.