Gear and Brake Cables - replacement/upgrade

[Bollo]

And don't even consider getting a set of these buggers!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Transfil_Flying_Snake_Brake_Cable_Set/5110000356/

The outers are far too stiff and crack easily. Bizarrely, the brake cable outers have the wire reinforcements running parallel to the cable direction like derailleur outers, rather than the spiral casing used by every other brake cable outer I've ever seen. I thought I'd fitted them wrong first time round and I'm still not convinced they'd been packaged correctly. As you'd expect, they couldn't handle the brake lever forces and started splitting at the cable ends quick sharp. Easily my worst ever purchase!

 

[threefingerjoe]

I recently had a front shift cable "nipple" or "button" pull off. Kind of a bugger to get the little piece out of the shifter. Never had this happen before, though. I never replace cables unless there is a problem, but usually try to get slightly better cables when I do replace one.

 

[jimboalee]

+1 ThreefingerJoe.

If the spec' in use fails, upgrade.

 

[Jonathan M]

Gore cable,s I've used them for years on MTB's, and as bollo 7 others say the essential is to get the fitting right. In terms of VFM, they ain't cheap, but then looking at a set of genuine campag cables isn't cheap either.

However on MTBS they really do reduce cable drag, and while they eventually start to wear (after a couple of years the teflon cable lining starts to go) they never jam or get as bad as set of standard cables.
Tip for fitting gore inners, the teflon liner needs removing off the cable where it is under a pinch bolt, use a lighter to seal the edges and prevent fraying that could cause problems.

For road use though I've never felt the need to fit Gore cable, just relying on standard (& cheap) cables on the winter bike, lubed with finish line XC. Seems to work for me.

 

[02GF74]

on my commute mt bike, which sees the brunt of my miles as well as crap weather, most of the outers are original and date back to 1994.

The inners will have been replaced on both brakes and gears due to either the cable wearing or strands snapping at the clamp bolt.

Once in a while I clean the cables and lube them; have used oil as well as grease and they work better than before. Shimano gear cables now come with little rubber boots to prevent drit ingress even though I found them to be ok.

Never tried goretex cables so can't comment but I am happy with my cables - they do what I ask of them.