Replacing Cables

[MazzaRC]

Hi,

My other half has a Specialized Sirrus A1 from 2002.

It desperately needs new brake blocks & cables for both brakes and gears.

However, Here comes the noob question.... we have no idea what cables and blocks to actually purchase.

Due to financial reasons we'd like to do the work ourselves, rather than pay the several hundred pounds that the LBS wants to charge.

Any advice on what bits we should actually get?

Not scared of getting the hands dirty.

Maz

 

[Eddie]

Several hundred pounds to replace the cables and brake pads? That doesn't sound right.

 

[Dayvo]

I think MazzaRC was being ironic with regard to extortionate prices chargd by some LBS!

Maz, have a look at this:

http://bicycletutor.com/inner-brake-cable/

and search the site for the changing and adjustment of brakes.

It's fun and not too difficult to fix your bike: the more you try, the better and more confident you will become.

 

[MazzaRC]

I think MazzaRC was being ironic with regard to extortionate prices chargd by some LBS!

Maz, have a look at this:

http://bicycletutor....er-brake-cable/

and search the site for the changing and adjustment of brakes.

It's fun and not too difficult to fix your bike: the more you try, the better and more confident you will become.

Thanks, looks like a useful tutorial.

So it looks like there's no specific to buying parts, they're kind of generic?

 

[potsy]

Why don't you take the bike to the lbs,get the parts from them but fit them yourself with help from a video/comments on here.
That way you can be pretty sure the parts will fit,and save yourself the 'labour' charge,next time you'll have a good idea what to buy yourself and will be able to source them online.

 

[awfulquiet]

Replacing cables and brake pads is pretty simple stuff, but it does require some help if you've never, ever done it before.

Can recommend Kool-Stop or SwissStop pads (am partial to Kool-Stop only because it's what I use on my road bikes, SwissStop are just as good IMHO). I find Shimano/Campag pads to be made of cheese.

Cables: Replace the cable housing and the cables at the same time (this "can" help the cables glide smoothly, old housings can wear out their liner and make braking and shifting harder.. please note the "can", it's not a "will"...), it's a good idea to do the brakes and the shifter cables at the same time (this is a bit more difficult as you may need to re-adjust the derailleurs afterwards).

Hardest I find is getting the brake-pads to sit correctly on the rim while tightening it on the caliper, followed by keeping a minimum distance from the rim so that the brakes act almost immediately (this one's slightly easier).

Sheldon Brown offers some good advice about changing all this stuff (starting from here can help: http://www.sheldonbr...com/cables.html)

I've learned a lot by hanging around my LBS and asking questions.

If you know someone who can show you how to do it, I would recommend taking them up on it.

A search of Specialized's site shows you've got Magura brakes (I think). You should be able to get an LBS to sell you the right pad. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?arc=2005&spid=20877


Cheers and good luck,
Awfers

 

[John the Monkey]

Can recommend Kool-Stop or SwissStop pads (am partial to Kool-Stop only because it's what I use on my road bikes, SwissStop are just as good IMHO). I find Shimano/Campag pads to be made of cheese.

Worth mentioning that Fibrax now do a dual compound Kool-Stop-A-Like pad - I find them slightly better than Kool Stop (I thnk the pad is shaped better) and they're cheaper too (£5 pair at my LBS).

On cables, Fibrax (again) do a teflon coated cable that runs very nicely, ime.

 

[Globalti]

Get the bike shop to cut the bits of cable outer for the bike, unless you've got a cable cutter. If they are really on the ball they will grind flat the ends of the brake cable outers as well. (I always grind the gear cables too but that's not strictly necessary and I am a bit of a fussy so-and-so.)