Rusty noodles!

[forwater]

I just got my bike a little over two weeks ago. It's a hand-me-down (which I like), and it's in pretty great shape.

I have noticed, though, that the 'noodles' (the metal tube things which hold the brake.. cord? near the end of my v-brakes) are rusted. The brake cord itself is fine and seems to be rust-free, and the brakes work perfectly.

I've treated the noodles with lemon juice (to combat the rust), water and rubbing alcohol. I've removed what I can, but I'm curious as to whether them being rusted the way they are is something to be concerned about. Do I need to replace them (will they affect brake performance), or are they fine the way they are?

 

[festival]

If they are rusty on the outside the maybe corroded on the inside, which will affect performance.
More importantly, is if parts of the bike have been allowed to corrode outwardly, what condition are the inner cables in?
That is where you may need to focus your attention.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

You mean cable covers? Any idea how old the bike is

 

[Sheepy1209]

I've had a rusty noodle snap after it corroded all the way through, but that bike was ten years old and seriously neglected - it didn't cause sudden brake failure, but made them stick.

If it's only surface rust you should be OK (noodles on cheap brakes like Promax and some Tektro go rusty within weeks), but if you're going to ride the bike in all weathers and/or keep it outdoors, so the rust gets worse, it might be worth replacing the brake altogether with a better quality one - e.g. Chainreaction have Avid brakes for £14 which come with stainless steel fittings. You'd have to cut the cable end off to get it through a new noodle, in which case you'll need cable cutters, and a new cable end, and might as well get a new cable if you do the job - simple enough to do, biggest expense is the cable cutters! Parts should come to no more than about twenty quid per brake.

 

[E11a]

It would probably be a good idea to replace the inner cable, noodle and boot. As long as the outer cable looks OK (no cracks or sign of wear) then clean it out with a blast of GT85 or TF2 before putting in a new inner cable.

My noodles started to corrode and the rear boot didn't sit properly but I ignored it. Mud and water got in between the inner and outer cables. Over the winter I tested my brakes at the end of the road and the rear brake froze shut (great resistance training!). After getting the sliver of ice out, the brakes froze open.

As Sheepy1209 said, the biggest expense will be cable cutters (good ones are worth the extra).

It's a cheap and simple job to do. Shout if you need any help.

 

[gbb]

I play with BSOs all the time, just getting them roadworthy for friends or to sell on, i replace the noodles almost as a matter of course....they're cheap either from Halfords or your LBS. Check the inners at the same time...if they look ok, they probably are ok.
New noodles always give an instant lift visually.

 

[Goldfang]

It would appear to me to be a question of quality, they always appear to be the first thing to rust. When I upgraded to Shimano Deore some time agothey have not rusted at all.
Regards, goldfang