http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Brake cable ferrules - necessary? en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:37:24 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-185010 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 14:35:59 +0000 Stickman 185010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ferrules put in and braking seems better. Thanks for the advice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184983 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 09:08:19 +0000 Stickman 184983@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS: yes, that's the very instruction I didn't follow. </p> <p>Oh well, Bank Holiday in the shed as per tradition. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184980 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 08:46:06 +0000 I were right about that saddle 184980@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.canecreek.com/resources/products/brakes-levers/manuals/200TT_Brake_Lever_Instructions.pdf">"It is necessary to install a brake cable ferrule onto the cable housing at the<br /> point of contact on the 200TT brake cable housing stop"</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184978 Fri, 03 Apr 2015 08:33:32 +0000 I were right about that saddle 184978@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yup, you want the ferrules if the brakes are designed for them, otherwise the cable will wiggle around in the housings at both ends .</p> <p>Some brakes on road bikes are designed to take the un-ferruled cable. You'll know these by the fact the ferrules won't go in, although there are different diameters of brake outer.</p> <p>The ferrules also keep some of the crud out of the cable housing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184972 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 21:52:58 +0000 Darkerside 184972@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd agree with snowy - the helical brake housing should be OK so long as it has a firm surface to butt up against in the lever.</p> <p>Gear cables wouldn't last that long (I've tried...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184971 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 21:51:26 +0000 kaputnik 184971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Like all components, it will be fine until it fails. However that will be gradually, over time, so I'm sure it will be alright until the next time you have a reason to unwrap the tape. It's not like the cable there moves around or anything and gets much wear and tear. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184970 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 21:31:50 +0000 Snowy 184970@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Probably ok for as long as the cable outer keeps its integrity. The concern might be that over time the spiral cable outer (if it's that sort) could start to uncoil with the small risk that it might poke into bits of the lever mechanism that you don't want it to go, as well as loss of efficiency. Hopefully unlikely. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14628#post-184969 Thu, 02 Apr 2015 21:05:26 +0000 Stickman 184969@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I fitted a set of TT brake levers to my bullhorn handlebars the other day (levers are Cane Creek 200). After I'd finished I realised I hadn't fitted ferrules to the cable end that enters the lever, despite me trying to follow the instructions.</p> <p> Are the ferrules really needed? The brakes do feel a bit spongy, but I'm not sure if that's just how they normally feel or whether I've messed up. Don't want to have to go through the whole handlebar tape wrapping process again if I don't need to. </p>