Changing brake cables

[Welsh wheels]

Just gonna change my road bike brake cables. Not done it myself before, do you need to unwrap the bar tape or can you get away without that?

 

[Milkfloat]

If you are changing outers then absolutely - if just inners my answer would be, it depends.

 

[Cycleops]

Just as well to change inner and outer. Don't forget to grease through cables.

 

[Welsh wheels]

If you are changing outers then absolutely - if just inners my answer would be, it depends.

Just inners

 

[Welsh wheels]

Just as well to change inner and outer. Don't forget to grease through cables.

Was just planning to do inners...grease through cables meaning?

 

[Milkfloat]

Just inners

I would give it ago and see if you get a good improvement, but be ready with the new bar tape if it does not.

 

[Cycleops]

Was just planning to do inners...grease through cables meaning?

Sorry, typo. Grease the inner cables. My local LBS guy here reckons rust starts forming in new Cables after about three months.

 

[raleighnut]

Sorry, typo. Grease the inner cables. My local LBS guy here reckons rust starts forming in new Cables after about three months.

Unless they're Stainless.

 

[smutchin]

Unless they're Stainless.

Or the ones with an anti-friction coating.

 

[Slick]

I was going to do my own but bottled it in the end mostly as it just seemed too complicated as everything is internal.

 

[cosmicbike]

Assuming Shimano or SRAM brifters then both gear and brake inners can be replaced without touching the bar tape. You need to peel back the rubber covers on the hoods and then you can simply pull out the old, push in the new.

 

[smutchin]

You need to peel back the rubber covers on the hoods and then you can simply pull out the old, push in the new.

Not for brake cables - they're fed through a guide in the brake lever pivot, into the front of the shifter body.