Front center pull cantilever brake housing

[NotSoProCyclist]

Hello,

I'm attempting to put new on a bike where I never saw the old housing. I have a center pull cantilever brake and I'm wondering if anything has to go on the end of the housing before the cable connects to the link wire.

[1FJEF]

The housing with a ferrule will go from the brake lever (usually left) to a cable (housing) stop. It's usually in the reflector mount, but sometimes in the handlebar stem.
You're looking for a hole that will stop or capture the cable housing while letting the cable go through, then the cable continues to some type of yoke where it is bolted. The other cable that goes between the brake arms rests inside of, or is part of that yoke.
Look for cable stops.

[nfmisso]

Personally, I would change to linear pull brakes (you'll need new levers too) like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Classic-Brake-Fenders-Alloy/dp/B000OF1NGQ/
I have these on my GT, Avid SD on our T50 tandem and SR.

If you want to keep the cantis; you need something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Front-Bicycle-Cable-Hanger/dp/B003ZUV80I/

And then you have the choice of one of the following (or similar):
1. http://www.amazon.com/BRAKE-PART-ACTION-Z-B82-SHIMANO/dp/B001B4Q5BM/

2. http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Alloy-Brake-Cable-Triangle/dp/B001CK0F0W/

3. http://www.amazon.com/Straddle-Cable-Cantilever-330mm/dp/B000WYAD60/
with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Como-Portable-Racing-Bicycle-Center/dp/B00BXWSYM0/

[Painkiller]

scroll thru the pics on this link:http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-4728.html
It will show you the way
http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-4728.html

[1FJEF]

(04-10-2013, 11:31 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  Personally, I would change to linear pull brakes (you'll need new levers too) like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Classic-Brake-Fenders-Alloy/dp/B000OF1NGQ/
I have these on my GT, Avid SD on our T50 tandem and SR.

nfmisso. Do you like the origin8 as much as the Avid SD-7 or SD-5? Which reasonably priced levers do you like? Adjusting the old SunTour canti arms makes me nuts. It's either a breeze or a major Pain in the butt. Sometimes they come out of adjustment just to torment me.

[nfmisso]

After 1000+ mile with Avid and Origin 8; I can't tell any functional difference. I also doubt that Tektro or Shimano are any different. Right now, it looks like these are the best deal on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-857AL-Linear-Fender-Clearance/dp/B001F31F7I/

[1FJEF]

Nice fender clearance, probably need noodles & boots though. Which levers do you like, or just go for inexpensive?

[nfmisso]

I have Tektro Eclipse on all of my linear pull equipped bikes: http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-RT354AG-Linear-Cantilever-Compatible/dp/B001GSMJZO/

I can't image Tektro selling the brakes without noodles and boots.
http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=104&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

[NotSoProCyclist]

(04-09-2013, 02:51 PM)1FJEF Wrote:  The housing with a ferrule will go from the brake lever (usually left) to a cable (housing) stop. It's usually in the reflector mount, but sometimes in the handlebar stem.
You're looking for a hole that will stop or capture the cable housing while letting the cable go through, then the cable continues to some type of yoke where it is bolted. The other cable that goes between the brake arms rests inside of, or is part of that yoke.
Look for cable stops.

Does the rear brake work the same way? I can't find anything to stop the cable before it reaches the brake.

[nfmisso]

(04-12-2013, 11:20 AM)NotSoProCyclist Wrote:  Does the rear brake work the same way? I can't find anything to stop the cable before it reaches the brake.

Yes;

Are you sure the bike was originally equipped with cantis ?

Our T50 http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-2920.html was originally equipped with cantis; their braking performance or rather lack there of, was scary, and I switch to linear pull brakes; which are much more powerful and require different brake levers.

[1FJEF]

Post some more pictures so we can help