Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


Cable Housing Question
#1
What is difference between compression and non compression brake cable housing? I found out that non compression will not work on Shimano 7800 brake and shift levers after installing a new FSA egg shaped bar. The current Avid Flak Jacket I have installed are non compression and cable will not retract via spring in brake.

  Reply
#2
Difference is as it says. Non-compression usually have the steel strands running length wise through the casing.
Compression has the metal strand spiraling around along the length. Compression would normally be easier to bend.
Be aware there are 2 different cable sizes. Brake cables (1.6mm) are normally thicker than gear cables (1.2mm) so the outers should have different bores to correspond.
If you are using the same cables as before then look for kinks or broken strands on the inners. If nothing obvious then undo the cable from brake or gear and see if it's free then.

Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Reply
#3
Non-compression (NC) brake housing does have the strands running parallel like on gear cable housing, but it is specially reinforced. (Note to all that you should never use gear cable housing for brakes as the sides will blow out.)
NC housing does not compress like standard housing. This will give a stiffer, more responsive feel to the brakes. Downside seems to be that the housing is very stiff and doesn't bend well, especially on suspension bikes where it needs to constantly flex. You also have to use ferrules specifically made for NC housing or the ends will blow out.
I'm not familiar with your bar. But would guess that something about the shape forces a sharp bend that the NC housing can't negotiate well. It may have kinked or is just pinching the cable a little so the friction is too much for the brakes springs to pull the cable back.
I've never tried the NC stuff so can't compare, but have found that high end standard housing has very little compression anyway. I especially like the stuff where the inner wires are coated as well. Nice and slippery even with sharp bends in cables.

  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
9,441
05-03-2013, 03:40 PM
Last Post: jimkjr
 
dykestra
8,501
08-08-2010, 10:41 PM
Last Post: Surly LHT
 
14,497
04-11-2010, 10:26 PM
Last Post: Sequoiasoon
 
23,351
04-05-2010, 06:08 PM
Last Post: viet_Cong

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Gandolfi "Super" model 1985-86 racing bi...
Yesterday 04:10 PM
The great thing about trikes
Yesterday 01:38 PM
Tour de FRANCE 2025
Yesterday 12:24 PM
Raleigh Sports Serial Number
Yesterday 02:34 AM
Safest bike helmets
07-11-2025 10:13 AM
Braking: What is your GoTo braking metho...
07-11-2025 09:54 AM
Front Disc screeching/vibration .. help ...
07-11-2025 06:44 AM
Tubeless vs. tubes: What are the pros an...
07-11-2025 02:23 AM
Pros & Cons of presta valve vs schrader ...
07-10-2025 11:58 AM
Full Moon Ride - Sunshine Coast
07-08-2025 10:46 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Flowrider
23 posts
no avatar 2. GirishH
22 posts
no avatar 3. meamoantonio
18 posts
no avatar 4. enkei
15 posts
no avatar 5. Jesper
14 posts