Same outer cable for gear and brakes

[HullBorn]

As per title, do/can you use the same outer cable for both gears and brakes?

Looking at using this Shimano M-System Brake Cable Outer for MTB Bikes 5mm for both.

Cheers

 

[Rod_Saetan]

You can do, but no. I do like the older 5mm gear outer though.

 

[Retro Spud]

You can easily buy 5mm gear cable

Never used brake cable for gears but I know plenty who have with no problems that said 30+ years on and were still using both so unless we’ve been brainwashed there must be a good reason against adopting it


Someone will flame us both for being heretics - or dumb arses

 

[HullBorn]

So is it 5mm for brakes and 4mm for gears?

 

[Retro Spud]

You can buy 4mm or 5mm gear cable

4mm looks shite to be honest

 

[Retro Spud]

You can buy 4mm or 5mm gear cable

4mm looks shite to be honest



Link below to 5mm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quality-Blac ... HZhOBSkNgA

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

The coiled stuff above (normally sold as brake cable) is OK for brakes or gears BUT not ideal for use with indexed gear systems as it can compress in use. It's totally fine with non-indexed gearing and in practice it usually works OK with SIS etc too.

Proper gear cable usually looks like the stuff in the second picture above. It doesn't compress in the same way as the coiled stuff, so it's more reliable with indexed gear systems, but it's unsafe for use with brakes as it can burst open under a heavy pull, so I'm told anyway.

 

[HullBorn]

Thanks, that's helped.

 

[WandsworthRouleur]

I agree with Bluetomgold. While you can get away with using brake outlets for gears (and I have when desperate!), you get better shifting with the right cable.

Also, most (all) of the gear cable is 4mm these days — at least for the stuff with the right end to fit in STI shifters. Running 4mm cable in 5mm outers gives you plenty of space for water and gunk to get in. Leading to even worse shifting!

 

[Peachy!]

Someone will flame us both for being heretics - or dumb arses

Yup....