[andycoventry]

As part of routine maintenance is it a good idea to lubricate brake and gear cables?. And if so wet / dry or grease?.

Topic

[the_mikey]

I just use some generic dry
I just use some generic dry PTFE spray on the cables when installing them.

[m0rjc]

I’ve just replaced a gear
I’ve just replaced a gear cable to which I applied waterproof grease. Seems OK so far. Cable looked like normal steel, hopefully stainless. I have memories of rust and sticking cables on bikes long past.

[BBB]

No lube necessary for
No lube necessary for standard ss wires and teflon lined outers.
Go for full length outer casing if you want the cables to remain smooth for longer.

[arrieredupeleton]

ilovemytinbred wrote:Cables

ilovemytinbred wrote:

Cables that have not been precoated benefit from lube- for example rock and roll cable magic is a decent product. The type that come with fancy coatings just leave alone until you replace them.

I prefer cheap cables replaced regularly than messing about trying to improve old ones though

Good advice. Small amount of dry lube on normal cables. Nothing on PTFE lined cables and the like. Definitely no wet lube.

[ilovemytinbred]

Cables that have not been
Cables that have not been precoated benefit from lube- for example rock and roll cable magic is a decent product. The type that come with fancy coatings just leave alone until you replace them.

I prefer cheap cables replaced regularly than messing about trying to improve old ones though

[Simon E]

Mine work as intended in all
Mine work as intended in all weathers without any lubrication until they become bad enough to need replacing. GT85 is only a stopgap measure.

If you shove oil or grease in a cable housing it is likely to attract dirt and further gunk it up. But as with so many things, opinions vary (and I don’t take anything written on Bikeradar as gospel).

[700c]

Simon E wrote:No.
If a cable

Simon E wrote:

No.

If a cable has got particularly sticky I will squirt some GT85 in one end it and pump the brake/shift across a few times to loosen it up a little but this is only a temporary measure – it needs replacing.

Agreed that if it’s rusty and sticking badly, it will need replacing, but as part of routine maintenance, is light, dry lubrication not recommended? Bikeradar says yes..

I’m not saying you’re wrong, I would just like to understand reasoning as to why not.

It is a metal component, after all

[Simon E]

No.
If a cable has got
No.

If a cable has got particularly sticky I will squirt some GT85 in one end it and pump the brake/shift across a few times to loosen it up a little but this is only a temporary measure – it needs replacing.

[700c]

I believe wet lube would not
I believe wet lube would not be a good idea as it is a viscous, almost sticky compound.

It might be ok for drivetrains in the rain, but would have the effect of clogging up the inside of gear cables.

If anything, a drop of dry lube which does not attract and hold dirt, or possibly some WD 40 if you think water has got in.

[Author]

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