Any cable disc users have compressionless brake housing?
09-04-19, 07:29 PM
#1
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
Any cable disc users have compressionless brake housing?
Curious if you've used regular housing on the same brakes and what difference, if any, is noticed.
Is it worth $30 or is the regular housing I have in bulk good enough?
Is it worth $30 or is the regular housing I have in bulk good enough?
09-04-19, 07:43 PM
#2
Non omnino gravis
I went from Jagwire "nearly compressionless" (I think CGX?) to Alligator I-Link (similar to Jagwire Elite Link) with TRP HY/RD calipers, and it did make a noticeable difference. It wasn't like "omigod, I have new brakes!" but modulation and required pull force was better. If anything, also looks neat.
__________________
09-04-19, 08:01 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,063
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1216 Post(s)
Liked 185 Times
in
116 Posts
I've converted couple different OEM sets and also a set of TRP Spyres. Compressionless housing is a big improvement IME. You get more braking power with less lever travel so you can have the pads a little closer and there's a bigger wear window before you have to adjust pad travel. Maximum braking power is also increased in the sense that you get more with less hand strength, if that makes sense.
I'll never use anything other than Jagwire KEB-SL or equivalent. Nashbar used to specify their own type of KEB-SL and it was amazing (and only $12!) but sadly out of production for a couple years now.
Also, you'll most likely find this out on your own but just to add - having good ferrules with steel washer contact point and a good 90° cut on the housing is best practice as the force on the ends of the housing are stronger and more pointed than spiral housing. I've had the reinforcement wires push through aluminum ferrules after a few thousand braking cycles. They then squeeze the cable and you get sluggish return and eventually zero return while also losing braking power - not good.
I'll never use anything other than Jagwire KEB-SL or equivalent. Nashbar used to specify their own type of KEB-SL and it was amazing (and only $12!) but sadly out of production for a couple years now.
Also, you'll most likely find this out on your own but just to add - having good ferrules with steel washer contact point and a good 90° cut on the housing is best practice as the force on the ends of the housing are stronger and more pointed than spiral housing. I've had the reinforcement wires push through aluminum ferrules after a few thousand braking cycles. They then squeeze the cable and you get sluggish return and eventually zero return while also losing braking power - not good.
09-04-19, 08:46 PM
#4
Senior Member
Housing compression can make the brake response spongier, and slightly reduce your power. It's not very noticeable if your brakes are super weak and spongy to begin with, but if you've got a setup that's capable of being good, it becomes relevant.
At the very least, use a low-compression housing like CGX-SL rather than the really cheap stuff. And it would be a weird place to cheap out; getting great brakes but pairing them with poor housing is a wasteful mix.
At the very least, use a low-compression housing like CGX-SL rather than the really cheap stuff. And it would be a weird place to cheap out; getting great brakes but pairing them with poor housing is a wasteful mix.
09-04-19, 08:48 PM
#5
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
Thanks all- I'll pay up and try it out.
As for great brakes...not sure if that's what I have. They are the flatmount juintech- took that risk(saying that since there is such limited info compared to hyrd, spare, and full hydro) so I hope they end up being forgettable, which is actually quite complimentary.
As for great brakes...not sure if that's what I have. They are the flatmount juintech- took that risk(saying that since there is such limited info compared to hyrd, spare, and full hydro) so I hope they end up being forgettable, which is actually quite complimentary.
Last edited by mstateglfr; 09-04-19 at 08:51 PM.
09-05-19, 01:49 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thanks all- I'll pay up and try it out.
As for great brakes...not sure if that's what I have. They are the flatmount juintech- took that risk(saying that since there is such limited info compared to hyrd, spare, and full hydro) so I hope they end up being forgettable, which is actually quite complimentary.
As for great brakes...not sure if that's what I have. They are the flatmount juintech- took that risk(saying that since there is such limited info compared to hyrd, spare, and full hydro) so I hope they end up being forgettable, which is actually quite complimentary.
Played around with a few different pads and rotors; there's good and not so good out there to get best performance.
09-10-19, 09:13 AM
#7
Full Member
Very similar experience to others here. I have TRP Spyre brakes and used them with regular housing. I found that the brakes felt 'spongy' and particularly on long gravel descents my tiny lady hands ended very tired. I decided to switch to Jagwire compressionless and the brakes now feel firm and efficient, not spongy at all. I'd recommend upgrading.
