Splice cables?

Anyone here ever use any kind of electrical wire connectors to join pieces of brake and shifter cables?

 

I cannot imagine an in-line electrical wire splice connector - even compressed with a proper crimping tool - would satisfactory maintain a strong enough hold on the ~1.5mm diameter twisted steel strand cables on bikes to last very long. I think most in-line splice electrical connectors are made of relatively soft metal.

New brake and shifter cables are very inexpensive and relatively easy to replace. I would just replace the cable with a new cable if one breaks or becomes overly stretched.

 

I'd much rather suggest a steel cable splice. Most are crimped, but some have set-screws in them. These will be much better solutions than an electrical crimp - which are made of soft metal and will certainly pull out with any significant force.

 

Shifter, maybe, but brake cable is too important; I would not splice, I would replace.

 

Zorfdt what are those called?

 

Best would be to replace the cable.

Cable ferrule/butt splices usually need a special tool to install them properly. You have to apply a considerable amount of force to properly compress the ferrule down onto the cable. Essentially you are squeezing it so hard that it gets smaller. As a bush fix you can squeeze it in a press or smash it with a hammer but the connection isn't as strong.

Try to get a ferrule of the same material as the cable. Aluminum ferrule are easier to compress but not as strong. And, if the connection gets wet you can get galvanic corrosion between the two dissimilar metals so it won't last as long. If your bike used galvanized steel cable use a steel ferrule but most cables are stainless so a stainless steel ferrule would be best. Again, it would need a compression tool to properly install.