{"id":895,"date":"2022-03-05T22:37:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-05T22:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crankduty.com\/?p=895"},"modified":"2022-05-09T06:48:29","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T06:48:29","slug":"lubricate-bike-cables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankduty.com\/lubricate-bike-cables\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Lubricate Bike Cables?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Bike cables need to run smoothly in their housings for shifting and braking to work properly. Should the cables be lubricated to help in this? And what kind of lubricant should be used?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, I will explain when bike cables should be lubricated and when lubrication is not needed. I will also tell which kind of lubricants work the best in this application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n New cable housings have a low-friction plastic lining whose frictional properties are only marginally improved by lubrication. As long as the lining is intact, no lubrication is needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lining is typically PTFE (Teflon) or other slick plastic. The friction coefficient of shifter cable against this lining is very low, probably under 0.10. This is at least as good as a well-oiled steel\u2013steel contact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding lubricant to a new cable housing is unnecessary: the shifting should work just fine without lubrication. In fact, the lubricant will probably not lower the friction much further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some amount of appropriate lubricant still does not hurt. A very thin oil or thin silicone may help to repel moisture and protect from corrosion should the lining fail at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NB. Even new housings should be lubricated if you are riding in freezing temperatures \u2013 see below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBIKE CABLE
LUBRICATION
Condition<\/th>
Lubricant<\/th>
Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>New housings<\/td> none needed<\/em><\/td> lining works<\/td><\/tr> Old housings<\/td> thin oil,
silicone<\/td>lower friction,
steel\u2013steel contact<\/td><\/tr>Freezing weather<\/td> thin oil,
silicone<\/td>less water ingress<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n New housings \u2013 No lubrication needed<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n