When should I replace a shifter cable?
Occasionally, your bike will need a new shifter cable to keep shifting working properly at all times. It’s time to change the shifter cable if:
- You have difficulty shifting to a higher gear.
- The derailleur reacts slowly to the shift lever when shifting
- You have to shift through multiple gears before the rear derailleur reacts.
If these shifting problems occur, the shifter cable and/or its cable housing is most likely at fault. If the bike is often exposed to damp weather conditions such as rain, water can enter the shifter cable housing. This causes the shifter cable to stick to the cable housing and then it can no longer move freely while shifting. In this case, the shift lever can only transmit the shift command to the rear derailleur delayed or incorrectly – this means shifting on the bicycle is now restricted. However, you can easily replace the shifter cable on your bike and get your drivetrain back up to snuff. Now we'll explain how it works.
Replacing a shifter cable step by step
These step-by-step instructions explain how to replace common shifter cables like those from CONTEC, which are suitable for all types of bikes such as road and mountain bikes.
Step 1 – Loosen the shifter cable on the rear or front derailleur
- Releasing drivetrain tension: Shift the bike chain to the smallest sprocket – in other words, the highest gear.
- Remove the shifter cable from the rear/front derailleur. To do this, loosen the clamp by means of the hex bolts on the derailleur.
- Using the diagonal cutter, remove the end caps from the shifter cable.
- Now thread the cable out of the derailleur.
- Remove the shifter cable including the housing from the braze-ons on the bicycle frame. Please note: Remember exactly how the cable was run on the frame in order to be able to thread the new cable correctly – if in doubt, take a picture of how the cable was mounted.
Step 2 – Removing the shifter cable from the shift lever
Step 3 – Cutting the cable housings to length
Step 4 – Running the shifter cable
- For SHIMANO shift levers: Loosen the cover bolt on the shift lever using a screwdriver.
- To remove the shifter cable from the lever, it is necessary to shift to the highest gear first. That means pull the little lever until you can't hear a click.
- Pull the shifter cable out of the shift lever. It helps to push the released cable at the back forward.
- Clean the shift lever if necessary.
Step 5 – Adjusting the shifter cable
- When the shifter cable is fixed to the derailleur, the cable can be tensioned. Shift the rear derailleur to largest sprocket / shift the front derailleur to the largest chainring.
- Pull on the cable between two cable braze-ons – this ensures that the shifter cable and housing sit correctly and do not need to be adjusted on the next ride.
- Shift through all the gears and adjust tension if necessary: Adjust the tension using the barrel adjuster on the shift lever.
- Turn the adjuster to the left to increase the tension if the derailleur does not shift up cleanly.
- Turn the adjuster to the right to decrease the tension if the derailleur does not down-shift cleanly to the smaller sprocket.
Step 6 – Cutting the shifter cable to length
- If all the gears properly shift, the shifter cable is at the correct length.
- Now shorten the end of the shifter cable on the derailleur with the Bowden cable pliers, so that the cable has 2 to 3 cm left over and does not get in the way when cycling.
- Place a ferrule on the shortened end of the shifter cable and squeeze it with the pliers – put some assembly grease in the ferrule beforehand to prevent water getting in.
- Test ride your bike: Can all the gears be shifted cleanly? Then the shifter cable on the bike has been successfully replaced and adjusted.
- Shorten the new cable housings with the Bowden cable pliers to the size of the old housings.
- Open up the cable housing: Open up the housing, which may be slightly crushed from cutting, with a pointed object, such as a needle, so that the new shifter cable can be inserted smoothly.
- Place an end cap at the end of each cable housing – ideally, apply a small amount of assembly grease to the ends of the cable housing to prevent water from getting in.
- Pull the new shifter cable through the shifter lever so that the anchor at the end of the shifter cable sits in the shift lever. Tighten the cover bolt.
- Now pull the cable through the cable housing and run it along the frame exactly like the old housing.
- Make sure that the cable is not bent, but instead has rounded curves. The shifter cable should not be tensioned when the handlebar is turned left.
- Now attach the shifter cable to the derailleur. The right position is important: There is a notch under hex bolt where the cable should sit.
- Pull the cable slightly by hand and tighten the hex bolt.
FAQ – Questions and answers about replacing a shifter cable
How do I replace a shifter cable?
To replace the shifter cable on road bikes, MTBs and others, first relieve tension on the cable by shifting to the highest gear. Then you remove the shifter cable from the derailleur via the hex bolt. On a SHIMANO shift lever, the cover bolt can be loosened with a screwdriver. Behind it is the end of the shifter cable where you pull it out. Now you're going to cut the new cable housing to the length of the old cable housing. Thread the new shifter cable through the shift lever so that the anchor at the end of the cable is in the shift lever. Now you slide the shifter cable through the cable housing that has end caps filled with grease to prevent water from getting in. Run the shifter cable along the bike frame in the designated braze-ons. On the derailleur, place the shifter cable in the notch below the hex bolt, gently squeeze the cable by hand, and tighten the bolt onto the cable. Then check that each gear can be cleanly shifted and shorten the end of the shifter cable to 2 or 3 cm with the Bowden cable pliers. Now add a ferrule to the end of the cable – with that the shifter cable has been successfully replaced.
What do I do with a broken shifter cable?
If the shifter cable on the bike is broken, you should replace the cable as soon as possible, otherwise shifting won’t work. You can either replace it yourself or leave it to your local bicycle dealer. If you replace the shifter cable yourself, loosen the bolts on the shift lever and the derailleur in order to pull out the torn cable. If the cable housing is still good, simply thread the new shifter cable through the old housing and attach the cable back to the shift lever and the derailleur. If your bike also needs a new cable housings, cut them to length based on the old housings before threading the cable.
What tools do I need to replace a shifter cable?
To replace the shifter cable, you need a screwdriver to remove the cover on the shift lever where the shift cable is hidden. You need an Allen key to remove the shifter cable from the derailleur. In addition, a diagonal cutter and Bowden cable pliers are recommended to cut the shifter cable and the cable housing to the required length.
Replacing the shifter cable for the front derailleur vs. replacing a rear derailleur: What’s the difference?
The bicycle shifter cable is the connection between the shift lever on the handlebars and the front or rear derailleur on the bicycle frame. The shifter cable allows the rider to operate the derailleurs from the handlebar. When replacing the shifter cable, the cable to the derailleurs is changed. The rear derailleur on the other hand, is a component mounted to the bicycle frame that allows gear changes to be made on a chain drive. When replacing, the rear derailleur is removed and replaced with a new derailleur.
Schaltzug wechseln – diese Werkzeuge & Ersatzteile benötigst du
- Schraubendreher
- Innensechskantschlüssel
- Seitenschneider
- Bowdenzug-Zange
- Schaltzug
- Außenhülle für Schaltzug
- Endkappen / Endtüllen für Schaltzug-Außenhülle
- Montagefett
In order for the drivetrain on a bicycle to work smoothly and for all gears to shift cleanly, the rear derailleur, shift lever and front derailleur must be intact, as well as the shifter cable and its housing. If shifting is crunchy, the shifter cable may be worn and/or stuck to the cable housing. If this is the case, it is time to replace the shifter cable. This guide explains how to do this yourself with the following steps:
- Replacing a shifter cable – when is it necessary?
- Remove the shifter cable from the bicycle
- Determine the correct length for the cable and cable housing
- Install a new cable on the bike and adjust
Replacing a shifter cable – this is how it works
REPLACING A SHIFTER CABLE – YOU’LL NEED THESE TOOLS & SPARE PARTS
- Screwdriver / Allen key
- Diagonal pliers
- Bowden cable pliers
- Shifter cable + Shifter cable housing
- End caps / ferrules for shifter cable housing
- Assembly grease
CONTEC Editor
"Test ride your bike: Can all the gears be shifted cleanly? Then the shifter cable on the bike has been successfully replaced and adjusted."
The brake cable is replaced in a similar fashion to the shifter cable. How does it work? We'll tell you!