Things You'll Need:
- 2 New Shifter Cables
- Pliers
- Screwdriver Sets
- Wrenches
- Pliers
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Step 1
Shift into your small cog in back and the small ring in front.
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Step 2
Find the front derailleur. Starting with the left shift lever, follow the cable until it enters a mechanism near the front gears. This is the front derailleur.
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Step 3
With a screwdriver or Allen wrench, loosen the bolt holding the cable to the derailleur. Do not remove the bolt completely.
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Step 4
Find the rear derailleur. Starting with the right shift lever, follow the cable to the pulley mechanism near the back gears.
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Step 5
Again using a screwdriver or Allen wrench, loosen the rear derailleur cable where it attaches to the rear derailleur. Do not remove the bolt here, either.
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Step 6
Push the loosened cables back through the cable housing.
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Step 7
Use pliers to grab the end of one cable where it pokes out of the shifter and tug it all the way out. Repeat with the second cable.
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Step 8
Discard the old cables.
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Step 1
Grease your new cable before installation. If you don't have grease, you can use any bike oil.
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Step 2
Push a new cable into the hole in the left shifter.
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Step 3
Feed the shifter cable into the hole slowly. If it won't slide easily, wiggle it or rotate it slightly.
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Step 4
When the cable pokes out the other end near the front derailleur, grab it lightly with your hand and pull it the rest of the way through. You'll have a lot of excess cable.
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Step 5
Place the new cable in the slot on the derailleur where the old cable was. (Some derailleurs have a clamp; others have a bolt with a hole in it.)
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Step 6
With pliers, pull the cable taut with one hand and tighten the bolt with the other.
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Step 7
Repeat with right shifter, attaching the cable to the rear derailleur.
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Step 8
Clip the excess cable and cover the sharp end with a cable tip (a small piece of metal you can buy at a bike shop) or with a piece of heavy waterproof tape.
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Step 9
Adjust both derailleurs.
