Trailer Brake Cables

[bricol]

I had to un-seize a trailer brake cable today - need it to transport my trials car tomorrow. I replaced then for the first time maybe 12 years ago, so in time passed, not bad, but in miles covered, not so good.

Replacement cables aren't that expensive, two are on order as of this evening. But the rubber "seals" on the exposed end failed pretty quick, this letting crap in. I'm wondering about lubing the new ones - I have a cable oiler I think will work.

But am I simply creating another problem? Oil will dry out and bind it up. Grease will collect dirt and jam it.

 

[AVI_8]

I’d replace the cables and not have to worry about them again for years.

 

[PhillipM]

Most of the time lubing them just draws the dirt in and damages the teflon inners rapidly. We never used to use anything on them bar occassionally the thinnest of silicone oils that were dry to the touch when we had to remove the rubbers for drag reasons.

 

[oilcooled :)]

Graphite sprays probably the best for not having dirt sticking

 

[mr haynes]

Somehow obtaining/designing better seals or fabbing more protection around cable ends is the difficult goal

 

[cheb]

Split the outer about the middle of a the cable, knock up a suitable fitting and connect it to a small air compressor. Keeping a positive pressure in the cable will stop water and dust getting in.

 

[tigdlo]

Split the outer about the middle of a the cable, knock up a suitable fitting and connect it to a small air compressor. Keeping a positive pressure in the cable will stop water and dust getting in.

I can't remember what on but I've seen handbrake cables like this but with a grease fitting.

 

[Bouledogue]

12 years is great. Personally, I'd take the win. If you only have to replace them once a decade or so then there isn't a problem that needs fixing.

My livestock trailer gets quite hard and dirty use and I never lube brake cables.

 

[Cobbler]

I can't remember what on but I've seen handbrake cables like this but with a grease fitting.

Morris Minors had a nipple in the middle, whether the later ones did or not I don’t know. Mine was a ‘55 series 2

 

[addjunkie]

12 years is great. Personally, I'd take the win. If you only have to replace them once a decade or so then there isn't a problem that needs fixing.

My livestock trailer gets quite hard and dirty use and I never lube brake cables.

Id take 12 years as a win too. Both my trailers get very little use, say 10 times a year, but I do move the brakes a bit more often.