How to Install a New Derailleur Cable on an SRAM Rederailluer

SRAM bicycle components are made in the United States and are found on many all-mountain and downhill mountain bikes. SRAM derailleurs control the shifting through the gears on the bicycle, allowing the rider to use low gears for uphills climbs and high gears for speedy downhill runs. Changing a cable on a SRAM real derailleur follows the same formula as any derailleur cable change.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle work strand
  • 4mm Allen wrench
  • Replacement cable and housing
  • Cable-housing cutter
  • Bicycle grease
  • Rag
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Put the bike into the stand and secure it closed. Shift the gear to the smallest cog on the rear cassette and the large chain ring.

    • 2

      Turn the barrel adjuster on the SRAM derailleur and corresponding shifter on the handlebars (for the rear derailleur, turn the right hand shifter) all the way counterclockwise until the cable is slack and loose.

    • 3

      Unscrew the cable retaining nut on the cable at the derailleur with the hex wrench. Do the same to the cable at the shifter. (The nut is under the shifter.) Pull the cable out of the derailleur and shifter and then remove it from all frame guides.

    • 4

      Hold the old cable against the new and cut the new cable to the same length as the old. Do the same with the cable housing.

    • 5

      Apply grease to the entire length of the new cable. Slide the housing over the greased cable and then take the old end sleeves off the former cable and slide them onto the ends of the new cable and housing setup.

    • 6

      Insert one end of the cable through the rear derailleur cable guide so the sleeve goes into the small entry hole with the cable extending out to the retaining nut. Tighten the cable under the nut.

    • 7

      Insert the new cable into the shifter so the sleeve goes into the dedicated holding cup. Tighten the cable to the retaining nut.

    • 8

      Turn the barrel adjusters clockwise to get all slack out of the cable. Make sure the cable and housing is running through the frame guides. Adjust the cable at the barrels until you achieve the proper shifting you desire.