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Hydraulic Brake Cable - Internal Routing - What trick do you use to pull new cables?

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Hydraulic Brake Cable - Internal Routing - What trick do you use to pull new cables?
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flag evanwier
Posted: Aug 31, 2025 at 20:40 Quote
So I am upgrading brakes, I want to pull new cables... but my frame has internal routing and the rear brake is a pain (I know this because my dropper routing was rough enough)

I am hoping someone out there has some super amazing trick on how I can attach my old cable to my new one so I can just yank it through without risking it slipping at all...

Any tips and tricks appreciated, I am comfortable with all the bleeding/new olives/barbs etc - I just am not sure how I am going to get the new cable through
flag Thumper925
FL
Posted: Sep 1, 2025 at 5:36 Quote
photo

Since you already have a hose in there, I'd grab one of the little double thread guys . Thread one side into the old hose, one side to the new, then gently pull the hose through, trim and install the barbs and things.

I pulled an image from google (I searched "brake hose internal routing tool"), but I'm sure you can find one at your e-store of choice. I have one in a box i think came from an old sram kit.
flag isaacwmtb04
Posted: Sep 1, 2025 at 12:17 Quote
The poor man's option I tried last time was using a needle and thread, and then fish it through by guiding it with a magnet on the outside. Thread was a bit weak and broke while I tried to pull the new hose through, but since SRAM has the metal plug on the end of the hose, I shoved it up until it was close and used the magnet to finish the job. So if you have a good magnet and maybe something stronger like fishing line, you could try that.
flag lookseasyfromhere
Posted: Sep 1, 2025 at 12:59 Quote
Why do you want new hoses? Are you swapping brands that use types of brake fluid and don't want contamination?
flag evanwier
Posted: Sep 4, 2025 at 20:47 Quote
lookseasyfromhere wrote:
Why do you want new hoses? Are you swapping brands that use types of brake fluid and don't want contamination?

Yeah tektro orions to shimano xt 4.5mm to 5.5mm hose
flag evanwier
Posted: Sep 4, 2025 at 20:48 Quote
Thumper925 wrote:
photo

Since you already have a hose in there, I'd grab one of the little double thread guys . Thread one side into the old hose, one side to the new, then gently pull the hose through, trim and install the barbs and things.

I pulled an image from google (I searched "brake hose internal routing tool"), but I'm sure you can find one at your e-store of choice. I have one in a box i think came from an old sram kit.

exactly what I was looking for - thank you!!!!
flag conwan13mtb
Posted: Sep 5, 2025 at 7:07 Quote
I tie a ziptie to the end of it and stick it through and twist it it till it comes out the other side and slide the ziptie off
flag densudy23
Posted: Sep 5, 2025 at 9:24 Quote
You can Tie a bit of string to a small piece of foam or cotton, drop it in one port, and use a shop vac on the other port to “suck” the string through.

Then tie the string to your hose and pull it through.
flag BenLow2019
Posted: Sep 5, 2025 at 9:34 Quote
Thumper's option was the best suggestion. But I've been lucky with tape before. Using good tape, butt the ends of the two hoses together and wrap tape from one hose down to the other hose and back. Pull the old hose out and push the new hose in - worked great.
flag conwan13mtb
Posted: Sep 19, 2025 at 13:33 Quote
Mine was for mechanical my bad
flag ka81
Posted: Oct 12, 2025 at 4:38 Quote
5 m cable for hoses and housings
flag HankKauffmann
Posted: Oct 12, 2025 at 6:35 Quote
Thumper's option is best but if you can't wait for Amazon, find a bolt or screw of the correct diameter for a snug fit, cut the head off, and use it to connect the new hose to the old one so the old hose can pull in the new one.
flag williamgrimmycracker
Posted: Oct 12, 2025 at 7:09 Quote
evanwier wrote:

A solid trick is to tape or heat-shrink the new hose tightly to the old one so it forms a smooth, snag-free connection, then slowly pull it through the frame. Some people thread a thin guide wire or shift cable through first as backup in case it disconnects. A magnetic routing tool also makes the job a lot easier if things get stuck inside.
flag sneaksketch
Posted: Oct 12, 2025 at 11:24 Quote
evanwier wrote:

A good trick is to tape or heat-shrink the new hose securely to the old one so you can pull it through without disconnecting. If that’s not possible, use a magnetic routing kit or a piece of thin cable housing or string to guide it. Some people also feed a strong thread through first using a vacuum cleaner, then pull the new line with that.
flag mudpilot
Posted: Oct 12, 2025 at 17:26 Quote
evanwier wrote:
So I am upgrading brakes, I want to pull new cables... but my frame has internal routing and the rear brake is a pain (I know this because my dropper routing was rough enough)

I am hoping someone out there has some super amazing trick on how I can attach my old cable to my new one so I can just yank it through without risking it slipping at all...

Any tips and tricks appreciated, I am comfortable with all the bleeding/new olives/barbs etc - I just am not sure how I am going to get the new cable through


Heat-shrink tubing is the pro move. Slide a bit of shrink over both hoses, heat it gently so it grips, and pull the new line through using the old one. Clean, no mess, zero chance of it slipping apart halfway through the frame.
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