In my experience, ferrules are only needed (if at all) where the housing meets a barrel adjuster. They allow the cable to turn more smoothly against the adjuster. Elsewhere, they're superfluous, and just add weight.
Adam Hammond Toronto, ON, Canada
On 15-Apr-08, at 6:16 PM, EPL wrote:
> Does rear brake cable housing held along the tope tube by
> two braze-on stops (with bare cable in the central portion)
> require -- on its ends inside the braze-ons -- a ferrule
> for optimum performance?
>
> I ask because said braze-ons are too tight for the ferrules
> I've found, including various OD stepped-down ferrules.
>
> In other words, is there a clear performance downside to
> going ferrule-less with traditional brakes and old
> Campy-style housing?
>
> Emanuel (ARGH!) Lowi
> Montreal, Quebec