1) There’s been many an occasion where I got dirt or other crud on the cable when I extracted it, which would indicate that it got into the cable housings (like rain/mud). I just shot WD-40 into the cable housing sections until it came out the other side relatively clean. Good idea or not? (I had to take a couple of sections to an air compressor and use an air hose on them, so that says how dirty some got)

2) Then I wonder why you use the light lubricant in the cable housing? I ask more a “why that choice” question, since I realize from experience that the lubrication is useful. I read all manner of options (from light lubricant to bike chain oil up to greasing the cable lightly) – personally I’ve been using chain oil. But I have to wonder since on many of the cables I’ve replaced I hear grinding when I pass the new cable through – wouldn’t a liquid lubricant dissipate too much to be useful? I guess it doesn’t matter too much, since I haven’t had any problems with any of my cables (yet), but just wondering…

and

3) Any ideas on handling brake cable ends (on the brake side) that are tough to get out would be welcome, too. I’ve run into one or two that I had to worry about tearing the brake handle up to get out…