Help with E-Brake Cables

[bkerr]

If anyone can shed some light on replacing emergency brake cables, please do. I was able to get one side in, but the other seems like there is an obstruction in the metal tubing. I have tried grease, a hanger but to no avail. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

[c.d.iesel]

how did the old cable come out of the

problem tube?

[Biemenstien]

Brian,

Try this...

I recently had the same problem.

It all started with an innocent e-brake cable adjust, after the cables were back in there guides and the adjustment nuts were adjusted, I pulled to see how perfect everything was, after releasing the brake the right rear drum was frozen tight... rust.

Turned out that the cable was all jambed up back at the rear hub, I removed the drum and brake assembly along with the e-brake cable, then I soaked the cable housing with PB Blaster and applied heat.

I kept working the cable back and fourth with a small screwdriver inserted through the eye of the cable where it attaches to the drum, it was rusted tight but after a while it began to move and now works great.

As an extra precaution I put a little grease on the cable where it goes into the guide to help seal out the elements.

Good luck.

[bkerr]

C.D.

I pulled the old one out to replace it. I removed the hub and put in new back plates, springs, shoes, etc. I figured I would do the e-brakes while I was in there. The drivers side came out relatively easy, but the passenger side was a bit of a fight. I can push the new cable about 10 inches in and the it just gets stuck. I have tried twisting the cable and pushing it in and out, but doesn't seem to want to budge.

Brian

[madpaddler]

Sorry to highjack the topic, Biemenstien, do have pics of your car you could post? I like the rally stripe in your avatar and would like to see a larger image. I would like to do the same in another color combo.

[nbcbird]

I think that about 10 inches into the guide tube is where it has a moderate bend and would wager that is where rust could impede insertion of the cable. Try using some sort of stout cable with some lubricant and see if you can loosen any rust in that area. Since the brake cables have threaded ends, clearnace is rather tight through the guide tubes.--Jim

[Mike Self]

in its guide (the tube that's welded to the car). In trying to remove a stuck one on my car I hooked the cable to a comealong, hooked the comealong to a fence post and with the brakes on and in gear actually dragged the car backwards about six inches before the cable broke. I think that besides rust, the plastic sleeve on the cable itself gets old and brittle, and jams up inside that tube.

If you can do it without the danger of setting the car on fire, use a propane torch to heat up the tube while someone pulls on the brake end of the cable. That will both soften the plastic and heat up the rust so that it will come out. Otherwise, you'll have to cut the tube off, extract the cable and braze/weld the tube back on the car. That's what I had to do.

Oh, and to install the new cable, you'll have to remove the e-brake handle. The threaded end won't bend around the handle's sheave with the handle in the car.

Good luck

mike

[bkerr]

Thanks Jim,

I will give this a try.

Brian

[bkerr]

Thanks Mike,

If Jim's suggestion does not work, I will try some heat... cutting the tubing will be a last resort.