Now that I have jack stands high enough to get under there and now that the weather is warm enough to do so, I got under my ride and saw what a mess my emergency brake cable is in.
The handle jammed and I wondered why. Whoever set it up screwed up I think. I watched some videos and it isn't anything like how it should be according to the videos.
So my question is, is it ok to cut an emergency cable to shorten it ? Both sides going to the rear wheels appear to be far to long. One cable is bent so much that the rubber sleeve cracked open.
The metal plate the two cables run to in the centre is askew so the cables don't pull evenly when they do pull.
And there are no 'hooks' toward the rear to keep the cables taut. I am guessing because they are at least a foot too long to begin with.
The emergency handle is currently set up on the right side of the tunnel. If I move it to centre, how do I avoid the driveshaft when running links and cables ?
I'll have to watch more videos.
But again can I or should I cut the cables to shorten them ? I know Lokar make a nice kit but if I can use what I have, it would save time and money.
No, you cannot get ends on it again. Unless a loop in the end of a cable can work, or other kind of standard cable end can work. The ends of cables are swaged on and cannot be replicated at home.
Here's a pic of what I mean. There is a tool to crimp the doo da things on.
Thank you 123. I guess I'll have to see what I can do with what I have or get a Lokar universal. That is what I'll probably have to do in the end to do it right.
Save yourself the trouble and buy a universal kit... by using old junk you waste your time and in the end you still have junk that doesn't work properly.... a lot of the time you need to buy new anyway....
My opinion... but it's not my car.... just do everyone a favor, and make it safe for the road....
A cheap way is to carry around a couple of wheel chocks ... no cables or linkages!
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The best way to get on your feet is to get off your ass.
Yeah, I think I'll get a universal kit as soon as I can afford one. Thank you for that. But I am going to at least try to get this one set up so it functions until then. Not sure how if I can't cut it but I'll try. At least now I can finally see under there because of the taller jack stands. Up until now I didn't know about the E brake because I couldn't see it. Thank you again 30-S6.
I personally like the newer electrical units - hot rod versions are a couple hundred bucks - wrecking yards half that.
Dont need a handle or any of that stuff - just a three position switch on the dash
On the bright side, finding more issues with my ride forces me to learn more about my ride. It depresses me from time to time to discover more issues to be made right but with the support I find here, I soon come around to talking it. I have to be in the right frame of mind. What many here consider simple tasks (like changing a thermostat) are still a challenge for me (I'm on my third) but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I enjoy this obsession. It's just frightening sometimes when I discover I did something dangerous - past tense.
I guess the e brake will be another adventure.
