How to reattach parking brake cable

[MaioCampo]

Howdy,

It's been a while, and the '93 Explorer is still limping along. A few weeks ago I started leaking lots of brake fluid from the left rear, and after some looking around figured I had a wheel cylinder let go. I've never done a rear/drum brake job, so I was excited to get to work.

So far everything has gone well, until I started to reassemble things. I can't for the life of me get the parking brake cable reattached to the parking brake lever. Is there a trick to it?

TIA

 

[Rick]

I'm not sure exactly what the issue you are having is, but I came up with these threads doing a search for
"1993 parking brake lever".

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partn....php#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=1993 parking brake lever

 

[MaioCampo]

Thanks Rick. I've searched myself, but will give your results a look.

My issue is that I pulled the drum and shoes off to get to the wheel cylinder. Since I'm replacing the shoes I pulled the cable off the lever. I have the lever on the new shoe now, and I am reassembling the brakes, but I can't get the cable reattached to the lever. It looks like it should just snap in, but the cable is wrapped in wire and the coils make it much larger than the slot I need to snap it back into. I've tried everything I know to force the issue, but she ain't budging. I've searched all over for a trick, but nobody seems to have this issue... it evidently just snaps in.

 

[Rick]

It's been so long since I had drum brakes on mine I just can't picture it. Hopefully someone else can jump in and lend a hand.

 

[gmbroy]

OK I personally never remove this cable , i just use a screwdriver to pry open the horseshoe clip . reinstalling the cable can be a pain . try pushing the spring back & holding it with some small vise grips . then use pliers on the end to snep it in if it is too tight use a large screwdriver to pry the opening open a little bit so the cable goes in , then release the spring . from now on just pry open the horseshoe clip leave the cable alone . I hope this helps you out let us know how it goes . we are here to help . install the cable before you put the lever on the brake shoe .

 

[MaioCampo]

Thanks gmbroy. Experience is a great teacher. Heh. So I definitely plan on just removing the lever while leaving the cable connected for the right side. I wasn't able to get back to things today, but will over the next couple of days. I'll definitely be back if I have more issues.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[2stroke]

If I'm reading this right, you replaced all the brake hardware, and now can't get the parking brake cable back in the "lever" with a slotted end. That spring is simply to release the parking brake, but shouldn't be tight. A lot of times the parking brake cables become corroded inside and no longer slide freely. What you need to do is just pull the cable to get some room. If the cable is too tight there is a way to get some slack from the self adjuster at the petal. If I'm not mistaken, you pull the release for the parking brake and at the same time have someone pull the cable underneath. With a little slack in the line, you can pull the cable through on the brake end. Then the lever very easily slips between the spring and the stopper. When done, the parking brake should self adjust tight again. Be aware that if this is the case, the parking brake will probably not be able to release properly. If you try to use the parking brake, the brakes could drag or even lock up.

 

[MaioCampo]

Thanks 2stroke. Makes sense. I got rained out today, but will definitely give this a whirl tomorrow. I tried pulling on the bullet end, but didn't pull too hard for fear of that coming off. I'll try a bit farther upstream, working my way back to the brake.

 

[MaioCampo]

Well, I finally got some slack, but not a lot. The first time some cable and spring separation appeared I got so excited until I saw that I needed another set of hands. Ha! Let go, went and drafted one o' the kids, and never could get the cable and spring to relax again as much as I did the first time. I had to admit to defeat, so no parking brake on the right side. It is rarely used anyway.

The reassembly thoroughly manhandled me, lost some flesh and blood, but I got everything back together. That was my first... hopefully the experience will come in handy for the left, which is for another day. I'm bushed! Ha!

Thanks all for your input. I was defeated, but learned things... so I'm good.

 

[2stroke]

I hate when things just don't want to go together. If the cables are that stuck, definitely don't try the e-brake. You won't be going anywhere soon! I'm guessing you have the auto tranny, so it's not as big of a deal, but if you ever want, its easier to replace the parking brake cables than you would guess.

 

[gmbroy]

I agree with 2stroke , it sounds like you cable is froze up keeping you from getting enough room to get the cable reattached . replacing the cables is easier than you would think . you could try putting a pair of vise grips on the cacle end & tapping them to give you some extra cable . in a bind for money i have taken off the brake cables soaked them with kroil & worked them till they freed up . The choice is yours . if you need us we will help all we can .

 

[MaioCampo]

Thanks 2stroke and gmbroy. This guy is an automatic, so I am cool with letting it ride as is... but it really does reach out and touch my OCD. Ha! The right is already reassembled, but I kept looking at things and today I somehow managed to get some slack. It just kind of happened, so I"m not sure what I did. It wasn't much, might have still been a little bit of a fight, but I think it might have gone back on. I may revisit in a few weeks, especially with my experience with the left today. Time was limited, so I just needed to move on.

I got the left side completely torn down, wheel cylinder replaced, and all put back together in about 1 hour. Experience paid off... didn't remove the cable from the lever... didn't really have to look at my instructions. After washing up I did somehow manage to draw blood. It's not a good day of auto repair without that.

So now drums are back on, adjustments made, and tires are back on. I just have to bleed the brakes and start testing.

Thanks guys! I've done a lot of work on this Explorer that I have never done on other vehicles, and it is largely due to this group. I don't know everything, but I know if I get in a bind I have this place to come crawling back to. Ha! Have a good weekend!