Parking Brake Cable Replacement Question

[ripto]

My parking brake slowly became ineffective over the years and I think a tech at an emissions shop finally did it in. I was able to lift the parking brake lever inside the car completely up and it would not hold the car at all. I've since had the rear calipers and actuators checked, caliper slide pins replaced, new pads installed, yet the brake is still ineffective. While the lever does have resistance about halfway up, it still doesn't hold the car at all, so the shop thinks its probably a stretched cable.

My concern is having to replace the front cable if that's the damaged one (the single cable that goes from the lever inside the car to the connection point by the resonator, that splits it into the two rear cables) and what might have to come out for them to do that. Does anyone know exactly what has to be removed from inside of the car to replace the front cable? I'm just worried about them tearing stuff apart and not really caring what they may damage or scratch in the process. For example, when replacing the front and rear caliper slide pins, I am assuming they had trouble removing the old ones, and they ground down the ends, so now I have nickel-sized patches of shiny metal on my calipers.

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[Eyesac]

There's an adjustment point on the cable, where it splits to go to either rear wheel end. As i recall, it's in an annoying spot (I also remember it being like an 11mm and a 12mm or something weird).

 

[ripto]

There's an adjustment point on the cable, where it splits to go to either rear wheel end. As i recall, it's in an annoying spot (I also remember it being like an 11mm and a 12mm or something weird).

Yeah they told me they had adjusted that already. Not sure of the details, but I'm guessing they did since when I brought the car there the lever lifted with no resistance and now it has quite a bit, but it just still doesn't hold the car at all.

 

[NTXChris]

Replacing the cables is pretty straightforward. Nothing needs to be removed from the car aside from the cable.

The only exception is if you have aftermarket IRS braces installed. I have BMR braces, and had to partially remove one of the braces when I swapped my driver's side brake cable. Still a very easy process. Just nuts and bolts.

 

[ripto]

Replacing the cables is pretty straightforward. Nothing needs to be removed from the car aside from the cable.

The only exception is if you have aftermarket IRS braces installed. I have BMR braces, and had to partially remove one of the braces when I swapped my driver's side brake cable. Still a very easy process. Just nuts and bolts.

I'm asking about the forward cable though, going from the bracket under the car to the parking brake lever inside the car. How do you access that connection point?

 

[GTP]

I'm asking about the forward cable though, going from the bracket under the car to the parking brake lever inside the car. How do you access that connection point?

It's a hassle for sure. You'll need 10mm deep socket. I think I used 1/4" drive and possibly u- joint.

Then you'll strain your neck while on a creeper.

The turnbuckle stud is quite long, so if that is bottomed then you may need a new cable.

I suggest you struggle with it a bit before resorting to dropping the driveshaft for better access.

 

[SHOdaddy68]

Every hand brake I've seen has an adjustment on the lever itself. Is the S550 different?

 

[ripto]

It's a hassle for sure. You'll need 10mm deep socket. I think I used 1/4" drive and possibly u- joint.

Then you'll strain your neck while on a creeper.

The turnbuckle stud is quite long, so if that is bottomed then you may need a new cable.

I suggest you struggle with it a bit before resorting to dropping the driveshaft for better access.

You didn't need to access the inside of the car to replace the front cable?

 

[GTP]

You didn't need to access the inside of the car to replace the front cable?

In my case I was converting to GT350 brakes which uses a different parking brake system. I think I only had to replace from the turnbuckle on back.

 

[atomicpunk]

Just went through this with my Mustang, tried adjusting the cables under the car where they branch off. Took out most of the slack but still wouldn't hold. Found the parking brake lever on the left rear caliper seized. Tapped the lever to the released position with a hammer and just put it in gear when parked till new one came.

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