[Shotimes] E-Brake Springs

[Mark D. Mallory]

I may be missing something... how do you propose to get the cable out of its
sheath?  Both ends are permanently fastened.  None of the three e-brake
cables have any extra cable to cut the ends and re-attach them... even if
you could.

Here's what I've found on my old cables.  The cable is a standard steel wire
cable with a clear plastic coating on it... which btw does a great job at
protecting the steel wire inside.  The sheath is made from a spiral wound
steel wire (like a spring) on the inside with some kind of polymer coating
(not sure what exactly it is) for the outer jacket.

Inspecting my frozen driver's side cable indicated that the pinch point was
at or near (within 6") the sheath ends.  To date, I have been un-successful
at even budging the cable at these points.  I've all but ruined the free
cable trying to get it to move.  I verified the pinch points by cutting the
sheath every 8" and checking the cable for freedom of movement.  What
concerns me is that the cable is frozen and the clear plastic coating on the
cable itself is intact.  This indicates that the cable and sheath are not
rusting together... either the fitting is rusting and pinching the cable or
something else all together is happening.  I've got some more cutting to do
to inspect the condition of the metal fittings on the end of the sheath.

Right now... I'd have to say that you'll want to replace the frozen cable or
cables with new ones and possibly try to lubricate them prior to
installation.  Without knowing exactly how they're freezing, it's hard to
say what to lubricate them with.

Comments and suggestions welcome...

Mark Mallory
Toledo, Ohio
'95 SHO MTX

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christian Kesselring" <ckesselring@sisna.com>
To: "David P" <jpotter8@bellsouth.net>; "Shotimes" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] E-Brake Springs


> I think you mean the tension spring is NOT on the rear calipers, as
pointed
> out to me by Mark M.  Apparently the spring on the caliper, the PITA
return
> spring, is what I am looking for.  BTW, if anyone else has had a spring
> launch the retaining post into orbit when loosening it (i.e. someone as
> stupid as me), it isn't too hard to fudge a new post with common hardware
> store fasteners.  Thanks for the input on cleaning the cable, David.
>
> - Christian
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David P" <jpotter8@bellsouth.net>
> To: "Christian Kesselring" <ckesselring@sisna.com>; "Shotimes"
> <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 2:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] E-Brake Springs
>
>
> > Christian,
> >
> >     The spring that places tension on the e-brake is on the rear
calipers.
> >
> >     If your cable is sticking, you can try removing the inner cable from
> > it's housing(s), lubricating the housing(s) and cable, and reinserting
the
> > cable.
> >
> >
> > David P
> >
> > 95MTX
> >
> >
> >
> > ~
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Christian Kesselring" <ckesselring@sisna.com>
> > To: "Shotimes" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:05
> > Subject: [Shotimes] E-Brake Springs
> >
> >
> > > Can anyone tell me where I should look for the caliper springs that
> place
> > > tension on the e-brake cable?  Also, does anyone have a link to a
decent
> > > write-up on fixing or replacing sticky e-brake cables?  Thanks in
> > advance...
> > >
> > > Christian Kesselring
> > > '92 SHO 119k
> > > '02 PT Cruiser 9k
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Shotimes mailing list
> > > Shotimes@autox.team.net
> > > http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes