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handbrake cable for Viento
SteveWallace - 21/3/11 at 07:38 PM

I'm either going mad or this is the second time that I have posted this - the first attempt was a couple of days ago and it seems to have disappeared.

My question was about what length of handbrake cable to buy for my Viento build. I have rear disc brakes on a sierra hub and e-bay seems to have two different lengths of handbrake cable - both of which seem miles longer that the distance between the handbrake in a kit car and the hubs. Is it a case of buying any cable, cutting it to length and crimping new ends on or what?

Any advice would be gratefully received before I waste money buying the wrong thing.

Regards
Steve

Daddylonglegs - 21/3/11 at 07:53 PM

I know the feeling mate! I bought new ford cables for a song, but as you say they are long enough to use as tow rope!

I just cut the inners and outers down, made up brackets to support the outers and an equaliser mechanism for the front bit. Used duplex wire clips to terminate the cut ends of the inner cable at the lever end. I am going to risk the IVA with them, if they're good enough to hold the rigging on a yacht I think they will manage to keep the cable on the locost's handbrake

HTH

jollygreengiant - 25/3/11 at 06:28 PM

To be honest mate I actually used TWO cables on mine. I got two cables off of Sierra's and cut them both so that I could use the lengths that have the adjusters on them and the joined the cut lengths together with benoli ('U' clamps) cable clamps (3 off). Oh and I also repositioned the hand brake mounting brackets so the hand brake lever fitted my top cover better. and sorry Idon't know what the part numbers were, strike that I've just found the paperwork. Q/H - BC2256.


HTH's

rusty nuts - 25/3/11 at 08:02 PM

Used a pair of Allegro cables on my Luego locost , not sure if they would fit a Viento but could well do. Might be worth looking at a pair of cables rather than cutting/moding a single one if not?

macc man - 25/3/11 at 08:10 PM

Might be worth seeing if a standard westfield cable will fit. It is not much money and might be better then risking a modified
cable.

jollygreengiant - 26/3/11 at 09:25 AM

quote:
Originally posted by macc man
Might be worth seeing if a standard westfield cable will fit. It is not much money and might be better then risking a modified
cable.


I dont see what the problem is with joined cables. If they are joined in a mechanically addequate manner, then the hand-brake WILL function as required. For normal use as a good driver you would notice and slippage or creep and adjust the hand-brake as needed. Should you ever get into a possition that it was needed as an emegency brake it would function safely. I also suspect that possibly 90% of drivers these days would have had their accident by the time they thought of using the hand-brake to retard thier progress let alone prevent an accident should they get into a possition where the hand-brake was the only means of stopping or slowing.


Or is it just that people only use the hand-brake as the ONLY parking device and do not bother putting the vehicle in gear any more. I know a lot of people who never use the hand-brake, the just leave the vehicle in gear. Three years 2 years down the line and my hand-brake still performs perfectly.

DanP - 26/3/11 at 12:23 PM

I used a west field one I bought from their website for 23 quid. I didn't want to start messing about with cutting and splicing cables. Fitted fine the only thing I had to do was make a sleeve to increase the range of the adjuster and some guides to stop the cable fouling the suspension.

Hth
Dan

PS there is a drawing of the guides I made in my photo archive - they would have been needed on any cable

[Edited on 26/3/11 by DanP]

SteveWallace - 27/3/11 at 09:27 PM

Thanks to all for the advice.

Dan/ maac man - the Westfield cable was a good spot. I'm off to the scrappy for a few bits and pieces next weekend and if I cannot find something that I can cut for next to nothing, then I'll go with your suggestion.

Steve