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Shortening a handbrake cable
L5W - 4/8/09 at 06:30 AM

Hi,

I'm using drums on the back and I'm about ready to fit the handbrake cable. The MK build manual says the standard sierra cable needs shortening by approx 800mm

Once chopped, would these on be safe enough to use on the end of the shortened hand brake cable?

Are there any off the shelf items? I've seen Allegro items mentioned on here before but are they for disk brakes only?

Thanks,

Lee

t16turbotone - 4/8/09 at 06:58 AM

NO....those things are made for throttle cables-not strong enough, i used bulldog wire rope clamps

Davey D - 4/8/09 at 07:18 AM

As above... there is no way they would hold onto a handbrake cable under tension

mad-butcher - 4/8/09 at 07:38 AM

As Above..... But if you have a friendly AA man, show him the end and he might have an end to suit in his cable repair box...the ends they use hold the cable in with 2 allen grub screws.

tony

afj - 4/8/09 at 08:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mad-butcher
As Above..... But if you have a friendly AA man, show him the end and he might have an end to suit in his cable repair box...the ends they use hold the cable in with 2 allen grub screws.

tony


Thats what i did and he happened to be working his last day so he gave me a big box full

eccsmk - 4/8/09 at 09:21 AM

i used these to re join my cable just under the handbrake lever
link


ebay

[Edited on 4/8/09 by eccsmk]

zoom - 4/8/09 at 10:36 AM

I fitted one end to the shoes inside the drum, ran the cable around the handbrake lever and back down to the other drum.
I then cut it to length (make sure the lever is down and the adjuster on the outer cable has some adjustment in it) and fitted the cable through a 6mm bolt with a hole drilled through it (hole needs to be up the shank of the bolt)
I then welded the end of the cable to the head of the bolt, this then fits into the arm on the brake shoes.
Its been ok for 1000 miles and mr sva tester tried his best to snap it.

L5W - 4/8/09 at 11:30 AM

Thank you for the advice, I'm glad I asked before nearly buying the cbs clamps!

[Edited on 4/8/09 by L5W]

Mal - 4/8/09 at 03:18 PM

Try Westfield Parts.
The Sierra donor version will reqire a handbrake cable for drum brakes. They will also have one for Sierra calipers.

Mal

MautoK - 8/8/09 at 05:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eccsmk
i used these to re join my cable just under the handbrake lever
link


ebay

[Edited on 4/8/09 by eccsmk]


I used the same. I cut the cable inner halfway, wrapped the two ends around the semicircular thingy and secured the overlaps with three clamps each.
Maybe fortunately the SVA man didn't want to see!
John.