Frozen Parking Brake Cable

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Any tricks out there for unsticking a parking brake cable.

Looks like it's made of stainless steel as I don't see any rust on it.

I doubt spraying any of the "Liquid Wrench" type fluids into the ends of the cable will work that well as it won't reach the middle. Do I just need to get a big tub and a gallon of the stuff and let it soak?

This is for a 52 Hornet if someone happens to have a NOS one they don't want anymore.:)

Thanks,
Bryan

Comments

  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    To unstick it I usually beat the sides with a hammer.
    It works most of the time. To keep it unstuck ,remove it
    force feed WD 40 in the verticle position.
    Mount the housing in a vise and pull back and forth on the inner cable.
    Heat sometimes is needed.
    When free , oil the inner cable
    Roy
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Just to clarify things:

    we're speaking of the cable that runs from your parking brake handle to down under the car, correct?

    I really don't know the full situation as well as I do so please forgive dumb questions. You are sure that the problem occurs in this short segment of the entire parking brake circuit, right? I mean, it's not that the handle itself is hung up, or that the cable is sticking back at the rear brake shoes, or that the cable is hanging up at one of the linkages under the car? Or that whatever holds the cable housing in place, hasn't penetrated the wall of the housing and is now actually pressing on the cable itself?

    Could the housing have kinked somewhere, thus pinching the cable?

    If it's just the segment within the housing (sheathing) why couldn't you spray (or pour, if you have it in a can) a penetrating oil down the cable from the top? I'd think that would eventually work its way through, and free up any rust (if rust is indeed your problem).
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It is the cable connected to the parking brake handle in the dash. I have removed it from the car to work on it so know 100% that is frozen. Once I get this fixed, I may have more issues to fix. But this is the first issue to be fixed. The handle it self does not bind. It is the cable it self that is frozen in the casing. I will continue to follow the suggestions and see what I can do. Thanks for the ideas.
    -Bryan
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    You might want to get a can of PB Blaster at your local hardware store and spray it on the cable. I found it to work better than WD 40 on stuff that won't move.

    John
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Do it Walt's way. Remove the drum from the side that is stuck and remove the brake shoes. Now unhook the end under the car, with a rag soaked with WD-40 wipe the cable good right to where it goes into the outer housing. Now spray the cable and at the rear wheel pull the cable all the way out as far as it will go. Now with the soaked rag wipe the cable good. Now this you need someone under the car to pull the cable back all the way. Do this till cable moves easy, back and forth while you clean each time you pull, wipe. Then wipe cable dry, reinstall brakes and drum, then adjust emergency brake. If it's the hand brake cable to linkage under car, 9 out of 10 times the cable is broken and needs to be replaced. There are shops that install new inner cables using the outer housing. Walt.
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    Bryn,
    I have an extra if ya can't get yours to free up. I took my original and cleaned it with a wire brush on my bench grinder to get rid of rust and accumlated oil/dirt combination. Then soaked with a 30 weight penetrating oil. As I say if ya want my extra(nos) I'll send it to ya, n/c.
    Kim
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