Mine is on the last click. I am going to replace it(cable). A web site for brakes and brake parts lists a new cable for the left and right side. However,the part number is the same. when i called the company they said there is only one cable but it goes on what ever side you have now. i remember looking under the car and seeing what appeared to be a cable attached to both back wheels kind of in a round "n" shape. Can someone please advise re this. The car is a stock wagon......thanks in advance
If I remember correctly, there is only one ebrake cable. Each end attaches to a wheel and the ebrake handle is in the middle. Have you tried to adjust the cable? The cable adjustment nut is under the handle. You need to pop open the cover and you should see it. I would think as long as the cable is not siezed, it still is good. Also your rear shoes may need some adjusting as well. I would try both those adjustments before replacing the cable. Good luck
Thank you Tigger for your quick response. My mechanic said it can't be adjusted any more. The rear brake shoes would be adversly affected beyond their current/proper position. This was a bit ago, but I only drive the car 1 day a week to work and back about 30 miles. He said I need a new cable, but I was perplexed by the parts listing. He is totally honest. He is on vacation so I thought I'd order the part now. So what do you think given what I've said ---seem like the original cable might just be stretched over all these years ? Larry
Parking brake cables do stretch, and sometimes the individual strands of the cable will rust and gradually break one at a time, so that fewer strands remain to carry the load, so continued use stretches the remaining ones. That's without considering wear to any parts that the cable slides over or pivot holes enlarging, the cable ends gradually pulling out of their ferrules, etc.
I checked and the early Pintos only had one cable that was looped from wheel to wheel with the adjuster pulling on the center of the loop.
I don't understand why the mechanic told you that tightening the cable further would adversely effect the rear shoes' position, as tightening a too-loose cable further would only make the shoes contact the drums when the cable was pulleed taut anyway.
I seem to recall that I had to do something with one of my Pintos in a similar situation, and that the adjustment nut was already bottomed on the end of the threaded portion of the adjustment rod, as yours seems to be. The cable was ok, just stretched. I used a spacer of some sort directly UNDER the adjustment nut to pull the rod farther out so that the nut could still be used to adjust the rod, and it was still adjustable and working for many years afterwards, even after I got rid of the car. It's been enough years now that I don't remember what I used, and it may just have been a stack of several washers.
napa has them. part number UP 92561
krazi