Handbrake Cables

[E30Adam]

Just a quick question, when under the car, I can see 2 thick cables running along tight up against the bottom of the car totally covered in underseal from the factory and they seem pretty well secured to the underside of the car.

Does the new cable actually slide inside this or do these cables covered in underseal actually need to be removed? I've undone the cable from the brake shoe end and also the handbrake lever but it doesn't seem to want to budge.

I was also defeated by the weather so didn't get a thorough look at it all.

[cabrio327i]

The cable has a sleeved end that fits into the tube from the chassis, the tube is about 12" long if i remember and it looks like the cable is all one going right into the car but it isnt, you find the outer cable seizes up in the tube get some molegrips on the end of the cable and twist back and forth with some penetrating oil down the cable hole they will come undone with a bit of twisting, cheers Dave

[E30Adam]

The cable has a sleeved end that fits into the tube from the chassis, the tube is about 12" long if i remember and it looks like the cable is all one going right into the car but it isnt, you find the outer cable seizes up in the tube get some molegrips on the end of the cable and twist back and forth with some penetrating oil down the cable hole they will come undone with a bit of twisting, cheers Dave

Fantastic, cheers fella!

[charlE30]

Sorry to bring this topic back up, I'm having problems removing the cable from the backplate. Is the outer a push fit or screw fit cause I can't get it to budge?? and I don't want to b*gger things up.

[cabrio327i]

Hi Charle30, They are just a push fit into the backplate, possibly siezed up a bit, when you have stripped the brake shoes and retaining springs off and disconnected the cable from the actuator you should be able to free the outer cable from the backplate, cheers Dave

[charlE30]

Everthing is removed shoes, actuator etc just can't get it out the back plate. Now I know it's a push fit I'll give it my all, cheers for that Dave

[E30Adam]

Now that I've completed this job, all I can say is that the cables sieze into the backplates and main housing something chronic. It took a big pair of mole grips and a lot of WD40 and muscle to get them shifted.

When you re-assemble, make sure you pack with plenty of LM or copper grease.

[charlE30]

the cables sieze into the backplates and main housing something chronic

Is an understatement I've wasted the last 2 hours trying everything to get these off, I'm thinking about cutting them and fitting 2 new ones. The job in hand is changing all the rear bushes (not the parking brake!!!) so the entire rear end is coming off and hopefully it'll make it easier to get the cable out... If anyone has any other ideas please let me know before the cutters come out!!!

[calder]

charle30 - have you been able to remove the bracket from the backplate that the handbrake mechanism pivots on? This is held on by two bolts, 14mm across the flats. The only way i could get the bolts out was to buy a 1/4" drive socket set as this was the only thing that fitted in the space.
If you take this bracket off its fairly easy to use a hammer and screwdriver to push out teh handbrake cable. I had to do this when doing my rear bushes last year.
hth

[charlE30]

and the penny drops!! why didn't I think of that cheers calder. I've managed to remove the subframe by supporting the trailing arms on some old wheels underneath-still attached to the handbrake, I've even managed to remove all the bushes (with a blowtorch). The funny thing is people go on about how difficult the bushes are, their nothing compared to the handbrake cable fitting the powerflex bushes today with new ARB links, discs etc.

Cheers for the tip calder

[calder]