Topic: Parking brake cable spring replacement

[67gta289]

I have a great pair of parking brake cables, except that the return springs were cracked.  Strange that everything else was nice but that is the case.  I can't slip the springs over the end fitting.  Any repair suggestions?  I'm thinking I might be able to clear the fitting from a spare with a drill bit, cut the one off the new cable, then move the donor over and "crimp" it on with a press and die.   Thoughts and recommendations appreciated

[1966KGT]

without seeing the other end, if it is a ball, maybe you can cut ball off with dremel tool, remove cable, replace spring, slide cable back thru conduit, then "birdcage wire slightly", then clean wire with brake cleaner and make a mold with wood that you could melt lead into and pour into mold? crude but a possibility? in my line of work we re- end cables using this technique, but were using 1" cable, 40,000 #pull,  works well.

[67gta289]

The other end is a ball - thanks for the idea, will look into that.

[Bob Gaines]

without seeing the other end, if it is a ball, maybe you can cut ball off with dremel tool, remove cable, replace spring, slide cable back thru conduit, then "birdcage wire slightly", then clean wire with brake cleaner and make a mold with wood that you could melt lead into and pour into mold? crude but a possibility? in my line of work we re- end cables using this technique, but were using 1" cable, 40,000 #pull,  works well.

I would think at first thought lead being soft would not stand up under use on the thinner Mustang cable let alone a 1 inch cable with a possible 40,000 #pull but have never tried it on a Mustang cable let alone a 1" cable.  I would have thought steel like original(Mustang)

[mtinkham]

Can you thread the spring onto the cable? Hold the middle of the spring 90 degrees to the cable and start "threading" or winding the spring around the cable, then work the other half of the spring?

[67gta289]

At first I thought you were saying to start a new thread  will try that tonight and report back.

[67gtasanjose]

At first I thought you were saying to start a new thread  will try that tonight and report back.

"How to keep the Concours crowd in suspense!" (+2-months later) 

[67gta289]

Darn thought I did that.  It was uneventful, or in other words I was able to "walk" the spring right onto the cable.  I took some pics but need some time to load them up with some descriptions.  Since I have some high priced consultants at work this week I'm doing 11-13 hour days so if you are looking for pics the suspense will be a bit longer☹️

[67gta289]

Here are the pics, the first as I started to thread the spring over the cable, the second as the end results.

Thanks to mtinkham for the suggestion

[mtinkham]

I have received so much help from this site...first time I was able to help someone and happy to do so.