Topic: 1968 San Jose GT 390 Fastback Parking Brake Cables

[bullitt68]

I have decided to take a stab at restoring my parking brake cables. One looks ok, but the long cable is frayed. So far they cleaned up pretty good. However I need to repaint the pink paint marks on the springs and also the olive/yellow paint on the cable retainers. Does anyone know what the correct colors would be. The pink should be pretty easy to match but not sure about the olive green/yellow paint.

I am also looking to find some rubber tubing close to original diameter as the rubber cable protectors on my cables were cracked and pretty dry as would be expected in a very dry climate. Does anyone have any tips. If I ruin these or they don't turn out well I can always buy new ones

Thanks Marty (Ruppstang) for advice and another set of cables

Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

The rubber tube/hose was installed before the ends were crimped on which has kept many others over many years from replacing the hose with something that looks close to original. Unless you come up with some process that others in the past have not thought of which is unlikely you are wasting your time IMHO trying to replace the rubber. The best that you can hope for is making bad rubber look a little better . Better in this case unfortunately means typically not good enough for show. Concentrating on finding good cores with good rubber are a better use of your time IMO. AMK in years past made some exact replacements only lacking a Ford trademark. Some may still be out there on someones shelf.

[CharlesTurner]

On hose replacement, while not ideal, I have split open good rubber pieces and installed them with glue/epoxy.  When installed on the car, rotate the hose so the seam points up or is not noticeable at first glance.

As hard as it is to find nice original cables, it's something to be considered.

[bullitt68]

On hose replacement, while not ideal, I have split open good rubber pieces and installed them with glue/epoxy.  When installed on the car, rotate the hose so the seam points up or is not noticeable at first glance.

As hard as it is to find nice original cables, it's something to be considered.

Thanks Charles. Marty has given me some advice on how to restore the hoses and I am going to give it a stab. In retrospect I probably should have left the hoses in place. I have another set of used cables arriving today, so I will see how they look and clean up. This time I may leave the hoses on if they are in better shape than mine. The rest of the cables seem to clean up pretty good I thought

[CharlesTurner]

I've had good results soaking cables in evaporust.

[bullitt68]

I've had good results soaking cables in evaporust.

Yes Evaporust can be a great tool. I use it quite a lot as a first step on parts that are to remain a natural finish. It did a great job on my parking brake cables. I am glad they sell it by the 5 gallon bucket!

[bullitt68]

The rubber tube/hose was installed before the ends were crimped on which has kept many others over many years from replacing the hose with something that looks close to original. Unless you come up with some process that others in the past have not thought of which is unlikely you are wasting your time IMHO trying to replace the rubber. The best that you can hope for is making bad rubber look a little better . Better in this case unfortunately means typically not good enough for show. Concentrating on finding good cores with good rubber are a better use of your time IMO. AMK in years past made some exact replacements only lacking a Ford trademark. Some may still be out there on someones shelf.

Thanks Bob I will continue my search. I did check the AMK website, but they don't list cables for 1968 models. Not sure how interchangeable they are. Hard to tell by the photo on the website. I have also seen them listed on Westcoast Classic Cougars website as well as NPD and a few others. I have not had much experience with aftermarket parts so not sure what the quality would be with the various vendors

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Bob I will continue my search. I did check the AMK website, but they don't list cables for 1968 models. Not sure how interchangeable they are. Hard to tell by the photo on the website. I have also seen them listed on Westcoast Classic Cougars website as well as NPD and a few others. I have not had much experience with aftermarket parts so not sure what the quality would be with the various vendors

AMK made the 68 cables but discontinued them some years ago. They were the best repros out there lacking only the Ford trademark from being identical .You may still find some out there. For example only I have some on the shelf that I have saved for a future project and are not for sale at this time but there may be others out there that may be for sale . Sorry I am not familiar with the other repro cables available.

[bullitt68]

AMK made the 68 cables but discontinued them some years ago. They were the best repros out there lacking only the Ford trademark from being identical .You may still find some out there. For example only I have some on the shelf that I have saved for a future project and are not for sale at this time but there may be others out there that may be for sale . Sorry I am not familiar with the other repro cables available.

Thanks Bob I will keep searching. I have heard that some of the current aftermarket offerings that are ok, but have not spoke with anyone who acquired and used a set to date. If anyone can shed any light on the subject please feel free to chime in. Either way I will have a set that will be fairly nice I hope. Perhaps I will pick up a set of the aftermarket units and then I can compare for myself. The only downside if you can call it that, is that the aftermarket cables I have seen so far are very bright in appearance.

Another challenge is the rubber grommet. I have been looking and trying to find a suitable aftermarket set to no avail. I had a few recommendations, but so far nothing has panned out.

Stay tuned...

[bullitt68]

So now I have 2 sets of parking brake cables. Grommets are the challenging parts required now. I should have the rubber hoses installed soon. They cleaned up pretty good and cable function seems pretty good. Fingers crossed I can find some grommets. If not the cables at West Coast Classic Cougars look like a potential alternative option. Has anyone purchased these cable or others

[Bossbill]

Also:
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=11803.0

[bullitt68]

Also:
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=11803.0

Thanks Bill great thread. I will order up some latex hose as I think it looks pretty good. Now I just need to figure out where and how to get those grommets. I think that the one on my short cable may cut it, (what do you think?) but the long cable I got from Marty is cracked. So if anyone has one lying around they would like to part with please let me know.

[bullitt68]

I installed the latex rubber on the parking brake cables and they look better than I thought they would. Let me know what you think. Thanks for the new seal Marty. Also thanks to Richard (67gtasanjose) for telling us about the latex rubber tubing. FYI i found that dish soap made it very easy to install the latex tubing over the parking cable.

First I put the cable in a vice. The once I slide the tube over the cable and got to started I poured a few drops of dish soap into the tubing. Then I worked in on as far as I could and used 2 small sets of pliers to work the cable past the end of the cable. Once the tubing is on the business side of the cable I ad a few more drops of dish soap. Then it slide very easy from there.

Photo 1. Original on the left latex on the right

Photo 2. Original on the bottom, latex on the cable

Photo 3. Pliers to get over the large rib. That was the biggest challenge.

Photo 4. New Latex Tubing installed on both cables

Photo 5. New Latex Tubing installed on both cables

Photo 6. New Latex Tubing

Photo 7. New Grommet/Seal (Thanks Marty)

[67gtasanjose]

I installed the latex rubber on the parking brake cables and they look better than I thought they would...
...Also thanks to Richard (67gtasanjose) for telling us about the latex rubber tubing. FYI i found that dish soap made it very easy to install the latex tubing over the parking cable.

First I put the cable in a vice. The once I slide the tube over the cable and got to started I poured a few drops of dish soap into the tubing. Then I worked in on as far as I could and used 2 small sets of pliers to work the cable past the end of the cable. Once the tubing is on the business side of the cable I ad a few more drops of dish soap. Then it slide very easy from there...

The latex tubing was Bossbill's idea, perhaps I tried it first, not sure who did.

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?action=post;quote=110932;topic=11803.15

Happy you found an easier way, I fought that tubing, it wasn't at all easy to do. I'm not thinking I would have tried a water-based option but hey, it worked, it looks good (better) than cracked rubber, no rubber or crappy-looking reproductions that hardly pass inspection for even those who never saw an original cable.

[bullitt68]

The latex tubing was Bossbill's idea, perhaps I tried it first, not sure who did.

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?action=post;quote=110932;topic=11803.15

Happy you found an easier way, I fought that tubing, it wasn't at all easy to do. I'm not thinking I would have tried a water-based option but hey, it worked, it looks good (better) than cracked rubber, no rubber or crappy-looking reproductions that hardly pass inspection for even those who never saw an original cable.

Thanks Richard I and thank you Boss Bill and Marty for the parts