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Broken parking brake cable adjuster

Discussion in '308/328' started by flyngti, Feb 3, 2010.

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  1. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    #1 flyngti, Feb 3, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Last night, I was trying to loosen my parking brake adjuster and it just wouldn't budge. Since the cable pivot mechanism is only held on by two bolts, I decided to just pull the entire thing so I could bring it to the workbench. I soaked the adjuster union with PB blaster and kept trying to loosen it. Eventually, the threaded end twisted off.

    Is there a way to fix this short of buying a new cable set? It's basically just a turnbuckle with the threaded ends crimped on the cables. I'm not sure a) where I would get threaded crimp ends with the correct right/left handed threads and b) how to crimp it securely.

    Thoughts?
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  2. Big Daddy

    Big Daddy Karting

    Jan 3, 2009
    212
    Albuquerque, NM, USA
    Full Name:
    RJ
    #2 Big Daddy, Feb 3, 2010
    I made a new one when this happened. Even if you bought a new adjuster, it will now be too short because you broke most of the screw end off of the cable.

    I used a piece of steel tube and welded in a correct size nut on each end. I welded a nut on one end first, then measured the correct length on the car and cut and welded the nut on the other side. I also added some knurling on my lathe, and painted the whole thing.

    The result worked out fine.
     
  3. ulf308qv

    ulf308qv Karting

    Nov 1, 2003
    100
    Sweden
    Full Name:
    Ulf M
    #3 ulf308qv, Feb 3, 2010
  4. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
    Full Name:
    Cliff
    #4 CliffBeer, Feb 3, 2010
    Hi Eric,

    You may be able to just make up a whole new cable - West Marine (South Lake Union) has good stuff for boating applications....stainless steel, swage fittings of various types including reverse threads for turnbuckles, etc. Of course, you have to either buy or borrow the swaging tool (they usually have one hanging on a tail at the appropriate shelf in the store). Good luck!
     
  5. Jeff Kennedy

    Jeff Kennedy F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 16, 2007
    6,851
    Edwardsville, IL
    Full Name:
    Jeff Kennedy
    #5 Jeff Kennedy, Feb 3, 2010
    Why worry about adjusting the emergency brake anyway. Leaving the car in first gear or a decent sized rock is more effective.

    Jeff
     
  6. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    #6 flyngti, Feb 3, 2010
    Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll either:

    - buy a new cable set
    - buy a turnbuckle set from Home Depot and weld it to the broken ends of my cables
    - go to West Marine (good call Cliff) to see if I can get the pieces to crimp onto my cables

    I really didn't think it would be a big deal until the other day when I was coming back into the shop. I didn't have my garage door opener with me so I had to stop the car, get out and open the door. Problem is that this section of my driveway has a slope and the car would have rolled into the garage door when I hopped out. I needed to turn off the engine and put it in gear before getting out.

    btw Jeff, I love the color of your car.
     
  7. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,920
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #7 ClydeM, Feb 3, 2010
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2010
    Not to forget Porsche used this type of setup on their 914/4 & /6. Keep an eye on e-bay for the cable as well as salvage yards and maybe even a porsche dealer.
    maybe something like this on ebay?
     
  8. FF8929

    FF8929 Formula Junior

    Apr 12, 2008
    799
    Livonia, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Fred Flynn
    #8 FF8929, Feb 3, 2010
    Be sure the parts from West Marine are metric.
     
  9. Beta Scorpion

    Beta Scorpion Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2006
    1,379
    #9 Beta Scorpion, Feb 4, 2010
    My car came with that same problem and it had been welded back together. I just got two new cables and a new connector from GT Carparts.
     
  10. shawxhurst

    shawxhurst Formula Junior

    Nov 6, 2006
    672
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Steve Hawxhurst
    #10 shawxhurst, Feb 4, 2010
    Don't even consider buying a turnbuckle from Home Depot. Cliff's suggestion is best. Any yacht rigging shop can help you with this and will use decent parts

    Good Luck!
     

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