Hand Brake

[lscrymgeour]

I have a 53 Fargo halfton and am wonderinng where I can get a replacement cable for the hand brake. Mine appears to be seized and despite best efforts it does not seem to be loosening up. I am currently trying to get WD-40 into the top of the cable using a plastic bag (like an IV drip). The cable has loosened slightly but it has been 3 days. Will continue to work on it over the weekend to see if it does eventually break free, but am looking for alternate sources just in case.

Any other suggestions on how I could work with the existing one would also be appreciated.

I am hoping to have the truck ready for govt. safety test by week after next and this is the last step. Once it passes I can get it registered and on the road.

On a side note, I was working on the truck the other night and trying to get the brake lights working. My son was helping me and I was excited because when he pushed on the pedal one of them was working so I knew brake switch was good, etc. which only meant that I needed to check the wiring between the lights. My son came to the back, looked at the lights and quietly informed me that I didn't have a bulb in the other one and that might explainn why it did't work. Put 2nd bulb in and they both worked well. Had to laugh at myself.

[52B3B108]

Your son needs a promoted to VP of Troubleshooting.

[Don Coatney]

You might try these folks. They made me a new speedometer cable with housing. They may be able to make a new e-brake cable with housing.

[bach4660]

I cut the ball end off of the cable and then removed the entire outer cable from the truck. Clamped one end in the vise and then clipped on the vise grips and with the help of may son pulled the cable out of the sleeve. It was in there so tight the workbench starting sliding over the floor before it moved. After cleaning the cable I put a new ball over the braided end and brazed it in place. Works great. I also chopped about an 1" out of the cable and removed a U-bolt style cable tightner someone added.

[lscrymgeour]

Thanks for the suggestions. As it turns out I was able to get the cable loosened up. A chemist at work lent me a metering tube that allowed me to feed drops of liquid onto the cable and a mechanic I know suggested a penetrating fluid called NutCracker. I told the entire assembly off the truck and kept feeding some NutCracker into one end and after a day or two of soaking, I began twisting the cable and it broke free. I then kept feeding oil into the cable until it traveled very freely inside the outer housing. Will reinstall it shortly and hopefully it will work.

Thanks, Lyle

[daimlerchryslerman]

Hi there,

I work for a Chrysler Dealer here in B.C.

For 30 years we have had this great penetrating fluid .Part #VU00100.

The other day my friend a mechanic fixed my brake cable by spraying this stuff onto the OUTSIDE of my cable. Within a few hours it had penetrated though he outer cable to the inner cable.

I'm not sure that it is available in the U.S.A. but maybe any good penetrating fluid will work.

I was amazed cuz mine was stuck solid.

Ray Morris