E-brake guidance (aspire swap)

[getnpsi]

I think ive destroyed the e-brake trying to remove it from the rear beam of the aspire. I do not see how it can be removed from the car in two pieces without breaking the pinch welds along the handle inside the car, and as far as it coming apart under the car im clueless as well. I can probably fab up the extension from my festiva from the other thread because i havent taken it apart yet, and ill be more careful, but i think this whole e-brake thing is more intimidating than the engine swap i am doing in the next few weeks.

[Jimmy]

The way I did it:

Remove the rear seat.

Pull the carpet up under the rear seat.

Remove the front passenger seat.

Roll the carpet up as far as you can.

Unbolt the e-brake handle from the floor (2 bolts).

Remove the adjuster screw from the end of the cable at the handle.

In front of where the back seat was, where the cable goes under under the carpet and out of the car there is a metal guide bracket that holds the cable in place. Remove that. (2 phillips screws)

Push the grommet where the cable goes through the floor out from the inside.

Under the car remove the bracket that holds the cable at the gas tank. (1 bolt)

Undo the pins at each rear wheel.

Undo the two U-clips.

Pry the guides - where the little rubber boots are at each trailing arm. They are kind of hard to get off the first time. I used the factory Festive lug wench.

Now you can pull the whole cable from the handle out as one piece.

Installation is the opposite of removal. Be sure you get those guides in right - it's easy to get them to where they look like they are in, but actually are not in the groove right.


Much easier than an engine swap and so worth it.

[getnpsi]

ok ill get a better look at the handle side and try it again when its not night time and so chilly. yeah yeah chilly to me is 50 degrees. anyway all bolts on the rear beam came right out and its a colorado car. i guess im lucky there

[Safety Guy]

I've removed one Aspire brake cable. I was lucky that most of the interior around that area was taken apart, but I had to have another guy at the 'yard help me with my 18" breaker bar to get some bolts out. I think they were the handbrake to floor bolts, but I'm not sure.

If I were you, take a friend to help or a 24" or larger bar! PB Blaster, too. Just in case your bolts are as difficult as mine were.

Karl

[getnpsi]

the aspire i have at my house and its already gutted. i unbolted everything already, i just didnt want to undo the cable and not have a way to get it back around the handle assembly if its under too much tension or whatever. thanks for the input guys.

[festivaWES]

you could ohh just relieve the tension of the ebrake and take out that little 8 or 10mm screw holding the cable to the lever its self and there is a couple bolts under the carpet with a braket holding it to the floor that you will have to remove. Other than that all teh rest of the lines are on the outside of the car. Must i guide you through everything in life my son!

[getnpsi]

nah i didnt know there was adjustment inside the car and that is how its removed. BTW those brand new 185/80/13s fit on the festiva w/o the helper spring things in the rear. It looks like an aerostar LOL. now to do the frontend and engine swap...wiring comes last and its gonna not be nearly as fun.