Festiva parking brake cable length

[Beans]

So, I snapped both of my parking brake cables. Replacements appear to be quite costly so I'm attempting a DIY repair. I am quite confident that this will work! I went to the hardware store and picked up a couple feet of 1/8" galvanized steel aviation cable and a few stops and oval sleeves. I clamped the stops on the end of each cable, one about 7 feet long and the other about 3 feet long. I have the old cable for reference, but the ends have both snapped off where the plastic grommets/dust covers(aka rust chambers) were and are quite frayed which makes it difficult to get a close estimate on the lengths of the cables. I would only be off by maybe 1/8th of an inch or so if I estimate the lengths, but I figured if someone here on the forum had an extra parking brake cable kicking around they would give it a measure for me and let me know for sure the cables would function better!

I only need to know TWO lengths: The length of the rear brake cable (short one) as measured from INSIDE the stops. On my cable the stop on the bracket side is either intentionally attached or rusted to the bracket itself, so if this is the case with your cable please measure from the inside of the bracket to the inside of the stop. As for the front brake cable I need to know the length of the cable as measure from the inside of the stop to the INSIDE of the adjustment bolt (I.E. the part that actually attaches to the cable, not the threaded end.)

I drew up this diagram to give a better idea of what I'm looking for in case my explanation is unclear.



If someone can get me these measurements I would be very grateful! I'll post pictures and a more detailed explanation of the process afterwards if the whole process is a success.

Thanks!

[yelo festiva]

cable length

I measured a spare I keep and best I measure is the long cable is 82 7/8 inch from the beginning of the threads in front to the very end of the crimp at the other end. The back or shorter cable is 21 3/16 inch.

My cable has the clevis still on it and with that in place the long cable is 83 1/16 inch from the beginning of the threads to the center of the hole in the clevis.

The short cable is 22 1/2 inch from the end of the crimp to the center of the hole in the clevis.

hope this helps, Steve

[Beans]

Thanks a bunch Steve! I think I can work with this!

I'm going to work on the cable tonight and I'll report back when I find out if it works!

[Beans]

The cable works! I was hoping to have more exact measurements to post on here to help other people if they wanted to try this, but I had to adjust the main cable length to accomodate the sleeve that attatches it to the adjuster screw. Basically steve's (yelo festiva) measurements were more or less what I needed and only the main cable length was adjusted when I found that cable wasn't long enough. What I ended up doing was attatching the bracket to the car, the cables to the brakes and then fed the cable up into the car and more or less eyeballed where the cables needed to be spliced to make it work. I have pictures which I'll post later tonight hopefully. I don't think it's necessary, but I can give more detailed instructions should anyone wants them!

If anyone happens to give this a shot and has questions feel free to PM me.

Thanks again Steve!