*Emergency Fix!* - w/Pics - Oh Snap!!! Parking/E-Brake Cable

[gtd2000]

Was out doing a bit of maintenance on the rear brakes of our Mazda 121 and tried to free up the parking brake linkages with a bit of brute force and WD40...

Well that went quite well and then I decided to adjust the hand-brake and as soon as I pulled it up - the bloody cable snapped at the rear right drum

I'm now looking for either a replacement cable (where to get one?) or a possible fix to attach another cable as a temporary solution.

Any ideas?

Well I did this temporary repair until I get a replacement cable - so far it appears to be working - just need it to hold up until the annual inspection is done next month

[gtd2000]

Fingers crossed

[Dave G]

Right idea, but get the same size cable (do it right :-) ) and consider it permanent. Cut those damn rubber boots off too - they only serve to hold mud and make the cable rust.

[gtd2000]

Yeah, I was kinda struggling to find cable that size to be honest - just used a bicycle cable to see if the idea would work. The rest of the cable is pretty well rusted and there is not much flexibility left in it at all.

If I can pick up a used brake cable from one of the Southern states then that'll be a decent option I hope

I'm in FL tomorrow then TX at some point next week where the options should be decent I assume...

[rain406]

This place in Maryland has 'em for $99:

http://www.festivamotorsport.com/stock/brakes/brakes.html

[WmWatt]

That rust will come off with a cold chisel and patience.

I've chipped away at mine twice in the 18? years I've owned my '89 Festiva, and gave it a couple of coats of rust paint (Tremclad) each time.