1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

[Joe L.]

A recent thread on front parking brake cables reminded me of something that might be of interest regarding the rear parking brake cable. The 1965-82 rear parking brake cable was GM #3866427. Earlier versions of this cable used a uniquely configured boot on the ends. This version was used from 1965 until at least the mid 70's. At some point, the design of the boot changed to a "bellows" type design. It may have occurred later in C3 PRODUCTION or the earlier design may have continued right to the end of 1982 PRODUCTION with the change to the "bellows" design occurring in later SERVICE. I'm curious as to when it occurred. There's no way to tell from the part number since it remained the same from 1965 right up until the part was discontinued. So, if anyone has a later C3, approximately 1976 to 1982, and they believe their rear parking brake cable is original to the car, I'd be interested in learning what style boot your cable has.

Below are photos of the cable with the early design boots.

[Chris D.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe,

Some years back I purchased a salvaged rear half frame/suspension assy from a 79 to get the differential. Rotors were still riveted to the axle stubs and general appearance was of undisturbed fasteners. Not the gold standard for originality but seems a reasonable assumption.

The brake cable from that assembly has the same seal you have pictured.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe,

Some years back I purchased a salvaged rear half frame/suspension assy from a 79 to get the differential. Rotors were still riveted to the axle stubs and general appearance was of undisturbed fasteners. Not the gold standard for originality but seems a reasonable assumption.

The brake cable from that assembly has the same seal you have pictured.

Chris------


OK, thanks. That gives us one good data point.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe I have what I believe to be a original rear cable from a 1966 and one from a 1967. I'll try to get photos tomorrow morning.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe I know you are looking for later C3 configurations, but here's the 1966 cable for reference. The end boots are gone except for a small piece of the boot tip on one side. I measured full length to be apx 88".

I cannot find that 1967 cable but I recall it was the same configuration.

Rich

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Here's a pic. of the boot on one of my 65's. Both cars, a 1 owner and a 2 owner, have the same boots.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Rich and Jim------


So, it looks like there was a third style boot used for C2. The boot that I pictured above was definitely in use by 1969 as that is the type originally installed on my car. Based upon what Chris reported, it looks like that style was used at least to 1979.

It may be that the "bellows" style boot came into being only after the cable was out of PRODUCTION use and for SERVICE only. We'll need to hear from some other late C3 owners, especially 1980-82.

As I mentioned above, the part number for the cable assembly never changed. It was the same from 1965 until the cable was discontinued from SERVICE.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe, I believe the Bellows type boot was used on the outer ends and the small boot was on the inner portion. In my photos above both bellows type outer boots are missing except for one small portion on one end that looks like a tube.

Here is another 1966 cable with all 4 boots intact.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

As usual, Rich is correct. I had to go check mine again and the inner and outer boots are the same as Rich posted above.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Rich------


OK, I checked my NOS cable and it does have the smaller boot on the inner portion. So, the C2 and C3 cables were the same, probably at least through 1979.

However, the boot you show on the left (the outer boot) is not what I describe as being the bellows style. The bellows style cam along later. I don't have a photo of it, but it's completely different.. As I mentioned, it may have been used in PRODUCTION for very late C3 or it may have come along after the cable became SERVICE-only.

You can see a bellows style boot on the NOS GM cable shown in the following eBay item. Note also that this cable has no inner boots. This is the version of the GM #3866427 cable that was last available in SERVICE. I don't know if it was ever used in PRODUCTION.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-Corvette-Rear-Parking-Brake-Cable-3866427-73-74-75-/112035628932?hash=item1a15d80784:g:R-IAAOSw6n5Xs2qV&vxp=mtr

[Richard M.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Rich------


OK, I checked my NOS cable and it does have the smaller boot on the inner portion. So, the C2 and C3 cables were the same, probably at least through 1979.

However, the boot you show on the left (the outer boot) is not what I describe as being the bellows style. The bellows style cam along later. I don't have a photo of it, but it's completely different.. As I mentioned, it may have been used in PRODUCTION for very late C3 or it may have come along after the cable became SERVICE-only.

You can see a bellows style boot on the NOS GM cable shown in the following eBay item. Note also that this cable has no inner boots. This is the version of the GM #3866427 cable that was last available in SERVICE. I don't know if it was ever used in PRODUCTION.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-65-66-67...5Xs2qV&vxp=mtr

Joe, I see now. Totally different boot. Here's a photo as when the ebay link departs it'll be inaccessible.....Rich ps sorry it's so big

[Michael C.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe, I've attached a photo showing views of the rear parking brake cable boots on my 69 (August). Neither have ever been changed. As you can see, the one on the right side appears to be like the one in your original post. The one on the left looks like those on other years. I understand it wasn't unheard of for parts to be interchanged across years. Do you think that's what happened on mine?
Thanks,
Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe, I've attached a photo showing views of the rear parking brake cable boots on my 69 (August). Neither have ever been changed. As you can see, the one on the right side appears to be like the one in your original post. The one on the left looks like those on other years. I understand it wasn't unheard of for parts to be interchanged across years. Do you think that's what happened on mine?
Thanks,
Mike

Michael------


The cable may not have been replaced but I think that left side boot has been replaced. While the boots were never available from GM separately, they are available in reproduction. Your left side boot appears just like the available reproduction boots I've seen. In addition, your left side boot appears to be newer than the right side boot.

[James B.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe:

I've just looked at my (installed) service-part parking brake cable (which I had purchased from GM on August 14th, 1985 when I was working for a GM dealer). The cable appears to exactly match the design shown in your December 21st, 2016 photos. BTW: My part has the larger outer boot and smaller inner boot.

I've also looked at my original receipt and it confirms part number 3866427. For reference, list price was $23.65.

James

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965-82 Rear Parking Brake Cable

Joe:

I've just looked at my (installed) service-part parking brake cable (which I had purchased from GM on August 14th, 1985 when I was working for a GM dealer). The cable appears to exactly match the design shown in your December 21st, 2016 photos. BTW: My part has the larger outer boot and smaller inner boot.

I've also looked at my original receipt and it confirms part number 3866427. For reference, list price was $23.65.

James

James-------


The boots on the rear cable originally installed on my original owner 1969 were exactly like the ones seen on the NOS cable in my photos, above, and exactly like the right side boot seen in Michael's photos.