1963 Parking Brake Cable Installation

[Gerald C.]

I need to replace the two rear parking cables on my 63 as they are pretty frozen. Is it possible to install the cables going into the rear wheels without taking the brake assembly apart? I can see the routing on where the cable goes, but is it "possible" to remove the cable end and reinstall the new cable end without "much" difficulty? I plan on cutting the old cable out from the outside and it seem possible for me to put the new cable on the parking brake assembly, OR am I kidding myself and just take the assembly apart???

Just curious to see if anyone has taken this route.

Thanks

[Wayne G.]

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1963 Parking Brake Cable Installation

Wayne,
Thanks for your reply. My current cables may have been there since the car was built and are pretty frozen so I'm going to replace them anyway. I'm going to cut the old ones at the brake plate and see if I can fish the old one out and fish the new one in. If that doesn't work, I'll take the brake assembly apart.

Jerry

[Joseph S.]

Re: 1963 Parking Brake Cable Installation

Jerry, I's impossible to hook the end onto the P/Brake lever with the shoes in place. The brakes must be disassembled.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1963 Parking Brake Cable Installation

Joe,

It looks like I got the left side done without removing the shoes. I'll try the right side next week. If all goes well, I'll try the parkjng brake and hopefully, I won't have to go back and take the shoes off. We'll see!

Thanks

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1963 Parking Brake Cable Installation

Well...success. I had to take 1/2 of the brakes apart on one wheel and no disassembly on the other. The left wheel's spring on the wheel side of the cable was about 1 1/4" too long as compared to the original one. Once I cut off the excess, it went right in. The right side spring on the wheel side was actually shorter that the original. Go figure. Just another example of aftermarket parts. Once I adjusted the brake with 4 notches out, the wheel tightened up well and everything seems to be working. I'm going out for a test drive in the next couple of days, so hopefully, there will not be any issues.