61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
The parking brake on my '61 is "frozen" solid but will not budge. The handle will not turn or pull out at all. I just boght the car so I don't know how long it has been simnce it worked, so I decided to just replace the cable. I am trying to remove it but having no luck. I am trying to remove it starting under the dash and then the engine compartment. I have removed the spring clip from the bolt on the firewall but can't get the bolt to break loose. I can't get the handle off either. Any ideas?
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Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
Richard...
On a complete frozen hand brake, I would start by removing the the complete lever assembly . The lever is easier to unfreeze on the work bench, and I see no reason to remove the handle, which is riveted on. Cleaning with a drill wire wheel and some pentrating oil should break it loose & clean it up. The cable can be unhooked at the idler lever if required to be unfrozen. -
Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
How do I go about getting it off the car? I have removed the pin at the frewall, but cannot get the nut at the firewall to turn loose.Comment
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Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
Richard...
If the bolt is turning, you may have to get a wrench on the bolt from inside the firewall, (under the insulation) This could be a two person job, if you cannot get a wrench or vise-grips to hold the bolt as you turn the nut. Soak the nut with peneration oil over night will help. Good luck as I have been here before....Comment
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Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
Richard, when you say the bolt/nut is frozen. Are you talking about the bolt/nut that secures the bracket to the firewall or the serrated nut the cable goes through? One you get it unbolted from the firewall it might be much easier and previous poster suggested to detach the cable from the emergency brake pivot arm underneath the car and pull the cable through from the interior. That way you can work on the entire assembly from you workbench and don't have to take the cable off of the end of the shaft. Good luck, Gary....
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Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
Several issues here--on the end of the cable nearest the dash, there is a ball that fits into a depression in the parking brake handle/shaft. If you disconect it at the other end (under the car) the cable (inside the housing) may, if it's not seized, be disengaged by pushing it up enough so that the ball comes out of the depression. If you have removed the large clip from the engine side of the firewall, then the cable and housing should disengage.
If the shaft itself refuses to move, then you need to, as referred to by others, remove the small bolt and nut (1/2" head, as I recall) which bolts the unit through the firewall. You also will need to remove the big "nut" on the engine side that the clip fastened to. Then removing the two bolts that hold the handle bracket to the underdash will somewhat free the unit.
You still have the issue that the hood pull assembly is attached, and will not allow the bracket to come out. You'll have to disengage the hood pull at both female hood latches (take the brass barrel off, straightening the cable and taking the chance of breaking the cable) and then pull those ends through the firewall.
Then, and only then, will the handle and shaft and bracket completely be removable.
If you don't have to remove the whole thing, you're best off, because the rethreading of the hood latch release cables (especially the one that crosses through the firewall above the heater) is not a terribly easy thing.
Good luck, from someone who's done this more often than he'd like to admit!Comment
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Re: 61 Parking Brake Cable Removal
You are right Mike, I forgot about the hood latch....However, a frozen hand brake sounds like it needs to be restored to working condition, including the latches.Comment
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