70 rear e brake cable boots

[Bill L.]

My original rear e brake cable was frozen on the left side. I got it freed up and used a little 3 in 1 oil on both sides. It now moves freely. The rubber dust boots are shot.

Can the ball on the end be removed to install new boots and be reused? If not, what is the best way to get the new boots on or am I better off going with a new cable?

Thanks,


Bill

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Hi Bill,
When I replaced the boots on my 71 I was unable to figure out a way to get the boots over the 'ball'.
I ended up cutting one ball off, putting both boots on the cable, and then swedged a new ball in place. There's enough cable length to do this.
Happy New Year!
Regards,
Alan

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Thanks Alan,

Where did you get the correct ball and what method did you use to swedge the new ball?

Bill

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

My original rear e brake cable was frozen on the left side. I got it freed up and used a little 3 in 1 oil on both sides. It now moves freely. The rubber dust boots are shot.

Can the ball on the end be removed to install new boots and be reused? If not, what is the best way to get the new boots on or am I better off going with a new cable?

Thanks,


Bill

Seems to me I remember a story in The Corvette Restorer on this very subject. I can even conjure up am image in my mind of the pictures.

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Hi Terry,
Your memory continues to work well!
Gary Baupre' wrote about the rear brake cable in the Fall 2004 issue, (VOL.31 Number2), of THE CORVETTE RESTORER. He did a more extensive repair than just the replacing the outer (large) boot.
Hi Bill,
I went to Annapolis and found a sailboat fitter who could swedge the new 'slug' onto the cable. I had to file the 'slug' a bit to get just the right shape and size. I believe boat stores may be able to do this too or may sell a small hand held piece of equipment you need to do it yourself.

Happy New Year!
Regards,
Alan

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Thanks Terry and Alan.

I am not sure I was a member in 2004.

It sounds like no big deal.


Bill

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Bill,
Your "join date" in the upper right of yoru posts says January 31st, 2004. You should have received that issue -- but maybe it didn't make the same impression on you that it did on me. there IS a reason I remember it.

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Hmmm Terry. You may be right. I will go through my old issues when I get home.

Thanks as always! Bill

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Hmmm Terry. You may be right. I will go through my old issues when I get home.

Thanks as always! Bill

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Terry,
You MAY remember the article because Gary did a VERY cool thing.... he made a mold so he could reproduce the very small 'boot' that slips on each end of the outer sheath where the cable exits the sheath!
Regards,
Alan

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 rear e brake cable boots

Nope. Nice try though.

I wasn't going to go there, and maybe I should have not mentioned it BUT ...

A) I WAS the Editor (the main reason)
B) Gary included a safety disclaimer about swaging the new ball on the cable.

His method of making the new boot was ingenious and resourceful. We will have to make our own parts more and more as the reproduction industry changes.