Not a truck, but close

[macart52]

I have a 63 Bel Air long roof. One day my e brake cable snapped. Gotta have it as it's a six banger standard, with a single well master cylinder. Bought a new cable, installed it. Now I have a problem. Everything looks ok, all adjustments are there and cleaned up. So I start to adjust the cables. I tighten and tighten and the e brake pedal ratchet will not catch at the top. It catches way down low, almost to the floor. No matter what I do, I can't get that damn thing adjusted. The rear brakes are either locked up all the way or loose as in not stopping the car. I have basically 3 adjustments here. 1 Is on the new cable itself. 2 The middle cable harness bolt and the back brakes adjustments.

Any help out there to get this adjusted right, would be greatly appreciated.

Doug

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by macart52

I have a 63 Bel Air long roof. One day my e brake cable snapped. Gotta have it as it's a six banger standard, with a single well master cylinder. Bought a new cable, installed it. Now I have a problem. Everything looks ok, all adjustments are there and cleaned up. So I start to adjust the cables. I tighten and tighten and the e brake pedal ratchet will not catch at the top. It catches way down low, almost to the floor. No matter what I do, I can't get that damn thing adjusted. The rear brakes are either locked up all the way or loose as in not stopping the car. I have basically 3 adjustments here. 1 Is on the new cable itself. 2 The middle cable harness bolt and the back brakes adjustments.

Any help out there to get this adjusted right, would be greatly appreciated.

Doug

I'm not familiar with the ratchet mechanism of a pedal style, but I'm thinking it's a simple ractheting lever. It almost sounds like the replacement cable is too long. Pics would help.

[macart52]

Originally Posted by Lugnutz65

I'm not familiar with the ratchet mechanism of a pedal style, but I'm thinking it's a simple ractheting lever. It almost sounds like the replacement cable is too long. Pics would help.

This is basically what I have as far as pics and no the new cable fits perfectly. I think I'll have another look, by removing this ratchet part again. Somethings wrong with that. It don't seem to lock in at the top. It only locks in when the pedal is almost all the way down to the floor.

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by macart52

This is basically what I have as far as pics and no the new cable fits perfectly. I think I'll have another look, by removing this ratchet part again. Somethings wrong with that. It don't seem to lock in at the top. It only locks in when the pedal is almost all the way down to the floor.

I agree. Next step is to inspect the ratchet mechanism. Good luck.

[HumphreyMurdoch]

I have had the same problem with my El Camino, check the brake release. my spring popped off and it wouldn't hold.

[macart52]

That's what I'm fixen on doin as soon as my back lets up. Thanks fellers.

Doug