e brake cable shortening - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dropd80s · 05-31-2011, 10:25 AM

Curious what you guys have done when shortening ebrake cables? I know I could over lap where both cables meet (truck side and axle side) and connect with cable clamps but woud like to retain the OE connector for ease of disconnecting it if I need to pull the axle out. This is on my 86 CCSB with all 1/2 ton suspension under a shortened C30 frame.

kwin · 05-31-2011, 10:53 AM

I am curious about the same thing , sorry to hijack but I wanted to keep this current.

dropd80s · 06-01-2011, 09:56 AM

Anyone have any luck finding a crimpable cable stop that will hold up to that kind of pressure and fit back into the OE connector? BTW the connector I have is like the one circled.

dropd80s · 06-04-2011, 12:34 AM

anyone have any ideas or input?

James McClure · 06-04-2011, 08:38 AM

OK, here's my 2 cents. If possible, why not move the forward bracket a little farther forward and move the rear bracket a little farther back? You might have to make a different bracket for onr or the other though. Mine is an 84 K20 long box and the front bracket is the L/F body mount so moving that is out of the question. The rear bracket is seperate so could be moved. Doing it this way would make replacement down the road easier than modifying the cable itself in some way. I made a cable for an 87 Nissan by using the old casing and replacing the core with SS wire rope and welding a steel plug on either end for attachment. jim

dropd80s · 06-08-2011, 10:34 PM

Welding a new plug on one end may work. The front bracket on my truck is the same as yours and I lost 14" out of the frame, so I can't move it that far back (it would be close to being behind the axle) but good thought. I'll figure something out.

Thanks, appreciate the input.

James McClure · 06-09-2011, 07:22 AM

Drop: I would, at this point, Make a bracket for the front and run the cable thru the existing hole in the front body mount. The bracket you make would have to be made of strong steel and have a corner piece welded in place to keep the bracket from bending. I would make it out of 2.5" angle with a 1 X 1" triangle welded inside at each end. It can only be 1/8" thick to accomadate the cable end and clip. Position the cable hole so the cable can pass thru the front body mount. Next step would be to assemble the "E" brake components and leave your new bracket cliped to the front cable, but not yet mounted. Pull the new bracket forward as far as you can to get the right result then mount the bracket and adjust the brake. Seeing as the front cable will probably have some serious bends in it, grease the crap out of it with chassis grease. You can do this by slipping a hose over the cable far enough to get a clamp on the jacket and have an inch or so extending past the end of the cable. Then, slip the end of the hose on to your hand grease gun and clamp that, now slowly and easily pump until you can see grease comming out the other end if the cable jacket. I do this with all my replacement cables. jim

madcow75 · 06-09-2011, 08:20 AM

Have look out there, there are companies that will make custom emergecy brakes. They can make them at any length or size you want. I couldn't purchase one for my G30 so I got a factory one made up. I got mine made up in Toronto, Ontario from a heavy equipment shop. Works great I needed it for a safety.

*lakeroadster* · 06-09-2011, 08:33 AM

When I installed my floor mount brake handle I spliced my cables using the crimp style connectors you buy at Home Depot. To install them you need to purchase a crimping tool (basically looks like bolt cutters).

Link to Lehigh cable swaging tool available at Home Depot
Link to Oval Swage Fittings available at Home Depot
Swaging Tools Use and Adjustment Instructions

The swaged cables have been on the truck for a couple years and since my truck is a manual tranny I use the hand brake quite often. They work fine and the installation instructions state they have 95% of the cable strength when installed with correct tooling.

dropd80s · 06-20-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

When I installed my floor mount brake handle I spliced my cables using the crimp style connectors you buy at Home Depot. To install them you need to purchase a crimping tool (basically looks like bolt cutters).

Link to Lehigh cable swaging tool available at Home Depot
Link to Oval Swage Fittings available at Home Depot
Swaging Tools Use and Adjustment Instructions

The swaged cables have been on the truck for a couple years and since my truck is a manual tranny I use the hand brake quite often. They work fine and the installation instructions state they have 95% of the cable strength when installed with correct tooling.

This is what I was looking for. Thanks for the help lakeroadster, I appreciate it.

05-31-2011, 10:25 AM	#1
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	e brake cable shortening Curious what you guys have done when shortening ebrake cables? I know I could over lap where both cables meet (truck side and axle side) and connect with cable clamps but woud like to retain the OE connector for ease of disconnecting it if I need to pull the axle out. This is on my 86 CCSB with all 1/2 ton suspension under a shortened C30 frame.

05-31-2011, 10:53 AM	#2
kwin Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta Posts: 368	Re: e brake cable shortening I am curious about the same thing , sorry to hijack but I wanted to keep this current.

06-01-2011, 09:56 AM	#3
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: e brake cable shortening Anyone have any luck finding a crimpable cable stop that will hold up to that kind of pressure and fit back into the OE connector? BTW the connector I have is like the one circled. Attached Images Last edited by dropd80s; 06-01-2011 at 09:57 AM.

06-04-2011, 12:34 AM	#4
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: e brake cable shortening anyone have any ideas or input?

06-04-2011, 08:38 AM	#5
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: e brake cable shortening OK, here's my 2 cents. If possible, why not move the forward bracket a little farther forward and move the rear bracket a little farther back? You might have to make a different bracket for onr or the other though. Mine is an 84 K20 long box and the front bracket is the L/F body mount so moving that is out of the question. The rear bracket is seperate so could be moved. Doing it this way would make replacement down the road easier than modifying the cable itself in some way. I made a cable for an 87 Nissan by using the old casing and replacing the core with SS wire rope and welding a steel plug on either end for attachment. jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

06-08-2011, 10:34 PM	#6
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: e brake cable shortening Welding a new plug on one end may work. The front bracket on my truck is the same as yours and I lost 14" out of the frame, so I can't move it that far back (it would be close to being behind the axle) but good thought. I'll figure something out. Thanks, appreciate the input. __________________ "I'm Dirk Diggler enough to own and operate a vehicle of this caliber" -veinbar Dropped and LS Swapped SWB 87 Build Thread

06-09-2011, 07:22 AM	#7
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: e brake cable shortening Drop: I would, at this point, Make a bracket for the front and run the cable thru the existing hole in the front body mount. The bracket you make would have to be made of strong steel and have a corner piece welded in place to keep the bracket from bending. I would make it out of 2.5" angle with a 1 X 1" triangle welded inside at each end. It can only be 1/8" thick to accomadate the cable end and clip. Position the cable hole so the cable can pass thru the front body mount. Next step would be to assemble the "E" brake components and leave your new bracket cliped to the front cable, but not yet mounted. Pull the new bracket forward as far as you can to get the right result then mount the bracket and adjust the brake. Seeing as the front cable will probably have some serious bends in it, grease the crap out of it with chassis grease. You can do this by slipping a hose over the cable far enough to get a clamp on the jacket and have an inch or so extending past the end of the cable. Then, slip the end of the hose on to your hand grease gun and clamp that, now slowly and easily pump until you can see grease comming out the other end if the cable jacket. I do this with all my replacement cables. jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

06-09-2011, 08:20 AM	#8
madcow75 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Fort Erie , Ontario Posts: 525	Re: e brake cable shortening Have look out there, there are companies that will make custom emergecy brakes. They can make them at any length or size you want. I couldn't purchase one for my G30 so I got a factory one made up. I got mine made up in Toronto, Ontario from a heavy equipment shop. Works great I needed it for a safety.

06-09-2011, 08:33 AM	#9
lakeroadster Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: High Plains of Colorado Posts: 2,485	Re: e brake cable shortening When I installed my floor mount brake handle I spliced my cables using the crimp style connectors you buy at Home Depot. To install them you need to purchase a crimping tool (basically looks like bolt cutters). Link to Lehigh cable swaging tool available at Home Depot Link to Oval Swage Fittings available at Home Depot Swaging Tools Use and Adjustment Instructions The swaged cables have been on the truck for a couple years and since my truck is a manual tranny I use the hand brake quite often. They work fine and the installation instructions state they have 95% of the cable strength when installed with correct tooling. Attached Images Last edited by lakeroadster; 06-09-2011 at 09:21 AM.



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