Handbrake cable removal?

[JonnyCJ]

Got the cable slack at all ends - will try the spanner trick tomorrow or Tuesday hopefully.

[JonnyCJ]

Update as I know you’re all on tenterhooks...

The tricky clips are at the caliper end as well as on the subframe mounts and it’s very tricky to get them off the subframe whilst the subframe is still on the car. That’s if you want to re-use the handbrake cable.

This morning I tried removing the clips at the caliper ends and spent a good half hour trying to push the clip in without any success.

I then went back and re-visited the cable tie idea which BigMig came up with.

Bingo ! Within 30s the clip was through the hole and the cable free of the caliper.

Trick is to seat the cable tie around the body of the clip, tighten the cable tie and then lightly tap the clip through the hole with a screwdriver and hammer.

[bullet7]

Excellent, thanks for the tip Jonny. Now don't stop there......

[JonnyCJ]

Absolutely no reason why you can’t use this method for all the clips on the handbrake. It’s just that the subframe ones will be the trickiest.

[JonnyCJ]

Tried the subframe clips whilst still on the car and it was a doddle. They came out as easily as the caliper end.

So, the upshot is, you should be able to get all the clips off in about 5 mins even with the subframe still on the car.

Which is nice.

[Olas]

It surprises me that the high-functioning and powerfully built types that inhabit PH need to ask such questions.
To each his own.

[JonnyCJ]

Olas said:

It surprises me that the high-functioning and powerfully built types that inhabit PH need to ask such questions.
To each his own.

Apologies - I’m totally missing the point of your carefully crafted message ? Care to elaborate?

Many thanks

[JonnyCJ]

Here’s a couple of pics to elaborate on the spring clip compression using the cable tie





My handbrake cable is actually In really good condition, so just tidied up the surface rust on the metal conduits with rust converter and then painted with appropriate paint. All cables will get a liberal application of white grease.

Should last 20+ yrs without any issues.

[paulrog1]

Olas said:

It surprises me that the high-functioning and powerfully built types that inhabit PH need to ask such questions.
To each his own.

Idiot

[AM4884]

I faced this challenge when removing my engine. I took a piece of thin metal shim stock and drilled a hole in it slightly undersize. Cut a slot into it to allow it to fit over the cable and slide it down over the spring fingers. Came right off. I was never able to get my cable tie to pull all the fingers in sufficiently. I should have tried a piece of wire as that seemed to work pretty well based on the pictures.