I swapped 2nd gen s10 rear disks on my car and want to make sure I have a functional parking brake. It seems like everyone else who does this just lives without one but I would like to have it.
I came up with an idea but I'm no engineer so maybe you guys can tell me why this wouldn't work/will kill me.
The stock drum brake cable fits but has the wrong length and end on the cable.
Here's my idea mockup in cardboard. Use 1/2" ssquare steel tubing, close one end, cut a hole and slot in the end.
the hole lets the end of the cable pass through and slip into the slot.
next we need a hole on the other side to engage the brake lever
And it would look like this all together.
Any thoughts or other ideas?
Oh, that's good. Will it fit within the drum?
Otherwise, you can cut the cable and solder on another end.
In reply to wvumtnbkr :
These are drum in hat parking brakes, the parking brake shoes and rotor are on the opposite side of the bracket from the cable.
I thought about cutting the cable and adding a new end but I'm not sure if I could make it strong enough.
The only things I see have to do with what angle you are pulling from. If you are off the center of the cable, which you must be in this situation, it's going to flex the cable. Possibly not enough to cause a problem. I'd try it, and I'd leave stuff open to adaptation. If the arm coming from the actuator could have a second tab welded on, so the square tube you've built will pull from top and bottom, that would remove the angled pull. A tab on the backing plate to guide your square tube straight would work. And rattle, too, probably.
You could also pore over a cable buyers guide to find something that has a loop at the back end, with all else being similar enough to adapt.
Third, you could clip off about half of the return spring, make a clip to adapt the ball end to the lever, then take up the slack through adapting something at the other end of the cable.
Or, probably do another dozen things.
It looks like the return spring on the cable could potentially push your block off of the lever, if the lever ever didn't self-reset or if the block reset further than the lever.
If I remember right, it used to be that the late 90s Explorer with rear disc brakes parking brake cables worked for this. They do have the right end to connect to the hook, but not sure on the length.
I think it will work. You might have issues with the tube flexing if it's not sturdy enough, also possibly bending where it meets the hook for shoes. Might be able to leave a little extra material to make a radius to help with that issue.
Test it thoroughly before declaring it good
Is there a spring in the ebrake to return the lever to its home or does it rely on the cable's spring?
there is nothing keeping your block on the lever when the cable spring pushes the block forward unless the lever has its own spring
