I recently replaced my parking brake cables (all three). I couldn't figure out how to get them out of the mounting points on the subframe, so I just cut them off.

I'm going to remove the subframe for an engine swap and obviously don't want to cut the new cables. How do you get them off? Where they pass through the frame, the cables have these spring fingers that open up inside the frame when you push them in; they sort of snap open inside the frame so you can't pull them back out. How do you get them out?

thanks,
Rick

Once you've disconnected the cables themselves you can rotate them. There's a small slot under the cradle where the end of the cable plugs into (the part with those spring fingers). I've found that by using a screw driver to push each finger in turn and rotating, pulling and angling the cable I can use the screw driver to 'just' get the fingers to go back into the hole and stay there. Once you've got them in the cable should come right out. Takes patience though, it's not easy.
Anyone got a better way.

However, unless you are doing something to the cradle that would destroy the cables like powder coating it, just disconnecting the cables and leaving them in there might be an option.

------------------
Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

I experimented with some long sockets, found one that I could slip the cable through and tap down to compress the fingers, then pull the cable housing out. I think someone else used a small hose clamp (the screw type), wrapped it around the fingers, and tightened it just enough to compress the fingers evenly and pull the cable housing out.

Oopps, sorry, mis-read the part about the subframe.

[This message has been edited by Fiero-in-Paradise (edited 04-16-2008).]

I thought he was talking about where the cable passes through the cradle at the rear, not the end that goes through the bracket on the caliper.

13 mm deep socket - place over the end of the cable and hit the end of the socket with a hammer (perferably a dead blow one) to seat it down which will press all the tabs at the same time and you can simply pull the cable out. I used this method all the time with no problems. Of note: I use a 6 point socket, not sure how well a 12 point will work.

that is for on the caliper bracket, for the cradle points, you just have to use a screw driver to press the tabs in one at a time and work it through the hole (the cable can move at an angle, so once you push 1 tab in, you can slip it into the hole a bit, then do the next). I suppose one could also try using a tie wrap to press all the tabs in at once and pull on the cable (the tie wrap should slip off). I just use the screwdriver method here.

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 04-16-2008).]

Sounds like a real PIA to remove these from the subframe. I'll try the socket trick at the caliper ends. While it's still up on the hoist I'll play around with the cables through the frame and see how that goes.

thanks for the suggestions