has any one replaced the brake cables for the hand brake? mine is hanging up. when i first release the hand brake the brake handle has slack / slop in it. after driving a few minutes is has lees or none. i don't really feel it dragging but i'm sure it is.

 

any help would be great. i think this is one of those jobs you really don't want to do , but have to.

 

thanks

maybe it is a broken spring in the drear drums. YOyu might have to get into the rear shoes to replace the cable, but look there first.

Virginia must salt about like they do here.

 

I just replaced one seized up on a 03 Baja.

One side was stuck but i was able to free it up with time, vise grips, time, oil, time, pb blaster, time, oil, time.....

 

But the other side was stuck as in not being able to free up no matter how much i soaked it, even took it out and hit it with a air chisel, slide hammer, etc, nothing, soaked for a week waiting on a new cable the dealer had to order in.

 

New cable for the 03 was 25.xx from the dealer. The outback one cost more for some reason????

 

Not too bad really, a small bracket holding it to the lower control arm, and then take apart the center console, slit the rear carpet over the hump and a couple bolts holding the clamp down on the end, then slip the end off.

Pushed the rubber seal down, cable out, new one in.

 

-if yours is sticking, you will be able to tell by the hand on the center hub after a short drive. Both mine were toasty warm when it was dragging. Mine were stuck enough the brake wouldnt come on to hold the car, it was seized stuck, and wouldnt release enough on its own on the other side and dragged.

I replaced the brake cables in my 1996 Legacy Sedan a year or 2 ago. I would not recommend cutting the carpet. The carpet is not too difficult to lift up and put back into place. I removed the seats and lifted the carpet up. It takes some time, but it's not a hard job.

 

You will need to remove the rear brake discs and disassemble the emergency brakes, so you might want to buy a new set of ebrake pads and hardware if your car is old.

 

The hardest part for me was getting the cable out of the rear brake drum back plate. It was rusted into place, but eventually I got it out.