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Understanding Car Brake Cables Better

Brake cables help in connecting your hand brake to the wheel brakes. With passing time your handbrake cables can stretch thereby decreasing its efficiency . A number of them can be adjusted and tightened, but eventually there would be a need to replace them. Brake cables are not specifically expensive parts, but they can be complicated to fit. For this reason it is important to know more about car brake cables. Keep on reading further.

What Is Car Brake Cable?

In a lot of automobiles, the parking brake is also known as emergency brake. It utilizes emergency brake cables, which are connected to the rear brake lines to manually set the brakes when the automobile is not engaged. It is the parking brake cable and parking brake lever which works simultaneously to hold the car brakes until they are set free by the driver.

How Does My Car Brake Cable Works?

The parking brake cable is generally held in a secured position. When the parking brake lever is pulled, pressed, or electronically engaged, the cable is pulled tight. Now when we talk about the disc brake systems, this tension presses the rear brakes pads into the rear brake rotor, or, for drum brakes, the rear brake shoes presses into the rear brake drum. There are number of latest automobiles with rear disc brakes have an auxiliary drum brake inside the brake rotor which is actuated by the cable. This protects the service brake lines if the parking brake is left engaged while driving.

What Are The Symptoms Of My Bad Brake Cable?

If you have set the parking brake and it has not resulted in the wheels fully locking, then the lever would be far easier to press or pull than normal. You might also observe that the automobiles try to roll, and might get caught by the transmission. This can prove dangerous for the manual transmission automobiles, as the transmission might not have a secondary lock, and then the overall weight of the automobile would allow it to roll, even if the gear selector is placed in a forward or reverse gear. The automobiles which have electronically actuated parking brakes might display a warning on the driver’s information center, thus alerting to the danger of the malfunction in the parking brake system. The parking lever can also cannot return to the disengaged position after it has been released. In such a condition, the lever might exhibit a total loss of tension, but might also provide resistance if it has been pressed manually or has been pulled into the disengaged position.

Which Tools Do I Need To Repair My Car Brake Cable?

Do you enjoy repairing your car on your own? Thinking of opening up your own car body shop? It is a great business opportunity if you love cars and possess a good work ethic. Now if you want your shop to be successful, then you will require a combination of effort and car mechanic training. And of course, the correct equipment which would upgrade your speed and make your repair work easy. If you will have the right tools, then you can easily meet the demands of today's car body structures. Here are some of the most essential tools which you might need to repair your Brake Cables.

Which Top Brand Brake Cable Parts Should I Choose?

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy again. We know well that customers want comfort and satisfaction with their purchase and that’s the reason we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. Here we have listed out some top brands for Brake Cables.

Which Parts Are Related To My Car Brake Cable?

It is very important to arm yourself with information before you shop any auto part. We are here to help you dive deep into the names of the Brake Cables related parts.

  • Brake Wheel Cylinders & Kits
  • Brake Valves
  • Brake Tools
  • Brake Shoe Hardware
  • Brake Servos & Sensors
  • Brake Master Cylinder Parts
  • Brake Lubricant
  • Brake Hoses & Lines
  • Brake Hardware

What Is The Repairing Cost Of My Car Brake Cable?

More than any other failure in a car, there's almost nothing that's as heartbreaking as a completely damaged brake cable. If you want to substitute your brake cable, then it would range between $356 and $403. Talking about the work expenses, they would range between $175 and $222 and the parts would be valued somewhere around $181.

What Are The Steps Of Changing My Car Brake Cable?

Do you want to change your brake cables? Then don’t worry as we are here to help you out! Have a look below at the steps of changing a brake cable:

Step 1 - First, part and secure the automobile. Now, before you perform any work, park the automobile on a level surface. Chocks should prevent any unwanted movement of the car wheels.

Step 2 - After that the brake cable should be located. Then the location of the control side of the brake cable should be decided. The vehicle should be raised and the weight of the automobile should be supported by utilizing the jack stands.

Step 3 - Then the parking brake should be released. If the parking brake has been engaged before lifting the automobile, then the control can be released once the weight has been supported.

Step 4 - The parking cable should be removed from the control side. The cable from the control side should be disconnected and the length of the cable should be followed to search for any guides or brackets that may fasten the cable to the automobile body. All the supporting fasteners should be removed.

Step 5 - Then the parking brake should be disconnected. Carefully disassemble and disconnect the cable of the parking brake from the mechanical brake assembly by following the steps which are mentioned in the automobile’s service manual.

Step 6 - Inspect that the new cable matches the old one. The old cable should be removed from the automobile.

Step 7 - The new parking brake cable should now be installed. The process of removal should be reversed. Then the guidelines in the service manual should be followed very carefully for the proper installation of the new parking brake cable assembly.

Step 8 - Then carefully put the wheel back. The work would not get completed if you will not properly install the car wheel back at its original place. The wheel assembly should be installed onto the wheel hub.

Step 9 - The automobile should be lowered down and then the entire process should be completed. Keep on lowering down the vehicle unless the tire would touch the ground. A torque wrench should be taken and then carefully fasten the wheel lug nuts or bolts as per the required torque specification. Each wheel should be fastened in this way.

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FAQ
The cables run from the pedal or lever, through the floor and then under the car to both the rear brakes. The rear parking brake cables tend to rust, seize up or break because of this location.
Instead of a Y-shaped equaliser layout, there are some cars which have a single cable linking the brakes around an equaliser fixed to an adjustable rod on the handbrake lever. While on the other cars the primary cable runs either directly to the rear axle, or to an adjustment point where it works a secondary cable which will lead to the rear axle.
In road vehicles, the parking brake, also called as a hand brake or emergency brake (e-brake), is a mechanism which is utilized to keep the automobile securely motionless when parked. Parking brakes many a time comprise a cable connected to two wheel brakes, which is then connected to a pulling mechanism.
Repairing emergency brake repair cost can range from $10 to $600. The price range can differ only by labour cost. The emergency brake is utilized to keep the automobile in a stationary position when parked, so the car does not slide or lean.
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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.