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  #16  
Old 07-01-2013, 05:13 AM
Mike In Bama Mike In Bama is offline
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Crimping the cable would be an option. A company that specializes in steel cables and slings would have the equipment to do it. A emergency brake cable is tiny by their standards but it would be worth a shot.

2005 2.3L XL Electronics Tech since '70's
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  #17  
Old 07-01-2013, 05:16 AM
Greasemonkey51 Greasemonkey51 is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

http://www.boaterbits.ca/stainless-s...lamp-1-11.html
I found these I believe they will work used the bigger ones on the big trucks.
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  #18  
Old 07-01-2013, 07:00 AM
Milton Milton is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Look for a marine repair/marine parts facility that services sailboats. They will have extensive experience with cables of this size. And sailboat rigging is something that must be counted on.
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  #19  
Old 07-01-2013, 03:54 PM
dfpgnm dfpgnm is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

I've spliced in turnbuckles to tighten stretched cables. Yes, its an important part, but its a PARKING brake, not a life or death part.
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  #20  
Old 07-01-2013, 04:34 PM
Milton Milton is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dfpgnm View Post
I've spliced in turnbuckles to tighten stretched cables. Yes, its an important part, but its a PARKING brake, not a life or death part.
Unless you 're parked uphill from a $250k Rolls Royce.
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  #21  
Old 07-03-2013, 06:53 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

I have been banned so I could not post but I have a novel idea! Why not just buy the correct parts and do it right. Measure your WB and get the right cables I have changed the ebrake cables on a bunch of rangers. There is one "trick" to doing the job and the rest is a poc! Search my posts for the trick on releasing the cable tension I used the Dorman cables a few tines they are fine.

----------

Also I guess if you live in a "3rd world state" you don't need inspections. If you live where I do you will not get an inspection sticker with a Mickey Mouse ebrake.

Do it right or don't bother doing it!

PS. Frf works like crap on tapatalk.
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Last edited by modelageek; 07-03-2013 at 07:31 AM.
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  #22  
Old 07-15-2013, 04:09 AM
qdllc qdllc is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Well, everything's been replaced, and now my brake really doesn't work at all.

I opened up both drums. My gut tells me there is too much cable INSIDE the right drum. Yeah, it's wrapped in that spring coil sleeve that helps protect it, but every fraction of an inch it needs to take up before it's pulling on the lever in the drum is loss of brake power.

I adjusted both drums so that I couldn't turn the hubs when the brake was engaged. This morning...no parking brake. The way this setup goes, if just one cable is too long, it has an effect on the other. The right cable is in an anchor point for the sleeve but the cable itself goes into a connector for all 3 cables (2 rear, one front). The left cable sleeve goes into that connector. The front cable pulls on the left side cable. As the sleeve is pulled forward, it pulls on the right cable connector.

I'm of the opinion that the supplier gave the mechanic the wrong part, but he got pissy last time I checked his work (well, I had to get it working and it was already going poorly when it got it home). I understand he doesn't like his customers messing with his work, but I've had many times the replacement part wasn't properly to spec and I had to take it all off and bring it back for the correct part.
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  #23  
Old 07-19-2013, 04:41 AM
qdllc qdllc is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Well, here's the diagram from Mazda. There are two springs, and from what I can tell, they are both there. Granted the 2nd spring is on the right side cable and not the left side, but all it does is hold the cable out of the way. It's not a strong spring by any measure.

I really need to see the setup on a similar truck to see if there's a different spring or setup I'm not seeing in the diagram. Google images isn't being much help.
Attached Images
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  #24  
Old 07-19-2013, 03:36 PM
dfpgnm dfpgnm is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Yep, them's the springs and they're in the right spots. Its possible you were sold rear cables for 10 inch drums and really needed rear cables for 9 inch drums. Drum size, wheelbase and cab type and HD vs standard suspension are all determining factors in cable specifications, both for the rears and the intermediate.
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  #25  
Old 07-21-2013, 05:32 AM
qdllc qdllc is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dfpgnm View Post
Yep, them's the springs and they're in the right spots. Its possible you were sold rear cables for 10 inch drums and really needed rear cables for 9 inch drums. Drum size, wheelbase and cab type and HD vs standard suspension are all determining factors in cable specifications, both for the rears and the intermediate.

THANK YOU! That's the most helpful thing I've gotten so far. I was going to check some stuff this morning, but now I know what to check, and I know what to ask the mechanic about.

It certainly would explain why this is happening, and I know my only option left is to insist on replacing the rear cables, again.
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  #26  
Old 07-21-2013, 05:43 AM
dfpgnm dfpgnm is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

We're all here to help in our own way. Sometimes it just takes having someone who's experienced the same problem to read a post.

A hint, post a signature with details about your vehicles. I'll often skip a post if I don't know exactly what the vehicle is because I'd just be guessing and not helping.
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  #27  
Old 07-21-2013, 06:18 PM
qdllc qdllc is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Well, took the drum apart and measured the cable sticking out from both ends.

There was a total of 7 28/32' on the left side and 9 14/32" on the right side. Went to the auto parts store in town and had him pull new cables for comparison. The ones he pulled were 21/32" shorter on the left cable and 1 8/32" shorter on the right one.

I'll confront the mechanic with this. Clearly whomever got him his cables either pulled the wrong ones or they were from a defective batch. That much excess would be enough to cause problems.

He won't be happy that I touched "his work" but tough nookies. I can't insist he has to fix it if I don't identify the problem for him.

***

UPDATE.

Well, the mechanic isn't going to do much about it. He's not happy I "touched" his work, and he say I have to take the cables all the way of to ensure my measurements are right. He'll be happy to do that, but if the cables from the store end up the same size, I'm paying the labor...which I'm already tapped out on.

I only hired him because it was easier than spending a weekend trying to get it done myself, but if he's going to throw a fit if I touch his work, then I can't do any of my own maintenance if I pay someone else to do it, and I won't agree to that. I might as well use the turnbuckle idea and see if it works. From this point on, I only use a mechanic on something I can not do for myself....never to save myself the hassle. He wanted to replace the cable link (rear to front) with a Ford part. The problem is that the same year Ford Ranger has the exact same part. The shorter version he's seen is on another model year. I explained to him that if all parts have been replaced and it's still not working, one or more parts are wrong.

Thanks for all the help. I'll post up what fixes my issue once I get it there.

Last edited by qdllc; 07-22-2013 at 09:20 AM. Reason: Update
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  #28  
Old 08-16-2013, 01:29 PM
coopa coopa is offline
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Default Re: Slack in Parking Brake Cable (B3000 2WD)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike In Bama View Post
Here's a picture. You have to take the nuts off and reverse the hook. As you tighten the nuts, the hook will pull some of the cable down between the rollers, taking out some slack.

Attachment 57057

2005 2.3L XL
I used two of these spaced several inches apart with a turnbuckle from Tractor Supplye to "shorten" the interior cable on my bosses 96 Ranger by several inches. This was after replacing all but the front cable from the parking brake pedal to the intermediate cable. Still doesn't really hold the truck like it should.
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