Parking Brake Pulley Mod Cable Clearance Question

[Daddy O]

Hi Guys,

Just installed the driveshaft for the first time (MK4, 3 link, TKX) and noticed the parking brake cables sit only a bit over 1/2" from the universal joint. Makes me nervous just looking at it. Is this an issue? Was thinking about adding a short piece of angle to the 1" tube by the cables as a barrier to keep them out of the universal if something caused them to go slack.

Thanks!

164052164053

[CraigS]

Good idea. Or something like this.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gardner-Bender-UVB-Cable-Clamp-3-4-In-6-Bag/5001839727

[nucjd19]

I have a metro drive shaft safety hoop that keeps the cables pushed away from the drive shaft. Sort of does 2 duties. Piece of mind my hip and pelvis won't get shattered in a drive shaft failure AND blocks out the E brake cables away from the shaft.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=158531&d=1639359896

[ggunter]

I don't think you have to worry about the cables being slack as the are under some tension just to have everything hooked up and operating. The part that bothered me was the sharp piece of metal the one cable rubs against. You can see it in the picture from nucjd19. I cut a piece of the trunk edge trim and pushed it over the edge of that frame bkt to keep the cables from chaffing. That whole cable design needs a rework and I'm surprised FFR hasn't done something with it. It works but I had to add extra springs on the ends of my cables at the calipers to get them to release properly.

[nucjd19]

I don't think you have to worry about the cables being slack as the are under some tension just to have everything hooked up and operating. The part that bothered me was the sharp piece of metal the one cable rubs against. You can see it in the picture from nucjd19. I cut a piece of the trunk edge trim and pushed it over the edge of that frame bkt to keep the cables from chaffing. That whole cable design needs a rework and I'm surprised FFR hasn't done something with it. It works but I had to add extra springs on the ends of my cables at the calipers to get them to release properly.

Agree. One of my side projects is to install some guides on the crossmember and to get away from the sharp edge. I had to double up on my springs as well.

[Daddy O]

Thanks Guys,

Yes, I did not like the cables rubbing too so I did the pulley mod. I am using the Wilwood(similar to Lokar) cable pivot attachment and the cables are only held taught by a set screw. I can only imagine what would happen if that cable close to the universal went slack while driving, wound up and got pulled tight locking up a rear brake. Was planning on doing the hoop, may need to get it now to see how it plays with the pulley mod and cables.