Aftermarket parking brake cable

[ford46guy]

I never had much luck with them. Depends on the application though and cable length. Disclaimer, I use the parking brake all the time...
Had many warrantied thru NAPA.

Some were made in the US, Canada, China.

I had some that the eyelet broke off, others seized up(either corrosion or mechanical), others that lacked segments of cable protection like the OEM and wore thru, and others (the latest one) don't have a good fit.

The Wagner one I got won't go all the way on the actuator hook, will sit at a 45 deg angle, it could probably be widened out a bit with a file. It is spring loaded, so it may come off. Looks like a quality cable though otherwise, made in Canada.

Dealer ones are expensive and for my cars not really available.

 

[Lubener]

Don't understand what your point is? I never had a problem with aftermarket assemblies.

 

[Trav]

Buy OE once and cry about the price once, buy aftermarket and cry a hundred times. Years ago there were some decent aftermarket stuff around from major brands but over time they have gone down in quality. Look for NOS parts on ebay by part number also sometimes you will have luck and score.

 

[demarpaint]

That is another one of those parts where OE is the only way to go.

 

[Rick in PA]

Yup, go OE. I bought a name brand after market cable, the cable was about an inch too long. I had to fudge the job to get it to work. If I could do it again, I'd definitely go OE.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I have always heard that dorman parking brake cables are pretty bad. I'm still on the fence about what to put on the Jeep in the spring.

Actually, since I'm probably switching to disc brakes in the back in the spring, I may end up just having to figure something else out completely.

 

[Michael_P]

If you go aftermarket, go to RockAuto. Their prices for things like parking brake cables are way lower than NAPA and they are almost always made in the same factory. My 1997 F150 needed a parking brake cable and I used Rockauto. I couldn't buy at the dealer because 1997 F150's from 2/96-6-96 had its own part number and the dealer said it was obsoleted. I went to NAPA and found them to be 4 times as much as RockAuto. That RockAuto cable has held my truck and 6000 lb boat and trailer on the steepest boat ramps no problem for the past 8 years. OE is always my first choice, but if you have to go aftermarket, NAPA will be more $$$ and most likely made in the same place as other aftermarket cables.

FYI: RockAuto sells Wagner labeled as another brand, so this might not work for you.

 

[ford46guy]

The cable I bought now is a Wagner from Rockauto. Figured that is a quality name.

The Eyelet simply won't fit over the hook. I'm not sure enlarging is a good idea because it weakens the little that is already there.

I looked at the F150 and it has barrels, not eyelets, so the cable is simpler. I've had barrels though that weren't sized properly

A parking brake cable is probably the lowest tech on the car, and I bet the first cars ever to be made had a similar mechanism. Really hard to screw that up, but I guess they do.

I tried Rockautos return process and so far according to their questionnaire if it was installed it is not returnable, have to call them. How do you know it don't fit until you install it????

 

[edwardh1]

the real question is who, if anyone in the companies buyer section looks at the quality of what they buy?

 

[Michael_P]

Dang!

 

[Colt45ws]

Can't buy OE for cars 10 or 15 years old; the ones likely to need a parking brake cable. So its aftermarket or none.

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Can't buy OE for cars 10 or 15 years old; the ones likely to need a parking brake cable. So its aftermarket or none.


It really depends, I just bought two for my old BMW and they show available for the rest of my cars. Some of the other components can be hard to get though, the equalizer I got for my Sienna was the last one in stock anywhere in the US.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Can't buy OE for cars 10 or 15 years old; the ones likely to need a parking brake cable. So its aftermarket or none.


I just bought all new OE cables for an AMC Eagle so they are out there somewhere.

No kidding there was an AMC dealer I know with tons of NOS parts and he still has them all including a manifold and carb set up for an S/C rambler scrambler and 69 AMX with enough body, engine and frame parts to make at least 2 new AMX cars, his kid was big into them.

 

[ford46guy]

The only ones I had luck with are Bruin Cables. They aren't OEM but fully made in the USA (Chicago), so that is a great thing. The cables are also fully tested for strength. Price isn't much more than the other brands.
They sell direct thru ebay, keeping prices low.

http://www.bruinbrakecables.com/

They don't make them for all applications though.

The owner is right, many China cables are made of pot metal and will fracture when you need them most. A parking brake on a modern car is unlikely to be used but it is sure better than nothing. From what I understand cars before 1968 had single master cylinders, so in that case a parking (or emergency brake) is a critical safety item.

NY still inspects them by slightly accelerating your vehicle (YMMV, some places take this a bit too far and use it as an excuse to fail).

The guy down the street may put it in drive, the quick lube place that does inspections will rev your v8, 4.10 axle truck to 1500 and if it creeps you fail

 

[Trav]

That bugs the [censored] out of me, if they are going to test brakes then they need a standard and a brake tester not a test based on the judgment of some A hole.
In every German garage (I assume other Euro countries as well), inspection center and even most service stations that do repairs there is one in the floor that provides exact readings of how much force each wheel is exerting, front, rear and e brake.
This is a great thing for diagnosing, you can find a hanging caliper and pinpoint the exact wheel not pulling its weight. In the USA its unheard of, I don't get it, all this stuff in American garages and they don't even have a headlight tester that is anything more than a plank on the friggin wall, makes you wonder doesn't it.



This is another system that quickly and accurately test brakes, shocks (compression and rebound at multiple cycles and suspension parts.

http://www.heka-online.de/HEKA-Test-Lane.htm

Headlight tester.

 

[ford46guy]

Nothing like that in the states. Depends on the mood of the inspector.

Inspection is very subjective - one place thought the 3 inch brake pedal drop (which is normal on fords under max pressure) was too much, and failed it. Went down the street and the guy said its more than fine.

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted By: Trav
all this stuff in American garages and they don't even have a headlight tester that is anything more than a plank on the friggin wall, makes you wonder doesn't it.


It's a lot better method to use the wall. In my opinion of course.

 

[Trav]

I have used both and there is no comparison. The wall is almost useless for seeing beam pattern and totally useless for checking active lights. Some of the newer machines have a lot more capability than just an aiming test like being able to see beam pattern at distance and more with computer controlled models with a database.

If you adjust the light with one of these you will see a real difference.
I saw one at Automechanika Frankfurt that had some pretty amazing capabilities comparing lights in service to OE new ones.

This is a Bosch unit.



A Hella machine.




http://www.headlighttester.com/en/bosch-automotive-aftermarket

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted By: Trav
I have used both and there is no comparison. The wall is almost useless for seeing beam pattern and totally useless for checking active lights. Some of the newer machines have a lot more capability than just an aiming test like being able to see beam pattern at distance and more with computer controlled models with a database.


Maybe for some fancy new headlights I guess. I'm only going off my old cars, the wall is perfect for viewing the beam pattern.