Spitfire spit rear handbrake cable won't come out

[spit71]

Hello, I am in the middle of a rear suspension rebuild on my 1971 MKIV Spitfire. It didn't start out as a complete rebuild, but that's another story.

The driver's side rear bearings were so destroyed that the axle had to replaced. No problem, but I was accidently sent the longer one from a "74+. I decided that I might as well just switch to the longer ones on both sides since I would rather have those anyway, right?

I'm embarassed to admit that I was actually surprised to realize that my handbrake cable was no longer long enough.

One new '74+ rear handbrake cable delivered later and I CAN NOT get the old one threaded out of the car. The factory manual and Haynes is of no help.

I have removed all of the little clevis pin brackets and spring retainer tidbits off of the ends. The threaded end on the cable is too long to fit through the frame mounted "bend point" between the yolk and the end. This bend point has "eyelets" that the cable runs through at each end of the curved channel.

Does anyone know a trick to this? I am out of ideas. I try very hard not to lose patience and break something.

I am tempted to cut the cable, but I fear not being able to get the new one in.

 

[Andrew Mace]

I seem to recall that you'll have to get the end of the cable through one "eyelet" of the channel at a time. Alternatively, cut the end(s) off and use that same "one 'eyelet' at a time" philosophy to install the new cable. (It's easier to do than to describe!)

 

[spit71]

Thanks, I'll try that. I was afraid to cut off the ends, but I guess that there's no turning back now, regardless.

 

[Darwin]

Andy is correct. One eyelet at a time and even that can be a challenge. Take your time and don't be afraid to walk away or mutter to yourself while doing this project. I have had to insert and remove the cable several times during my rebuilding. It does get easier after a few tries.

 

[spit71]

You are both, of course, completely correct. I had actually tried the one eyelet at a time strategy before posting, but was so frustrated by that time that nothing would work.

A little break, and some decompression time, and it was fine. The same applied to the reassembly of the new one.

 

[Andrew Mace]

You are both, of course, completely correct. I had actually tried the one eyelet at a time strategy before posting, but was so frustrated by that time that nothing would work.

A little break, and some decompression time, and it was fine. The same applied to the reassembly of the new one.

Congratulations, from someone who's "been there, done that, got the t-shirt (and scars)....