Hello everyone -- I'm re-doing the parking brake as part of a rear brake job on my 2009 F250. I need to disconnect the intermediate brake cable at the equalizer, but am having trouble. I've got slack in the cable, but can't push hard enough to get the swaged cable end to move within the connector that's between the equalizer cable and the intermediate cable.

Is there a special tool or some trick to this? If push comes to shove, I can cut the connector (assuming I can get a replacement), but would rather not.

Also, any particular trick to disconnecting the cable to the parking brake lever at the wheel? With that huge spring between the cable bracket and the end of the lever, I haven't been able to move the cable end enough to disconnect it from the lever. Since I don't have the intermediate cable disconnected, could that have something to do with it?

Thanks, Mark

 

Sometimes it is easier to remove the cable from both rear brake shoes to give it some slack. Try that.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I need the slack that would come from disconnecting the cable at the equalizer in order to disconnect the cable at the wheels. Catch-22,anyone?

Dealership not much help. The connectors aren't available separately. So much for cutting one if necessary

 

I just did that this weekend. Pain in the but untill a lighbulb went off.
I made this little clip. All you do is pull the spring back enough to slide
it over the cable leaving the retaining clip exposed. Then you take a screwdriver
and push on the tabs. Since there is pressure on it, it will push thru the
slot eventually. There are 3 tabs keeping it from sliding thru the slot.



With my clip on:



You can kind of see the retaining flanges that need pushed in.

 

Also I assume you are having to remove the e-brake assembly.
This guy made a great video on it.

 

Thanks for the suggestion on the clip. I was able to achieve something similar with an unusual pair of pliers, but still no dice. Couldn't get enough of the retaining flanges pushed in to unsnap the cable.

Lisle makes a special tool to disconnect parking brake cable connectors, and another to help compress the spring. Just ordered both, and will report back on how well they work.

 

Well, I got it apart. Used a Lisle tool to disconnect the parking brake cable at the equalizer, and another to get the cable loose at the bracket.

Now to put it back together...

 

I put on the ebrake and then put some visegrips on the cable, then release the ebrake. gives plenty of slack.