E-Brake Bell Cranks Replaced - Now a Question About Cables

I had some seriously siezed up and corroded e-brake bell cranks on my 2001 TRD that I bought earlier this month. E-brake light was on all the time, and the e-brake didn't work at all. Also, my brakes felt pretty mushy in general, even tho the P.O. just redid all the brakes before I bought it. Dealer wanted $598 to replace them...I did it for $35 and a few hours of my time. Here's the crusty ass bell cranks after I removed them...



Truck was originally from Connecticut, and you can see the road salt deposits all up in those muthas. I replaced the whole assembly on each side with a complete set of new Dormans....this is what I bought:

$42 Dorman 924-751 Parking Brake Bell Crank Compatible with Select Toyota Models

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-924-751-Parking-Brake-Crank/dp/B00C89QV18

They went on fine and were an exact replacement. Issue now is that I think the front and possibly the rear e-brake cables are stretched too much and probably need to be replaced. Right now I have some of the slack in the front cable taken up by pulling the cable to the side and tethering it to the frame. I was only able to adjust the front e-brake cable lever under the driver seat area so far before the nuts stopped moving, and the cable was too sloppy for what that adjuster was able to take up anyway. For now it all works....the e-brake holds after about 15 clicks, the the light goes on and off as it should, and even my brakes don't feel mushy anymore. But I know I need to replace one or both cables at some point. Anyone have any pointers for how to replace those two cables?

 

The front cable attach the front end first

I tie the new cable to the old cable trying to get the old cable off just causes snapped hardware

Search some threads about changing the cables

Also check the the pivot point for the rear cable is moving free

You did try cleaning the adjusting threads off ??

 

I had a similar problem on my truck after purchasing it. Replaced the bell cranks like you did and rebuilt the drum brakes only to find my rear cable was barbed up and would not retract into the sleeve. I tried filing it down and lubing it up but had no luck. Eventually replaced it with a Raybestos BC95162 Rear Brake Cable (I have a 96 4x4 ext cab). The new cable was the fix for me.

 

I have never had good luck with After market cables I have quite a few that did not fit

Since they were attempted to be installed they still hang here some place

As Long as the factory cables can still be bought that is what i will use.

 

Yep, sure did...wire brushed them, and did several soakings with rust penetration for removing stuck hardware.

 

on my 98 extended cab I had to get the dealer rear e=brake line. AFtermarket crap didn't fit at all even though it said it would. My cable was stuck in the housing. It was easy to replace. I covered my bell cranks in some lithium grease and they work pretty nice after that. Nice having an ebrake on a 5 speed pickup. That's for sure.