Parking Brake Bracket Fix

[inVERt'D]

My stock parking brake cables are too short for my suspension, so when the rear suspension drooped, the cables would pull down on the bracket and bend it. This bent, flexy bracket made my parking brake all but useless. I've tried to straighten it with my boot, but it was no use. The first good tug on the hand lever would bend it again. I still need to get longer cables, but I've finally fixed the bracket problem...

Here's the bent bracket, time for a big hammer and a vice:


The hardest part was getting it out of the Jeep, but only because I struggled getting the cables unhooked from the bracket. I resorted to cutting the little retaining legs off them with my Dremel before I realized the obvious: use a little hose clamp to compress the legs. This worked great; too bad I'd already done some butchering.


Angle iron, 1/4" thick, stitch welded all around:



The paint looks pretty, but underneath is the worst primer ever--didn't dry after a day in the blazing sun.


Had to radius this corner for fitment:


Here it is mounted:


Difference is like night and day. Whereas before I could drive with the parking brake on, I can't even budge in 4 low now. I also tested them at around 20 mph on a dirt road--they lock up no problem.

[Materdaddy]

Ok, so now that the bracket won't move, what of the cable when your rear axle droops and your cables are too short? I'd get the longer cables sooner than later!

[inVERt'D]

Yeah, I did mention that I still needed longer cables. Since that bracket simply won't bend now, something else will have to give: the studs holding the bracket may break or rip out, or the cables may get ripped out of the bracket (at which point the wheel will lock up, at least momentarily).

None of this is anything like the mayhem that a bad parking brake can cause.

[brokenujoint]

get yj cables. they are longer. im in process of doing that myself.

[inVERt'D]

Thanks for the tip!

[Lumpy Grits]

Hi, I would be VERY CARFULL now, because when your rear axle "drops" you WILL be applying(even if you don't want to)your P/brake.
Respectfully,
LG

[inVERt'D]

yeah, thanks LG, that's what I was saying above. First things first, tho. Now my bracket has structural integrity at least. Now time to get some longer cables so something else doesn't get screwed up

[Guest]

get yj cables. they are longer. im in process of doing that myself.

93's are longer than 89's also. Just FYI. Went through that on my axle swap

[inVERt'D]

Good to know... where did you get your cables and how much were they?

You know, Currie used to sell longer parking brake cables, but I can't find those now. I can't believe there aren't more products and info about this online. Seems to be some kind of upgrade blind spot.

[Guest]

My Jeep is a 1993 and the axle was a 1989 (non c-clip 4:10). So, we used my cables since they were longer than the ones that came with the 1989 axle.