Trying to finish some things under the car while it is mostly apart, I tackled the hand brake cables today.
Originally I was going to leave them in place and use cable wrap (the stuff you'd organize electronic cables with) but ended up removing them from the car and using marine grade adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. I purchased 5/8 diameter tubing X 10 ft. long. I was not able to find a blue color to match the original and ordered the black color. I cut two 36 inch lengths for the job.
Step 1: Removed brake cables from car.
Step 1A: repainted hand brake lever since it is removed as part of the process to attend to the cables. It really needed a painting too.
Step 2: Remove/cut off old broken sheathing
Step 3: Remove rust from the metal cable casing under the damaged sheathing using sand paper. Seemed to work easily and quickly.
Step 4: Blow off rusty dust and debris from the sanding process and a quick rub down with acetone.
Step 5: Slide heat shrink tubing over the end of the cable. I used a shot (small amount) of silicone spray to get it into place.
Step 6: Used the heat gun to shrink the tubing and trimmed the end.
Step 7: clean up job complete
Step 7A: Potentially use some cable wrap once installed back on car- Will evaluate that option later on
Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
Moderators: GRNSHRK, ron, bfons
Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
1980 635 Euro
Under restoration
Under restoration
Re: Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
Some additional images of the completed job.
- Attachments
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- IMG_9548.JPG (4.06 MiB) Viewed 1281 times
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- IMG_9547.JPG (3.8 MiB) Viewed 1281 times
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- IMG_9546.JPG (4.02 MiB) Viewed 1281 times
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- IMG_9545.JPG (2.7 MiB) Viewed 1281 times
1980 635 Euro
Under restoration
Under restoration
Re: Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
Superb .....
What a great idea and the finish is magnificent .
I have a marine chandlers close by so will pop in and see if he has similar product in different sizes .
Looks great .
What a great idea and the finish is magnificent .
I have a marine chandlers close by so will pop in and see if he has similar product in different sizes .
Looks great .
1981 635 series 1
Re: Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
Thanks Olympia- I sourced the heat shrink from Amazon for around $10. Just make sure it is the one with the adhesive. The one without is quite thin.
1980 635 Euro
Under restoration
Under restoration
- RossDinan6
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:35 am
- Location: SW FL, USA
Re: Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
You will likely find heat shrink at the marine outfit in fairly short lengths. Normally used for sealing wires after a terminal or lug has been crimped on. Inches rather than feet long (or millimeters rather than meters if you prefer).
Really good idea from the OP. I'll second using adhesive lined in this case.
Ross
'84 633 Dinan turbo
'84 633 Dinan turbo
- Slownrusty
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2019 2:22 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: Refurbished hand brake cable sheathing
That looks fantastic!
Very innovative.
Very innovative.