Fed up with Parking Brake Release Cable

[sefiroxx]

01 Suburban, 04 Sierra

 

Have replaced the parking brake release cable on these probably 5 times so far. Sierra just snapped again. Going retail is $40, rockauto and delay is 8.

 

Last time, I figured out there was an option to get just the cable (without the handle) for like 15. Can't seem to find the part this time. Anyone?

 

Anyone hack a replacement wire?

[davester]

What's breaking for you?  If it's the plastic lever, I would fab up a lever out of metal and use the rest of the setup as-is.

 

I did this with the "outside" handle for the driver's side rear door of my '04 Sierra Extended Cab.  The plastic activating arm would break roughly once/twice a year as I use it a lot, and then it's another $40 for a Dorman handle or $100 for a OEM one.  Replaced it 4-5 times, then made a new handle out of scrap metal welded together (just the lever/handle, reused the rest of the plastic housing as it looks fine and doesn't break).  Painted it semi-gloss black, and no more problems with it.

[sefiroxx]

The wire has stops fused to the ends. One end fits into the handle, the other stop fits into the lever (up near the firewall). All of mine broke at the firewall stop. The wire snapped just before the stop.

Can't just add a new stop as the wire is shorter. So, would need a new wire (easy to find) and some way to fuse the two stops (hard).

The wire is located inside a sheath. The original part included just the sheath/wire without the handle.

Figured I would ask if anyone found a way to fuse the stops or other.