The Ford Barn

ralfstc · 08-03-2025, 09:10 PM

Hi folks,

1942 Super Deluxe . . . .

My emergency brake cable is causing some head-scratching! It's hasn't worked since I've had the car and I've reacehd the point where I would really like it to--I live in a hilly city and I think the traffic people deliberately put lights at the top of hills.

Anyway, the issue is the rear part of the cable. The front seems fine and fits well between the lever and the "stop." I have all the parts including the adjusting clevis, equalizer and what not, but I just can't get my emergency brake cable tight enough. Both front and rear cables and new, and matched what was previously on the car (when it didn't work either. I know).

The length of the cable on the car seems pretty odd. Most listing show 122" or MAYBE 107" (but nobody has that cable in stock). Measuring from the end of the tube taking the cable through the brake backing plate to the equalizer gives me a distance of 45." Assuming about 4" is in the rear hub, this gives a total cable length of 98," give or take. Which doesn't seem to be listed anywhere.

I tried the wee cable adjuster doo-hickeys without any luck.

What am I missing here? Could somebody check the equivalent measurement for their car? My brakes appear to be the 1941 spec, but I'm not sure that matters as I think the change in brake cables (1941-42/48) was because of a moved anchor point. Anyway, any help or ideas would be very gratefully received.

Cheers,

Ralf

(ps. One of my hubs is stuck like a pig, my own fault because I put them on. That's for another time . . . )

08-03-2025, 09:10 PM	#1
ralfstc Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 13	1942 Emergency brake cable Hi folks, 1942 Super Deluxe . . . . My emergency brake cable is causing some head-scratching! It's hasn't worked since I've had the car and I've reacehd the point where I would really like it to--I live in a hilly city and I think the traffic people deliberately put lights at the top of hills. Anyway, the issue is the rear part of the cable. The front seems fine and fits well between the lever and the "stop." I have all the parts including the adjusting clevis, equalizer and what not, but I just can't get my emergency brake cable tight enough. Both front and rear cables and new, and matched what was previously on the car (when it didn't work either. I know). The length of the cable on the car seems pretty odd. Most listing show 122" or MAYBE 107" (but nobody has that cable in stock). Measuring from the end of the tube taking the cable through the brake backing plate to the equalizer gives me a distance of 45." Assuming about 4" is in the rear hub, this gives a total cable length of 98," give or take. Which doesn't seem to be listed anywhere. I tried the wee cable adjuster doo-hickeys without any luck. What am I missing here? Could somebody check the equivalent measurement for their car? My brakes appear to be the 1941 spec, but I'm not sure that matters as I think the change in brake cables (1941-42/48) was because of a moved anchor point. Anyway, any help or ideas would be very gratefully received. Cheers, Ralf (ps. One of my hubs is stuck like a pig, my own fault because I put them on. That's for another time . . . )