My e-brake has never held properly. Last year, the dealership convinced the inspection guy to pass the car once they got the brake to hold a bit better...still not great, though. This was after another mechanic tried and failed to get the e-brake to hold.

Calipers are rebuilt pieces from ebmiller on here.

This year, the dealership determined that the right rear cable needs to be replaced. For over a month, my car has been sitting there as they have tried to obtain the proper cable. They have tried six, and none worked. Some were too long, others too short, some had the wrong connectors on the ends, and I think one might have been too thin or thick.

What is the correct, no-hassle replacement part # for the RR cable on a '92 Formula with rear discs and the WS6 package?

Dealer tech sounded frustrated, said his parts guys were at the end of their ropes.

 

The e-brake cables I used in my PBR upgrade are from CarQuest (P/N BRK 8788, 1st design, 1434 mm). The original GM cable is discontinued (GM P/N 10164125). I had to use a Dremel to slightly enlarge the retangular slot on the caliper end of the cable to make it fit the parking brake lever. Two minutes work.

JamesC

 

What year car was that for, James? Yor '85?

I understand there are two designs of cables...what version fits my car?

 

When I upgraded my 85 discs to the 89-92 PBR's, I used the CarQuest p/n that I mention above. I have no reason to believe that design won't fit your car.

JamesC

 

Thanks. I'll run that part number and minor mod description by the GM service writer. If it's that easy to find the cable, I wonder what six have they ordered and found to be incorrect?

 

You have a '92 so you need a second design cable. I have only had one customer who has had issues installing either of the aftermarket cables so I doubt you will. All GM cables are now discontinued, go to Napa or the like.

Ed

 

You're both making it sound so simple. Can either of you speculate as to why, then, a GM dealership would be having such trouble getting a cable that fits? This isn't me working on the car, but trained techs!

 

Trained techs who may have never worked on a fifteen-year-old thirdgen. Every tech can't know every thing. Shop manuals were published for a reason after all. I suspect I'm more knowledgeable about my car than most techs simply because i focus on a single vehicle instead of a fleet of them. Anyway, the parts man is responsible for locating appropriate parts, and if those parts are discontinued, he may be guessing/hoping.

JamesC

 

One further question: James, the part # you provide is for the first design, but ebmiller, you say I need the second design. Seems a bit confusing to me, and I am supposed to speak with the dealer service writer and let him know if I found out any solutions to the problem since they're stumped.

 

I say that since your car is a 1992. Normally the changeover year in cable design is late 1989-1990 with all the 1990-1992 cars using second design cables. Do you know if you have the adjustable cable mechanism in the trans tunnel? If you DO, use the first design. If you DON'T, use the second design. Make sure they are routed correctly also.

The PNs I have for your car are as follows:

Raybestos:

BC94264, {56 22/25" Overall Length}
Rear; Front Disc Brakes; Rear Disc Brakes; 1st Design; 2 Per Car

BC94597, {56 3/16" Overall Length}
Rear; Front Disc Brakes; Rear Disc Brakes; 2nd Design; 2 Per Car

They'll be the same on each side as listed above. Now you know more than the guys behind the counter..



HTH..

Ed

 

Thanks, Ed. I will buy one of each from NAPA and hope the techs can get them in. Seems silly at this point.

Why is there a 1st design part number for my car, and a 2nd design number as well, if my car is a '92 and the 2nd design began in '89-'90?

 

Thanks, Ed. I put both of those numbers in the hands of the service writer about 20 minutes ago. I think part of the problem might be that they don't have parts books that go back that far, and an admittedly inferior computer system. We'll see.

He asked me if all thirdgens in a given year would have the same e-brake setup, or if suspension options like WS6 mattered. In other words, would all '92s have the same e-brake, regardless of engine and suspension configuration?

 

Those are NOT GM part numbers, I'll post the GM numbers later today when I can get to my manuals. Perhaps those numbers will give him problems.

Ed

 

No, I understand that those are Raybestos numbers and not GM, and I told him that as well. I'm not sure GM part numbers would help him, since GM no longer sells the part...? I told him those part numbers were available at NAPA and that I could get them or he could.

 

GET YOUR CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. That will solve most of your problem.