Reply to "Parking brake cable/brackets installation"

Ben,

Most "normal" rear calipers are aluminum "two pot" (piston) calipers, by Girling. Just like the front ones, only smaller. Once piece body.

The more rare Fiat-Girling units are cast iron, have three pistons, and say "Fiat-Girling" right on the casting.

I guess I didn't post any pictures that I can recall.....

They have the same parking brake mechanism for the most part, but it seems like they have a little extension on the lever as seen way back in the top of this thread. (5th pic down.) Some guys may have this, some don't...and I cannot tell you if they should or shouldn't! They also appear to cause the cable to "offset" just a hair too..perhaps 3-4mm.

What this spacer or extension or offset thingy does to the cable besides require a slightly longer cable, is reduce the travel of the activator arm. This shouldn't be a big deal as long as your cables are adjusted properly, and are not forcing the parking brake assy one way or the other too badly....something that occurs easily!!!!! Not the greatest system in the world....but it seems to hold the car when it works....NOT an emergency brake by any means!

I have still not finalized the routing of the cables yet on my car.....the above posts were possibilities, and it seems like while the early cars got one routing....some of the later cars got the "other routing" .....meaning that you should be able to route them however you need them so that they do not contact bad things.....like halfshaft axles and exhaust components!!!

If it turns out you do have the cast iron calipers, they take a very common "Jag" type pad, and seals and pistons are still available from Girling sources.

Ciao!
Steve