Chev C15 4x2 E-Brake Cables

[Owen Evans]

Hello,
I'm looking for a set (2 no.) of E-Brake/handbrake cables for my C15 Chevrolet, part no. *1799285, if anyone can help.

The cables are approximately 920mm (36-1/4") in length, and look like the attached (minus the rust!).

Thanks,
Owen.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Owen,

I also had difficulty finding cables for my C8. I am sure you could fabricate something from commercially available brake cable parts that would do the job nicely, but if you want something that looks original, than it's a bit of a challenge.

Both the C8 and C15 (and also C8A) seem to have used cables with a eyelet at the end, while most Chev cables at the time had a threaded end (again, you could probably make that work). NOS Chev brake cables are offered on Ebay quite regularly and even though I haven't quite narrowed it down, the eyelet type cables seem to have been used from 1936-1940.

Have you checked if a shorter cable would work? Cables with eyelet end and about 31-32" overall length are offered on ebay regularly....longer ones are a bit more scarce. I bought two of the cables attached for my C8 recently. They are 38-1/2" overall length according to the Master parts list....which will hopefully work on my C8. There is a Left and Right version, but I have only found two Left ones so far.....so, if you find two right ones, let me know and we can do a trade

Hope this helps!

Alex

[Andrew Rowe]

LWD Parts have a selection of cables, Try them, Cheers Andrew.

[Grant Bowker]

Are you sure the cables are handed?
Parts list 175 dated January 1941 states the C15 uses two of cable assembly 1799285 (with *).
Parts list 197 dated August 1942 repeats the same information.
The same information is in parts list C15-02 dated August 1943.
The lists were individually typeset (different layouts) before the days of copy and paste errors but it is possible that an error got repeated.
(The lists do show different cables left and right for C15A to C60L and CGT.)

Is there any chance that at least one of the cables on the truck you are working on was replaced with a non-original cable at some point to give the impression that the cables should be different?

If you are unable to find a "close enough" cable, have you considered whether any of the cables are similar enough that they could be modified to suit. I have just gone through this with parking brake cables for a 15cwt CMP trailer. Either makers of control cables for trucks or aircraft may be able to help you.

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

Are you sure the cables are handed?
Parts list 175 dated January 1941 states the C15 uses two of cable assembly 1799285 (with *).
Parts list 197 dated August 1942 repeats the same information.
The same information is in parts list C15-02 dated August 1943.
The lists were individually typeset (different layouts) before the days of copy and paste errors but it is possible that an error got repeated.
(The lists do show different cables left and right for C15A to C60L and CGT.)

Is there any chance that at least one of the cables on the truck you are working on was replaced with a non-original cable at some point to give the impression that the cables should be different?

If you are unable to find a "close enough" cable, have you considered whether any of the cables are similar enough that they could be modified to suit. I have just gone through this with parking brake cables for a 15cwt CMP trailer. Either makers of control cables for trucks or aircraft may be able to help you.

Agree both C8 and C15 are not handed. The ones off my C15 are similarly not handed. I wonder if Alex is meaning the civvy ones he picked up off Ebay are handed?

My Opel Olympia uses cables on all the brakes (no hydraulics!), and I got new replacements manufactured. I could only get the replacements with a plastic sheath, not wire wrapped. Ok for the Opel, but there's no easy way to hide the cables on a C15 water tanker!

I see LWD have cables available for the F15. Does anybody know how much different the F15 cables are?

Owen.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Sorry for causing the confusion guys! I was indeed referring to the civvy Ebay ones when I mentioned the left and right hand versions.

My C8 came without cables....just the rusted ends in the rear brake drums.

Alex

[Lang]

Alex

As you have the end fittings any good yacht chandler or rigging shop will be able to supply the correct size cable. They have a huge range of end fittings and proper rated swaging machines. I am sure you could get them "made to sample" What is more they will probably be stainless so when you have to do a replacement check on them in another 75 years you might find you can extend their service life.

Lang

[Grant Bowker]

Based on the parts lists for the C8 and C15 it appears they used brake parts from the pre-existing Chevrolet parts list (similar to the C8A), unlike the C15A and heavier trucks that used many Ford brake parts. Although the F15 parking brake cable is a * part, from what I can see it looks like it has more in common with the rest of the Ford designed brakes than the Chevrolet design.

[Mike K]

I found late 1930's chev commercial , ute or pickup park cables fitted perfectly on the C8.Got them from the chev guy at Cheltenham ,Melb. He retired and closed the business.

[r.morrison]

Owen: Google Jim Carter Truck Parts in Missouri USA. They have a vast array of Chev parts, a lot of them the same as the CMP's. They have brake cables there in 3 lengths, so you might want to contact them. If you have a problem connecting, PM me.
Good luck....Robert

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by r.morrison

Owen: Google Jim Carter Truck Parts in Missouri USA. They have a vast array of Chev parts, a lot of them the same as the CMP's. They have brake cables there in 3 lengths, so you might want to contact them. If you have a problem connecting, PM me.
Good luck....Robert

Thanks for the tip Robert. I've bought from Jim Carter before, so I will give him a try.

Owen.

[Owen Evans]

Picked up a couple of NOS brake cables from Mike Borth (http://www.borthautoparts.com), GM part no. 592283. Thanks to Alex for the part number!

They are about 1 inch longer than the original C15 ones, but have the same ends and should work just fine. And they look correct too! Mike may have a couple left, if anybody else needs them.

Thanks for all your help folks.

Owen.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Owen Evans

They are about 1 inch longer than the original C15 ones, but have the same ends and should work just fine. And they look correct too!

Hello Owen, have you tried to see if they fit your C15?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Have borrowed Alex's cables to compare with the original C15 cables.

The fitting which is clamped around the original cable guiding the cable into the brake back plate may well be reusable. The other end should fit in the chassis bracket. I could not test fit that because part of the old cable is still rusted in there.

Like Owen said, they are a bit longer than the original ones. I do have a concern that the end which protrudes into the brake drum is too short.

If I cannot find the original Part no. *1799285, I may end up taking my old cables to a local shop where the manufacture control cables. They said they can manufacture practically any cable, sometimes even using part off the old ones.

[Bob Phillips]

I have some e cables available, and I think I posted them on this site previously with no positive ID made. They are of the same parentage as those listed above, but are about 46.5 inches overall length, the sheath or housing is about 34 inches and one end is threaded (clogged with grease at this point) while the other has the ball. Would it be possible to shorten the cable given the shorter housing? Food for thought.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bob Phillips

I have some e cables available, and I think I posted them on this site previously with no positive ID made. They are of the same parentage as those listed above, but are about 46.5 inches overall length, the sheath or housing is about 34 inches and one end is threaded (clogged with grease at this point) while the other has the ball. Would it be possible to shorten the cable given the shorter housing? Food for thought.

Thanks Bob, it seems this is one of the many variations of e-brake cables. Yours has the threaded ends on one side, and a ball on the other. The ones I am looking for have a clevis on one end and a guide piece to guide it through the brake backplate.

Although it may be possible to reengineer your cables, I'd rather use NOS or have a cable manufacturer start from scratch.

[Mike K]

The hand brake on my C8 is marginally effective: similar in performance to the stock MB/GPW hand brakes ! I fitted new cables plus new brake linings with machined drums. But it could be a case of the inept mechanic rather than a design issue !