I'm working on a '70 Super Bee and doing a rear brake job. I've never driven the car so i have no idea if the parking brake worked or not before I took it apart...they look quite crusty as the car has sat for 30 years but not damaged, etc.

Is it common practice to clean them up with some sort of solvent and then lube them? I actually ordered some aftermarket ones thinking that would be the easier way to go, but after comparing them to the originals I just could not get myself to install them. Typical Made in India cheap aftermarket quality (they were Dorman brand cables). The spring on them was much smaller, the "fingers" that hold the cable to the backing plate and keep it from moving back were cheap and looked like they would break off easily. Just an inferior product compared to the original.

I'm not concerned about original looks really, just want a quality product. And like I say they don't appear damaged in any way, just rusty (not salt rusty though) from years of sitting.

Thanks.

Soak them in EvapoRust. That will get them looking new again. Hopefully, it will also work its way inside the cables to free them up if they are siezed.

A good soak with penetrating oil is common first aid if they get stickey. I'm sure it prolongs the life of cables also.

If you want good cables, look at Inline Tube. I got a set a few years ago (70 E) and they were very robust and close to OE.

I had mine replated clear zinc. Not correct but they work and look great under the car

Well I'll give it a try soaking it in rust remover and then penetrating oil.

Did the factory put any type of lube or grease on the cable?

Has anyone tried an aftermarket cable like Raybestos? Like stated I ordered some off RockAuto which were "Dorman" brand and they were inferior quality compared to the original.

I soak them in evaporust for a few days and then polish them with a fine wire wheel. To keep them from rusting again I have used a prod from Home Depo called Zep Phosporis coat. It puts a light coating on the metal to keep it from re-rusting. Then I soak them in oil and hang them to dry. Most aftermarket parts store replacements have a rubber/plastic housing that does not look correct but will function just fine. The ones from fine lines or inline tube and others does not look 100% correct but very close to OEM.

I pulled the ones from my parts car.Soaked them at work in the parts cleaner.then used silicone spray on them.Been on for 5 years now and no problems.I have a 4 speed so I use them all the time.Rocky