Right now I am in the process of swaping a GS open diff for a GSL LSD/Disc Unit. I am having a hard time putting the handbrake cables back on (I purchased new set of cables for rear discs even though the car had original drum brakes from factory)
These disc cables don't seem to fit through the hole in the chassis, are there any tips and or tricks to installing the new disc handbrake cables. The disc cables also seem to be longer then the drum ones?

 

I just replaced both on my GSL and had some difficulty threading it through the frame. I found that once I got on the ground and slid under the car to where I can see and grab the cable coming out, it was easy.

No tricks, just get under there and don't be afraid of all the road grime that's going to fall on your face and in your eyes.

Is the cable not coming out at all? Not even the part that hooks to the main cable? (I can't see that happening)

As for the different lengths, they should be within 6 inches of each other. (disc to drum comparison). That's because of the location of the tie down point would be different, I would think.

Then the 2 new cables you have should also be different lengths. The right cable being shorter so that you can hook it up to the main cable without removing the exhaust heat shielding.

 

I bought an entire new five cable setup out of the victoria british catolog then I went to the local mazda parts dealer and found out only the rear cables were different and that the front cable was the same on either disc or drum, so i didn't swap it. Both of my rear cables are the exact same size, are they supose to be different lengths?

 

On my GSL SE they were the same, which meant removing the heat shield to install the right side. But on my GSL they were different lengths, which meant NOT removing the heat shield for installation.

Maybe you have SE cables, measure them and I'll measure my spare after I get back from work this afternoon.

 

28.25" GSLSE right and left side


29.5" GSL left side


Does this help?

 

Both are 29.5 inchs, dom on yours was there a clip around the cable going through the chassie?

 

There is a chassis clip on the GSLs, probably the SEs too.

 

I suspect that you have one wrong cable. One was definately shorter than the other, on both the cables I removed and the ones I installed.

Yes, there is a clip at the chassis that holds the cable in place and it is the hardest part of this easy job. Like I said, I had to get my head under there to see what was going on. I couldn't do it by feel alone.

What shape are your clips in? Maybe that's your problem.

When I fed my cables through, I felt around with my finger nail until I could feel the groove in the cable, then I pushed the clip on, then I seated it with a tap from a screwdriver.

That part of the cable at the chassis should look identical to the ones you removed. I can't see why you cannot get it on. Is the car sitting up high on jack stands so that you can get in there?

 

I was having a hard time because I didn't relize that there was a clip to hold it to the chassis and the damm thing would just pull right through so I went through my box of assorted bolts and stuff and found the clips they were in reuseable shape I straightened them out on a vice, anyways I worked on it today and got both sides hooked back up (it was a vert tight fit I guess they were the right part) and everything put back together all I have left is to bleed the brakes and get some new pads and then I will be terrorizing the streets again only this time on LSD.