Do you have access to a marine hardware store? If so, you can get crimp on metal furrels to secure the loops if no luck try a bike repair shop, I prefer the marine ones in stainless steel.

I was thinking about crimping something on.

Another idea may be...

At the end of each cable, there is a round piece of metal attached. This fits in to the brake lever. It may be possible to drill a hole in this piece of metal and use it in place of the loop. You may be able to crimp the other end to the cars control.

I have not looked closely at the setup in my car lately, so this is all theory.

John

What year and model is your car. I have a couple of cables up in my attic.

I just finished making the kinked cable out of the steel wire and am in the process of reinstalling it in the car. Seems to work ok.

I noticed the vent hoses were all jacked. The local stores only had hose that was the same size on both ends, so I got a length that matched the bigger vent end and will have to use something, probably a wire tie on the smaller end that goes in the box. A 6 foot length of 2 1/2" h se was $28 after tax. Ouch! But it was of a plastic material, seems that it will last longer then the original paper ones.