I have been running the wrong handbrake cable (front cable) for nearly 20 years (-65 Valiant). The correct one was nowhere to be had when the previous broke so we adapted a Volkswagen cable that was similarish. It is still working, but it is rather thin and old, so now that I finally managed to get the correct one (hopefully), I think it's about time to change it before it breaks.

My question is: should I lubricate the inner cable before installation, or should I install it the way it is? If yes, what should I lubricate it with??

I tried to run a search on this but I couldn't find anything.

Maurice

Most new cables are coated with some sort of flexible plastic coating to slide easily within its outer metal sheath. Old stile cables were never coated, easily rusted always in need of some lubrication and if not used on a regular basses became one with their outer sheath over time; well that's the result here in the NE with ice melt chemicals slathered on our winter roads.

I would not lube the inner cable if coated. Mrs. wjajr's '07 Nitro has 150K on the clock with nine ice-melt rusting winters under its belt, and hand brake works with no problem, and only used once a year when state inspection is performed. Ok, so that's probably falls under regular use.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

We have the same issues on small aircraft controls. If the inner cable is plastic coated- don't lube it because some lubes actually cause the plastic to get brittle and crumble over time, jamming the cable. If you have the bare steel inner cable, then routine lubing is easy. The outer housing (on each end) is probably a spiral wound wrap that is actually not "waterproof". With that type, just penetrating oil slathered on the outside of the outer housing will penetrate through and lube the inner cable. I do this on all our 74-75 Darts as a matter of routine lubrication. Haven't had a problem since 1977.

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"Louise", a 1976 Dart Custom project, (now sadly reverted to being just an "organ donor" to our other project Darts.)

Thank you both for the answers. It would seem to me that there really is some kind of the plastic coating. I can feel only a few inches on each end, but the surface doesn't feel like metal, but rather like plastic, as you both suggested.

Thus I will leave it be. I will only lubricate it later on, if it starts sticking. I try to use the brake now and then to keep it from sticking, but we have a long winter here in Finland and I am always afraid of using it wintertime lest it freezes up (though it's not very prone to do it, compared to some other cars). They have reduced the amount of salt they use, but it still is plentiful (as can sadly be seen from the rusted underbody).

Thank you kindly for your help. I would probably have left its lubricated even with out the advice, but now I feel much better about it.

Maurice