hand brake cable replacement

I need to replace mine. In the Haynes diagram it looks like the outer cable butts into the 'cable front abutment' block and only the inner cable goes on forward to the hand brake lever. The diagram also shows a spring between two washers at the operating lever.

On my car the outer sheath goes thru the abutment and there is no spring at the operating lever. The adjusting nut is run up all the way to the end of the threads on the cable. The handbrake will just barely hold the car IF I also depress the brake pedal hard before I set it.

I am not understanding why the whole lever assembly has to be dismantled to replace the cable assembly?
Thanks
Paul

Paul,

You may want to try this before you replace your cable.
First, see if adjusting your back brakes doesn't fix your problem.
Second, go to your local auto parts store and buy what's pictured below. It's a clamp that takes up some slack from your cable.

The way yours is currently set up is wrong. The abutment block is supposed to support the outer sheath while the inner cable moves freely with the action of the lever handle. Bruno's right about adjusting the rear brakes, but I think that's only part of the picture. If there's a problem with the abutment block that is preventing the outer sheathe from setting-in, you'll have to replace it. If that's the case you'll end up replacing the entire cable. The whole setup - sheathe, abutment block, locking joints - is sold as one unit. I'm not sure you can get just a replacement abutment block.

Replacing the cable is a minor PITA. As long as the ratchet plate/gears are okay you shouldn't need to remove the hand-brake lever itself. You will need to remove the passenger seat in order to get to the nut holding the abutment block in place.

Steve when you say the abutment block 'supports' the outer sheath do you mean that the sheath stops at the block land only the cable passes thru?

Rear brakes are good.

Thanks
Paul

Exactly right. To get a sense of what it should look like, look at your accelerator cable. You'll see the sheathe locked in place, while the inner cable rides freely within the immobile sheathe. (The heater cable works the same way, FWIW, but in that case the "sheathe" is coiled wire.)

Thanks Rick, I got it now.
Paul