Square Four rear brake cable routing

[andrew.johnston]

I am struggling to follow Drags' advice on the routing of the rear brake cable on my 1954 Sq4. It has a downward-pointing cable guide and a downward-pointing brake arm. They advise that the cable goes outside the frame, but I cannot see any way of making that work - both ends of the outer sheath end up at impossible angles and look as if they are about to jump out of their guides. The cable is new (and exactly the same length as the older one) and I understand that it is bound to seem longer than necessary in order to allow for suspension movement. I'm not worried about the brake-jamming issue that some are concerned with - it hasn't done that in the past 50-ish years. Should I persevere in trying to route the cable outside the frame (as per Drags' illustration) or stay with it on the inside?

[AmilcarP]

I'm having the same problem ,on my 1954 sq4 did you ever figure it out ? If so will you be able to show me how you did yours ? My email is amilcarperillo@yahoo.com thanks

[Roger Gwynn]

Andrew is quite right, there is no way it can follow the route shown in the Owner's Guide, it has to pass inside the frame. That drawing and text has been in our catalogue and on the web site since 2012, yet no-one to my knowledge has pointed it out before. I shall get Drags IT man to alter it.

If you havn't had a rear brake lock up on you you either have plenty of free play in your cable, rigid suspension or no pot holes. I know of several people that it has happened to, fortunately with nothing worse than a change of unterhosen.

[andrew.johnston]

Hi again,
I tried to take photos of my attempt at a solution - only to find I can't attach them to this! The cable supplied by Drags seems a bit too long, though maybe that's to guard against lockup when the suspension hits a pothole....? Anyway, my cable goes down at the front, and then curves upwards to the brake plate. It has the brake light switch attached to the front (probably fixed to the end of the brake lever). It doesn't fit in the slots either in the frame or the brake plate very well, but ti works OK. As I said, I have a Healey-supplied 2LS at the front, so I don't use the rear brake all that much.

[Simon.Gardiner]

Advice on posting images here:
viewtopic.php?t=193


SG

[Roger Gwynn]

The Draganfly cable is the correct length as supplied by Ariel - "Cable, for downward brake arms 8.5″ free play. Use on frames with short cable stop lug (approx 1” tall) angled down to the rear. See Important Note QD wheels type 10-14. This cable is a lot longer than it appears to be necessary, just as Ariel made them, to try and keep you out of the ditch. 10 3/8″ – 18 3/8″