parking brake question

[1979gmc]

i am putting a 6" full leaf suspension on my 79 GMC jimmy and am wondering, do i need to extend my parking brake cable or just disconnect it. because it doesn't seem to reach. thanks for any help.

 

[K5dreamer]

if its a manual, the parking brake is IMHO a manditory thing. If its an automatic, you can get along without it, but its kind of an "at your own risk" kinda thing. Id just try and re-route the cable or figure out a way to extend it.

 

[1979gmc]

yeah, its automatic, would like it to be manual, and i don't know how you could extend them.

 

[DeviousK5]

Extension= new cable(s), no sweat they are suprisingly cheap IIRC i only paid like $12 for my new cable from napa. It was more of a battle finding a patient parts salesman.

 

[chulisohombre]

you have to look through the books at the parts store.find the one thats stock for yout truck and get one that is about 4 inches longer.thats what i did for mine.that or make a drop bracket and lenthen the adjuster in the center cable.but its easier to replace the cable with less fab work.you need it longer for the droop in the axle also.but 4 inch longer gave me enough length for full droop.make sure you get new extended brake lines also.you dont wan the limiting factor in your suspention being the brake lines.i about ripped off my rear one when i caught a lil more air then i thought i would one time.it about pulled the front driveshaft slip yolk out of itself also.

 

[1979gmc]

ok, got it, and another question, do you have to get a longer drive shaft? bacausy mine doesnt extend any longer? i thought having a 6" lift wouldn't make so many problems!!!!! thanks everyone for the info, appriciate it.

 

[K5dreamer]

generally speaking a 4in lift is the accepted max for a trouble free lift experience. 6in of lift is actually quite a bit, and is hit or miss on driveshaft mods, ive heard some guys say they got away with the stock shaft, and others say they had to have them modified or replaced with custom ones. I would have stuck with 4in lift, but got a sweet deal on a 6in full spring lift. now im looking at all the same headaches youre looking at, so im gonna go full CV driveshafts, SLE, and i upgraded to 1 tons so i needed new Ujoints anyway.

 

[chulisohombre]

more than likely gona need longer driveshafts.4 inch you are alright with most trucks,but anything higher than that you will need to measure and probably get new shafts made.id check and see how much shaft you have left after you put em back in.id say you need at least 3 inches of slip in either direction with a 6 inch lift.

 

[1979gmc]

ok, well i guess i have to lengthen the drive shafts then, springs are on and i don't feel like taking them off. it won't be too bad, i only paid 100 bucks for the full leafs, shocks and u joints, so i guess i can't complain. thanks guys for all your help.