1952-59 Ford 56 Mercury e brake / parking brake cable

I broke my e brake cable yesterday. Any advice on a new one before I buy something and get disappointed.

 

Front or rear cable???

 

Front

 

Concours Parts has a replacement type front cable available Part # B5A-2853-D for $34.95.

 

I hope it goes easier than the one on my car. It was real tight by the firewall to get the cotter pin in place. I'm just glad that these parts are available. My old one was frozen solid.

 

The upper clip/pin at the firewall was not there on mine but the one at the other end under the car was. It keeps the outer sheath from moving. Mine also did not have an outer plastic cover; I taped it and used heat shrink on the ends. I found out later there are ones with plastic covers.
Make sure you have a really good ground from the body on your car to the frame. I heard from an old time auto mechanic instructor that the e brake cable cab act as a ground and start fraying.
The trick to getting the upper cable ball out of the pull handle is to turn and push in on it…good luck.