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That is, the pulling cables on car e-brakes are usually well sheathed in low-friction and rust-proof polyethylene. But the interiors of the outer part, the "cable hose," are coils of heavy spring, and THOSE are not rust protected and it would be hard to do that and keep cable able to bend. They give the cable strength and resist compression. Water gets up inside and rust heck out of those, fills inside of cable with deposits of rust and locks everything up tight. Interior cable is just fine sometimes, only it can't move.
I believe some locked-up cables could probably be freed up and used again for a good long time, but it's so hard to get them out and they usually look so beat it would be hard to motivate to try. But, suggestion, coil it up and set it to soak overnight in a pan of water, bottom of a trash barrel, etc. Then work it hard, flexing it in all directions, crunch, crunch, and set it back in, soak some more and flex some more, then IF cable can be started to move, keep moving it around and dunking in water till much of rust is crumbled up and expelled.
But if it's too far gone the steel coils of the spring that gives the outside its compressive strength will be rusted away and broken up and it won't work then.
Originals and long frozen up, probably don't bother. Especially if rust is busting thru the outer vinyl shell, they're goners.
Two or three years old or a little more, and froze up from lack of use (heck I rarely if ever apply e-brakes cept at annual vehicle safety inspection), then I might try the free-up if they come out whole and looking pretty good.
I don't think you'd need anything more than water, and it's free and not too messy. You could lube with a little oil afterwards, or oil and light grease both worked in by pulling cable in and out. But you won't stop the rust from starting in again, just you might break up what's there and get a couple years more use.
posted by 71.241.20...
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