Replacing rear drum brakes. When I disassembled drivers side parking cable from drum, the cable expanded. Based on videos of drum replacement, the cable expanded enough that it appears easy to compress the cable by hand and reattach it. My cable is still under a lot of pressure to the point that I can not compress it at all by hand to reconnect it to the drum. I can't find a place to loosen the cable. HELP!

 

To better clarify what I need to do is compress the cable SPRING which is already under a lot of pressure.

 

Press Parking brake pedal down, that pulls the cable back, then after assembly release the Parking brake so you can adjust the Star wheel to correct position

 

Since I'm not on medication now, I'll try to clarify my problem. The cable spring is under a lot of pressure because of the cable position. If I pull the cable by use of the parking brake pedal, the spring becomes shorter ( even more pressure ) because the cable is being pulled toward the pedal. Am I missing something ?

 

Still have not be able to reattach the left side brake cable to the drum. Currently have zero parking brakes. Nothing on line showing removing and reattaching cable at drum looks like mine as far as pressure on spring. Does the 9" drum use the same brake cable as a 10" drum? My 2004 has 10" drums.

 

Finally got the parking cable free with enough travel to attache to brakes. I put a big vice-grip on the cable end and my size 10 boot against the frame and gave it a huge pull. Cable moved and showed evidence of rust not seen before.