I'm looking to just replace all the cables on this truck. '02 2500 4wd/CTD/NV5600, ~155" wb

Have had really questionable experience with fitment on aftermarket parking brake cables for other applications.

RA has a lot of Dorman offerings which REALLY give me pause. There are some Raybestos offerings, but did the left and right cables vary from 2wd to 4wd? The listings are kinda ambiguous.

Other suggestions for quality cables? @HeyYou @AtomicDog

I'm just guessing OEM is LONG LONG gone by now??

 

Yeah dorman ain't where it's at. Raybestos *should* be good...... Left and right are quite likely different, but, not sure if there is a difference between 2 and 4 wd.....

 

I tend to use Reybestos to-date when needing brake parts, as I've had very good luck with their well-made brake parts. I replaced all of the parking brake cables on my truck with the exception of the cable coming off the parking brake pedal. If you have the old OEM cables still on the truck, it's best to measure them to get the correct cables when checking the parts catalogs. My truck is 4WD and the cables tend to be different lengths depending upon the type of truck chassis you have (long bed vs. short bed, cab with back seat or not, etc.). I swapped the rear to a late model 2nd gen disc brake Dana 60 several years ago and found that the parking brake cables were different between drum vs. disc brake rears, too.

You 'might' get lucky and find OEM cables if you can find the appropriate part number to search for them with. If you're after OEM, I'd refer to the parts manuals available on this site for reference here - https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...s-manuals.html

 

Ok, I think I found all Raybestos on RA.

Some manufacturers refer to the "center" cable as Intermediate and others call it Center

Autozone doesn't differentiate between 2wd and 4wd so I don't think there is a difference. Quite often RA's listings are too specific and even though the left cable I purchased said "RWD" I think 4wd is the same.

 

I had to replace my center/intermediate cable, since I accidentally cut it while replacing the rear cables. Those center/intermediate cables come in a few different lengths, so it's helpful to measure your old one to obtain the correct replacement. Also, it's very helpful to have a very deep 13MM socket to adjust the rear parking brake tension adjuster once the new cables are installed.

 

Ok well update:

The Raybestos BC96951 is a surprisingly good fit for the RH side

The Raybestos BC95815 was labeled as "RWD" and I didn't think it mattered but it does -- it has a "ball" end to go into a drum and catch an arm, but the D80/D70 disc DIH setup needs an "S" hook on the end and these cables can be replaced without actually touching the DIH rotor -- the cable is all external to the backing plate. So, I'm reordering a Dorman which is all I can find. It turns out the left cable is actually seized so a functioning Dorman is hopefully better than nothing.

The Raybestos center (aka intermediate) BC95071 is actually a touch longer than OEM, and is .120" dia while OEM is .140". I was hoping for shorter, assuming OEM had stretched over the years. And a smaller cable will just feel more spongy, so returning.

 

If you want OEM, you can look up the part numbers in the parts manual and try to see if you can find those part numbers as NOS somewhere online.. I've had some success doing this technique, especially if its a part not needed yesterday.

 

Update: the Dorman C660310 was pretty good for the LH side on this '02 4wd with D80 pig and D70 outers. The return spring (just outside backing plate) was maybe a little long but better too long than too short. The cable diameter was ~.125" while OEM measured ~.135", but as the OEM was seized it wasn't doing me much good.

I find these star wheels nearly impossible to turn with any spoon or screwdriver, so I went so far as to chuck up the rotors and turn the lip so I could slip the drum/rotor on and off with ease, then set the shoes as far out as I could while still being able to get the drum over them. For the moment the parking brake is working well, but with several volunteers who drive this vehicle it won't last.