Messages

1

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / Re: CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 24, 2026, 10:41:54 AM »

Hey,  I did cut down the threaded end by two inches before I realized the ball at the handle was temporarily stuck farther up on the inside on one of the notches so when that came loose and rested where it should at the end of the handle I was again short by two inches but was out of threaded rod to adjust.

I have a little time today before I go to try and loop it farther out and see if I can get the sheath ends right at both clip anchor points. 

I wish there was some way to give feed back on a few parts with Kaiser Willys, but when I try (in a very gentle way) the staff get very defensive.  I am definitely not trying to denigrate Kaiser Willys, but it sure would be nice to be able to talk to them.  BTW they did use a few of the M38/CJ parts photo identification comparisons without permission from Wes Knettle and I, which I called them about and after some discussion I sent them updated files from our website - willysmjeeps.com- to use because I feel in the long run it will help others and that was the goal in making those photo documents.

2

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / Re: CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 23, 2026, 10:57:24 AM »

I am going on Army duty for 2 weeks, but I think I need to check the adjustment on the parking brake shoes to see if they are adjusted properly.  Maybe the shoes are out too far and it is allowing the lever to come it too much to make contact.  When I push the lever all the way forward to the off position the cable is about 2-4 inches too long.  The reproduction cable was way too thick to go into the slot on the end of the cane handle and I had to spread it a fair bit to get it in - so another reproduction parts issue! My other thought is to purchase the 44 inch cable and see if it works - that one appears to be a plastic sheath vs the more original metal.  When I check the blue parts book, it seems the 48 inch one should be the correct length.  There were a lot of changes to the CJ3B throughout production and it gets confusing at times.

3

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / Re: CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 22, 2026, 06:40:33 PM »

Thanks for the help!  Yes I connect the pin and yoke from the cable to the outer hole and the 48 inch cable is still about 4 inches too long.  I am thinking about getting one of the 44 inch cables that the suppliers list for CJ3A and not for M38.

Or am I running the cable too close to the firewall and need to let it go more outward toward the generator?

My kids threw out the old one from when we took it apart a year ago or something as we cannot find it.

I have had trouble with other Kaiser Willys reproduction parts like the exhaust header pipe, the engine stay cable, etc.  Those parts all did not come close to fitting and when I compared them to the old part on the jeep the repro stuff just wasn't the right shape, length, etc.  It has been rather frustrating and their staff has not been very friendly.

Here are some more clear photos of the parts.

4

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / Re: CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 22, 2026, 01:54:08 PM »

Here were were attempting to route the parking brake and it is going out further toward the generator.  When routing it to get the sheath to line up at the firewall retaining clip and the retaining clip at the transmission cross member we had to route it much closer to the firewall down the passenger side bell housing and then over the transmission cross member to a retaining clip there.

I have done mostly M38 jeeps and other vehicles from the 60's and 30's stuff, but on the CJ3B there were more variations and this one was partially taken apart over the years before we found it.  I am teaching my two sons some stuff, so we dug into this and rebuilt the tub, then the entire drive train I had a mechanic friend help us get the axles/transmission/transfer and engine rebuilt.  It has been a lot of work and these smaller problems add up to slowing things down as with most rebuilds/restorations.

I was on the old CJ3B.info forums, but this is my first post here.

5

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / Re: CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 22, 2026, 01:47:22 PM »

Yes, this is my first post here.  I have done some other jeeps, but not a CJ3B.

Upon research, I have the longer lever at the parking brake drum with one hole on the end and the other in the middle.  It has the cane style handle in the middle of the dash.

Here are a couple of photos.

6

Chassis, brakes and suspension. / CJ3B hand brake cable installation

« on: July 21, 2026, 08:18:24 PM »

I am trying to install a hand brake or emergency brake cable on a CJ3B jeep rebuild.  I have a 1959 with the cane style handle in the center of the dash so I figured from the willys parts book it was the 48 inch vs 65 inch cable.

I routed the cable through the firewall hole and attached the sheath to the bracket.  Then I routed the cable down along the firewall past the bell housing and over the top of the transmission frame cross member where I attached another fastener.  Now the E-brake cable is about 4 inches too long.

All the parts companies like Kaiser-willys only list 48 inch and 65 inch E-brake cables and I don't see another length in the reproduced parts book.

What in the heck am I doing wrong?

On a side note, I really miss Walk's as he knew what he was talking about and was helpful vs Kaiser Willys staff.