Install Ebrake Springs

[Techpriest]

I completely took my 89s rear brakes apart. I cleaned everything, replaced anything not metal and a few things that were, and put them all back together. What I can't do is to install the emergency brake spring. I messed with it for about an hour and gave up. I took the car to my local mechanic to do some other things and asked him to put the springs on while he was at it. He gave up as well. He suggested I buy a rebuilt caliper with spring already mounted. Sounds like me at work, "You can't find the drivers for your video card? Buy a new video card, it's cheaper then paying me to look for drivers."

There has got to be a trick or special tool for this. The caliper rebuild kit came with a seal that I could not have replaced without removing the spring so I can't be the first goober to remove it. Though I did not find anyone else asking how to install it in this forum, so maybe I am. Or maybe it's real easy and I am just not seeing it.

I am going to talk to my local Ford dealer but have not found the time yet. So far they have proven to be utterly useless though so I don't have a lot of hope there.

Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided.

 

[crazy_canadian]

When I replaced my e-brake cables, I accidently removed one of those soab. After an hour, I tried something different :
I put the spring into a big vice to compress it almost all the way. Then, when it was locked like that, I used a couple of tie-wraps (is that how it's spelled?) to maintain it like that. Then I put the compressed spring carefully into it's place and cutted the tie-wraps(?). That's about the only way I found.

 

[Techpriest]

Not a bad idea! If the weather cooperates I will try that this weekend.

 

[midnightauto]

I have rebuilt allot of the rears and the best way I have found is to clamp the caliper in the vice and with a good pair of large flat nose pliers you just have to put a little force to it. hint: wear gloves that way you don't see the blood right away.

 

[doclees]

Sooo much easier to by new calipers. LLT warranty so anytime I screw with it I swap it out. Man I got to get a good vise!