parking brake cable installation

I'm attempting to install new rear parking brake cables on a 88 Ford Tempo GL, (2.3L, 85,000 miles). I yanked out the old cables which were rusted solid, as this car has sat for a long time, and purchased 2 new cables. The new cable pops into the back plate nicely, but the cable appears(?) to be too long (inside the wheel). I would think that the length of the cable (inside the wheel) would be "just enough" length to get to the parking brake lever arm where it attaches...but instead, there is an additional 1, to 1 1/2 inches of cable. In order to reinstall the brake shoes and springs, I have to bend the new cable outward creating a bow in it. Although I'm no mechanic...that doesn't seem right to me. Suspecting I may have gotten a wrong part, I took the new cable to another parts dealer and compared it to another brand cable they had in stock. That cable was 1/2 inch shorter (referring to the section of the cable that sits inside of the wheel), not the overall length of the cable. While 1/2 inch shorter seems like an improvement...thats still more cable than I think I should need. By the way...I'm installing the cable first into the wheel, and have not connected it to the equalizer. Any ideas on this?? Is that normal, or am I missing something.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION


See Figure 1

1. Make sure the vehicle is in a gear if equipped with a manual transaxle, or PARK if equipped with an automatic transaxle. Block the wheels.
2. Place the control assembly in seventh notch position and loosen adjusting nut. Completely release the control from the parking brake assembly.
3. Raise the vehicle and support on jackstands. Remove rear parking brake cable from equalizer.
4. Remove hairpin clip holding cable to floor vehicle pan tunnel bracket.
5. Remove wire retainer holding cable to fuel tank mounting bracket. Remove cable from wire retainer. Remove cable and clip from the fuel pump bracket.
6. Remove the screw holding the brake cable retaining clip to rear side-member. Remove the cable from the clip.
7. Remove the wheel and tire assembly and rear brake drum.
8. Disengage cable end from brake assembly parking brake lever. Depress cable prongs holding cable to the brake backing plate. Remove cable through hole in backing plate.

To install:

1. Insert cable through hole in backing plate. Attach cable end to rear brake assembly parking brake lever.
2. Insert conduit end fitting into backing plate. Ensure retention prongs are locked into place.

When routing the brake cable, the cable must be routed over the rear suspension and inboard of the trailing arm assembly, to prevent wheel and tire interference.

1. Insert cable into rear attaching clip and attach clip to rear side-member with screw.
2. Route cable through bracket in floorpan tunnel and install hairpin retaining clip.
3. Install cable end into equalizer.
4. Insert cable into wire retainer and snap retainer into hole in fuel tank mounting bracket. Insert cable and install clip into fuel pump bracket.
   
5. Install rear drum, wheel and tire assembly and wheel cover. Make sure wheel bearing is properly adjusted.
6. Lower the vehicle.
7. Adjust parking brake. Check brake pedal for proper resistance.
8. Road test vehicle.

Fig. Fig. 1: Proper brake cable routing
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