Frozen Parking Brake Cable

[stanrob]

This time around I made sure API is getting me the Dorman C93363; supposedly will arrive in a few days.
That number was on rockauto.com and now I see that Advance's website claims to have it in spite of the retail store's assertion to the contrary.
Thanks to ARCHINSTL for that site. I can see from it that there are 5 different cables for Tercel SR5s, only one of which is for right rear of 4WD wagon.
Again thanks to ARCHINSTL for the advice to try to clean up the 10mm bracket nut. I wirebrushed and put WD40 + oil on it.
From past experience I'm scared of rusted bolts with 10mm heads.
What might I do if/when the nut breaks off despite my feeble attempt at gentle removal?

[dlb]

the brackets are not necessary to the function of the e-brake cables. they just hold the cables off the ground and out of the way. you can use zip ties to do the same thing. however, if snap the small bolt off trying to get it out, you can always drill it out and re-tap it. use a hammer and punch to mark a divot in the center of the face of the sheared-off bolt. then use a very small drill bit to drill through the shaft. move up to the next size of drill bit until you are one size down from the diameter of the bolt you will be using to replace the busted one. measure the threads and diameter of the bolt you're going to use and pick a tap of the same size. use it to cut new threads into the bracket. voila, all done. now use anti-seize when you bolt it back up so that you (hopefully) don't have to to it again the next time you replace the e-brake cable.

[stanrob]

Got the Dorman C93363. It checks out with my under-the-car measurements. FINALLY! Next step is to install it, like I did 8 years ago when I was a little younger. Adventure here I come!

[stanrob]

Final report: what a challenge that job was! Aside from the usual hassle of finding the right new part, redoing the brakes, and dislodging both ends of the old cable, all without a lift, I was confronted with a frozen cable fulcrum bolt. Well, I finally got that bolt to loosen (without breaking it)! But it required more sophisticated strategy than I've ever used before. First, with a torch, I heated not the bolt but the base where the bolt screws in. Close to red-hot. After that, I pushed a wax candle against the hot assembly, squirted PB Blaster on it, and squirted some water on the bolt. THEN I was able to loosen and unscrew it. To my surprise, it was still in good shape. Now, at 296,500 miles, this '85 has parking brakes that actually hold it on a hill! Many thanks to those who gave advice.

[dlb]

good work, stanrob. almost 300,000 miles! very impressive. that's about 475,000 km.

i'm not sure what this fulcrum bolt you mentioned is. the only bolts (or similar) i can think of in the park brake system are the ones that hold the cable sheath to the car's body, and the threaded end of the front cable that connects to the park brake handle with two 10 mm nuts.

[stanrob]

Response to dlb's Q: By "fulcrum bolt," I meant the single bolt that holds the cable sheath to the underbody. (It too has a 10mm head, although I butchered it down a little.) Please forgive me for my ignorance of carspeak!