2005 with rear drums. I cant get the parking brake cable back connected to the shoes, everytime I get close the stupid cable pushes back and and the spring bends.

 

Small needle nose vise grips and a lot of cussing for me

 

Screwdrivers as levers...

 

I use two pair of needle nosed vise grips, and pry pulling the cable out. When the cable is out I clamp down the 2nd set of vice grips, and you have plenty of cable to play with.

 

I connect the cable to the shoe arm before mounting the shoe onto the backing plate. Way easier than trying to do it after.

 

K, finally got the parking brake cables on. Thanks for everyones advice. Now I just need teen hands to get the stupid bottom spring on, anyone got any good advice for it.

 

I use 2 vice grips. One on the end and one on the spring (not clamped down hard enough to grab the cable beneath), I put a socket between the 2 vice grips at the cable, then squeeze the pair of handles on the vice grips together. Have someone else pop the bracket on quickly and hope no body parts get trapped in anything.