any ideas?

I'll save you time and cursing. Buy the shorty rear cable. Got it in today and installed it. Very easy to install and much better brakes. My factory one was siezed, I took it off put it in a vise and wasted an hour of my life and a can of wd4o getting it to move. I finally got it to go in both directions fully but it remained very tight to have it free enough for the spring in the rear caliper to move it freely.

These guys have it, sent it quick, and where very helpfull.
http://www.woodwardspecialties.com/
 
Take the cable off, coil it up in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, cover the thing in tranny fluid. Let it sit overnight. Tranny fluid works as a great penetrating oil. Make sure to spray some lube into the casing once you take it out of the bucket, or it will seize all over again. -OR- just buy a new oneI:I
 
Take the cable off, coil it up in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, cover the thing in tranny fluid. Let it sit overnight. Tranny fluid works as a great penetrating oil. Make sure to spray some lube into the casing once you take it out of the bucket, or it will seize all over again. -OR- just buy a new oneI:I



Thats what I was gonna say!