Cabrio Door locks

[Mike]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

I used some cables from a 2 door Fiesta for the door pulls. Can't remember which year it came off, so Sierras are not the only source for the cables. Got them from a scrapyard.

That's very useful knowledge Chris.

(I used Granada internal door handles, so there are other sources for those too).

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Now have the said cables so will sort it soon
Thanks Alan you saved me a lot of hassle finding something that gets scarcer everyday

[chris_cussen]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

I used some cables from a 2 door Fiesta for the door pulls. Can't remember which year it came off, so Serrias are not the only source for the cables. Got them from a scrapyard.

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Cheers Dave,
I hqave 2 of the longer cables from Alan [or will tomorrow] It really does need the longer cables even for the SWB as that seems to be the problem I will post when I have changed the passenger cable and fingers crossed it works

[dave_kitson]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Hi - I looked into this in some detail about 10 years ago. Unless the builder was going really off-piste, the door furniture all came from the Ford Sierra. In fact most other locks are too bulky to fit the shallow Cabrio doors. There are a few things to be aware of:

1. Do you have a SWB or LWB Cabrio? The doors on the latter are two inches longer, and the inner handles are thus further away from the locks.
2. Early Sierras used rods to the inner handles whereas later ones used Bowden cables. Rods are more robust but the cables are easier to fit. Weak point on the cables is the ferule where the cable goes into the lock - I broke a few so I know! Never did find a satisfactory repair. Interestingly, the Cabrio used the bolt type striker from the early Sierra, rather than the later loop type striker, though some builders may have found a way of using the loops. Not difficult to make a bolt type from, would you believe, a bolt!
3. The cables vary in length depending where they were fitted. The notes I have are a bit vague, but this this should point you in the right direction:

2-door - - - - - - 640mm?
4-door - front - 590mm
- - - - - - rear - 770mm?
Estate - front - 590mm
- - - - - - rear - 500mm?
P100 - - - - - - - 640mm?

The practical upshot of this is that the 590mm cables will fit the SWB Cabrio, but the LWB Cabrio really needs the 640 or 770mm cables.

When I did this investigation, the 4-door rear cables were available new from Ford, but not the others. I doubt you can get any now. Last place I saw any number of scrap Sierras was at Birch Bros, Queensbury, near Bradford 01274 834921, but I haven't been near there in ages. The guy running it did seem more interested in selling complete cars than parts, but as he had his eye on 7-type kits, maybe door bits could be prised away from him!!!

Hope that fills in some gaps - Dave

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Hi Alan,
We are going to be there in the afternoon, if you PM me your phone number I can call you and confirm times etc

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Hi Peter
What time are you planning on being there ? As it's just up the road from us I could meet you there .

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Found them ! Complete with the internal release. Length of the cable is approx. 30inches from the pivot pin on the internal release to cable end. Hope that helps.
Regards Alan.

Hi Alan we are down to Mercia Marina on Sunday so perhaps I could force money in your hand for cable?

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Peter
I may have spare cable . Will check my spares in garage. Any idea of length needed?
Regards
Alan

Hi Alan after careful measuring it would seen to be 24 inches this is the outer cable [I roughly measured it as I didnt want to disturb it as it still works just] so as I was saying I think mine is to short which would seem to be the cause of the problem!

[dcunn]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Dunno how you do that, things disappear in my shed/stores - or else the brain's recollection dims !

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Found them ! Complete with the internal release. Length of the cable is approx. 30inches from the pivot pin on the internal release to cable end. Hope that helps.
Regards Alan.

[peterboat]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

I will have a measure today Alan, just going to Tax it online then go clean it. I was all over ebay yesterday looking for one but as yet nowt found

[Neil Johm Kirk]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

If you're feeling flush you can always try:

http://www.sierrasrus.co.uk/

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Peter
I may have spare cable . Will check my spares in garage. Any idea of length needed?
Regards
Alan

[Mike]

Re: Cabrio Door locks

Well yesterday and today was spent playing with the lock [not all the time] it turns out its the passenger cable from the internal release to the lock that is sticking! I have freed it off but and it works ok but I would like a new one as I suspect the real issue is the cable isnt long enough and cant be secured properly to the door to give a smoother run.
So the question is is this cable off a sierra if so it would be nice to know where I can get a new one from I suspect Mr Ford is going to fall over laughing at me if I ask

From memory, I believe the rear door cable of a Sierra saloon is required as it is longer than the front door.
You could try looking on ebay for someone breaking Sierras?