Emergency Brake Cable - Help Needed
 

I need a little help on this one. I just finished up on my lift and at full droop the emergency brake cables were extremely tight. I just dropped the emergency brake cable hanger initially until I read that some people were rerouting them below the cross member so they would not interfere with the gas tank filler line. Here's where my troubles began..... I disconnected the emergency brake cables from the actuators at the hubs and got them routed beautifully. I then slid both of the the brake cables back into their slots on the axle and discovered the lines on both sides had pulled into the cable and are now a couple of inches from reaching the brake actuators. I have a picture attached that shows how far the cable is from reaching the brake actuators now. I did some searching and found discussions about the JK emergency brake handle assembly having a clockspring that keeps tension on the emergency brake lines. My thinking is that when I disconnected both brake cables that this clockspring may have sucked in the brake lines??? If this is how that works, how do I release the lines so they will extend back out?
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jk-...39d8f9bd3a.jpg
Emergency Brake Cable

This thread may give you some ideas regarding the tension spring at the parking brake lever. Look at what the "lock pin" is doing in the third photo.
OEM Parking Brake Lever Study

A side note about dropping your cables- Rugged Ridge makes a 2" square tube with holes in the right spot so you can drop your lines yet keep them mounted to the tub like the factory. Their price was $20 but you can buy a small piece of scrap for much cheaper and then just add hardware.

Remove your console. You'll be able to get to the e-brake mechanism. Put the e-brake handle down (off-like when you are driving) and you can pull the cable out. It will want to spring back in. I use vise grips to hook to the cable once I have it out (lightly-don't do it so tight that you crimp the cable). This will you allow you more cable to hook the cables up. Once hooked up remove the vise grips and reinstall the console.