Self-adjuster cable

The only cable I can really think of in the rear brakes is the parking brake cable. If that's the case, you simply won't have a parking brake on that side. I don't know about the cost, but I would guess you could do it yourself much cheaper. I takes a little work to get them out and in and routed, but you can decide if you want to do that.

!!!$160!!!! I hope that is for a complete rear brake job with new parts and not just replacing that one cable! That cable is inside the wheel drum and is part of the self adjustment mechanism. That may be why your ebrakes don't work well. If the brakes are not adjusting right as you continue to use them, then eventually they are not working at all. My guess is they are not working at all on that wheel.

You can get a brake harware parts kit for your car that has all new cables, springs and clips that they use for a complete brake job for probably $20 or so per side. I just looked at www.autozone.com and they have just the rear drum self adjuster kit for $9.99.

You could do it yourself if you have some knowledge about drum brakes, or want to read up on them. You would have to take the parts apart to get to it, and that requires a couple of special tools, but you could probably rent them or buy them for like $10-15. I always did one side at a time when working on my drums so I could look at the other side to see how it all fits back together. Then you have to adjust the brakes to get them working right.

If you don't NEED a brake job yet, I wouldn't think it should cost more than $40 to replace the self adjuster kit. It is probably a 15 min job for someone that does it every day.

Good luck!

Thomas