I managed to install the snow cables last year. However, there is not much space between the snow cable and the brake line. Maybe about 1/2" gap. Has anyone moved/repositioned their brake lines to have more space?

 

First, I am glad I know what a "snow cable" is. I must have missed the thumbnails on your post the first time. I know them as "tire chains" but I see they are not exactly chains, soI guess it is "snow cable". Secondly, why if you are in So Ca, you need snow cable, unless you plan to go up the grapevine pass in the snow or you go to the resorts in the winter. Lastly, as long as they are on the tires per the manufacturers instructions, and have the correct cable for your size tire, don't worry, You should be good to go because the centrifugal force will not allow the snow cable to get wider and hit the brake cable. Just as a top fuel dragster accelerates, the centrifugal force makes the tires grow bigger and skinnier. Product liability for this would necessitate that there is no way, if you have the correct cable for the specific tire, that it will come in contact with the brake hose.

 

Yes, I do plan to go up the mountains a lot. We just got a vacation home there last year. Our Outlander made it through the winter season but it was not the main SUV we use. I did not have to use the cables because I had fairly new tires on the MDX. For this winter season, I plan to use the Outlander as our main ride. As a matter of fact, I just recently bought a new set of tires(Hankook Optimo) for the Outlander. The snow cable is really just for my back up/ emergency situations. It's just better to be prepared.
The only things that bother me earlier are that the Outlander manual says never to use snow chains/cables, and that the cable is too close to the brake lines. The fitment of the cables is perfect! Good example on the centrifugal force, btw...and thanks for the response. Now I'm not worried about using my snow cables...

 

One small but important point you did not mention in your first post. If Mitsubishi says that snow chains or cables are not to be used due to clearance issues, I would not use them and not advise anyone to do so.

Sorry.

 

Oppps..my bad. The manual states section 7-30: TIRE CHAINS cannot be used on your vehicle. The clearance between the chains and the body is not sufficient to allow proper clearance, and the vehicle body might be damaged.
I have cables. Manual mentioned chains and not cables. There is enough clearance between the body and snowcable. I will install my other cable to the MDX and check the clearance between the brake line and the snow cable. If it's the same as the Outlander's then I'm confident that I can use it safely.

 

2007 outlander-tire size 225/55/18. snow cables avialable at vulcantire.com. stock #15010,for small clearance tires .I used mine for two winters with NO trouble. $82. alsolisted underitem SZ 139.

 

That's great! It's nice to know that someone has actually used one. I have the SZ339. Thanks for sharing your experience...