How do you replace the front emergency brake cable

How do you replace the front emergency brake cable on a 2005 town and country? It's usually only possible to remove the cable from the tensioner after removing the pedal mechanism from under the dash. The cable pin is held in place by a tab bent in from the takeup wheel, and this probably can't be released with the mechanism still in the car. On the other hand, once the mechanism is out of the car you can use the old cable to pull the tensioner into a slack position. Using two locking pliers work the cable out, pulling the wheel around so the pin is next to the exit hole. Then drill a small hole into the side of the tensioner wheel, and set a screw or straight pin in the hole, jamming the wheel in the slack position. Once the new cable has been set in place, the mechanism has been reinstalled under the dash, and the cable reattached to the equalizer bracket mid-car, pull out the setpin, and everything will snug up nicely.