Abstract: A cable tension tester including a hang-on device having spaced clamping rollers and a central tang for bending the cable by lateral displacement through a predetermined departure .DELTA. from a straight line. A load cell connected to the tang measures the force required to maintain the departure. The tester comprises a frame, a slide body for clamping and bending the cable, a lever-type actuator and a spring connecting the actuator to the slide body so as to avoid local flattening of large diameter cables. In the illustrated form, the tester is part of a motor vehicle brake cable tension adjuster including a controller having one or more comparators for comparing measured tension to tension reference values. A difference signal is applied to a control valve to operate an air wrench which turns a nut on a tension adjustment shaft while the parking brake pedal is maintained in a fixed position.