Parking Brake May Not Hold (Reconnect Parking Brake Cable at Rear Brake Assembly)

Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint :

Some customers may comment that the parking brake may not hold under extreme use.

The right rear parking brake cable may not be fully connected at the rear drum brake assemblies.

Follow the service procedure below for diagnosis and repair of this condition.

1. Park the vehicle on level ground with the engine off and the key removed from the ignition.

•	Vehicles with automatic transmissions, place the shifter in the PARK position.

•	Vehicle with manual transmission, place the vehicle in GEAR.

2. Fully apply and release the parking brake cable 6 times. Leave the parking brake in the released position.
3. Locate the parking brake equalizer on the left (drivers) side outboard frame rail.




Important: If the equalizer plate is vertical or near vertical as shown above, both parking brake cables ARE correctly installed at the rear brake assemblies and no further repair is required with this bulletin.

4. If the equalizer plate is vertical or near vertical as shown above, both parking brake cables ARE correctly installed at the rear brake assemblies and no further repair is required with this bulletin. For additional diagnosis of the rear parking brake system, refer to Park Brake System Diagnosis w/Rear Drum (SI Document ID #1471452).



5. If the equalizer plate is NOT or near vertical and is tilted/slanted one way or the other as shown above, then one parking brake cable is not connected correctly at the rear brake assembly. If the above is found, one of the cables will have little or no tension. The cable with little or no tension is the disconnected cable.
6. Disconnect the no tension cable from the equalizer plate.
7. With either hand, grab the disconnected cable and rapidly push the cable back into the cable housing. This will allow the parking brake cable to attach at the rear brake assembly.

•	When the cable is properly attached to the rear brake assembly, there will only be a small amount of slack or play in the cable.

•	If the cable can still be moved fore and aft like before, the cable is not connected correctly. Repeat the above step until the cable is properly connected with only a small amount of slack or play.

8. Reconnect the brake cable to the equalizer plate by grasping the single park brake cable coming from the front of the vehicle and pulling rearward.
9. While the single front cable is pulled rearward, insert the end of the disconnected cable into the opening on the equalizer plate.
10. Fully apply and release the parking brake 6 times.
11. Inspect the equalizer plate and verify that it is vertical or near vertical as shown in the first graphic above. If the equalizer plate is not or near vertical, repeat steps 6 through 11 above.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

*This is a unique labor operation for use only with this bulletin. This number will not be published in the Labor Time Guide.