Parking Brake System: Description and Operation

Fig 1 Parking Brake Pedal Assembly:

OPERATION
The trailing rear drum brake shoes serve as the parking brakes. The shoes are moved into contact with the brake drum surface by a cable and lever mechanism attached to the trailing brake shoe.

A strut installed between the primary and secondary shoes maintains shoe position when the parking brakes are applied.

Cables
Three parking brake cables are used. The front cable is connected to the parking brake pedal assembly. An intermediate cable is used to connect the front cable to the right and left rear cables.

Cable Equalizer
The cable equalizer is attached to the intermediate cable and secured by the cable tensioner and equalizer.

Cable Tensioner
The cable tensioner controls parking brake cable adjustment.

Pedal Assembly
The parking brakes are applied and released by a pedal assembly mounted on the driver side cowl panel. The front cable is directly attached to the assembly. The pedal assembly contains a spring loaded, ratchet-type mechanism to hold the pedal in the applied position. A cable and spring are used to release the ratchet mechanism and return the pedal to normal position.