Operation

OPERATION

A hand operated lever in the passenger compartment is the main application device. The front cable is connected between the hand lever and the rear cables with an equalizer.

The rear cables are connected to the actuating lever on each primary brake shoe. The levers are attached to the brake shoes by a pin either pressed into, or welded to the lever. A clip is used to secure the pin in the brake shoe. The pin allows each lever to pivot independently of the brake shoe.

To apply the parking brakes, the hand lever is pulled upward. This pulls the rear brake shoe actuating levers forward, by means of a tensioner and cables. As the actuating lever is pulled forward, the parking brake strut (which is connected to both shoes), exerts a linear force against the secondary brake shoe. This action presses the secondary shoe into contact with the drum. Once the secondary shoe contacts the drum, force is exerted through the strut. This force is transferred through the strut to the primary brake shoe causing it to pivot into the drum as well.

A gear type ratcheting mechanism is used to hold the lever in an applied position. Parking brake release is accomplished by the hand lever release button.

A parking brake switch is mounted on the parking brake lever and is actuated by movement of the lever. The switch, which is in circuit with the red warning light in the dash, will illuminate the warning light whenever the parking brakes are applied.

Parking brake is self-adjusting when the lever is pulled. The cable tensioner, once adjusted at the factory, should not need further adjustment under normal circumstances.