Parking Brake System: Description and Operation

PLASTIC COATED CABLES
This vehicle is equipped with coated parking brake cables. The wire strand is coated with a clear plastic material which slides over plastic seals inside the conduit end fittings. This is for corrosion protection and reduced parking brake effort. This vehicle has been equipped with a push-to-apply and push-to-release parking brake. To prevent damage to the threaded parking brake adjusting rod when servicing the parking brake, the following is recommended:
- Before attempting to turn the adjusting nut, clean the exposed threads on each side of the nut.
- Lubricate the threads of the adjusting rod before turning the nut. If any one of the parking brake cables have been replaced, it is necessary to "pre-stretch" the new cable before adjusting the parking brake. To do this, apply the parking brake pedal several times, fully releasing it each time. The parking brake pedal, located on the dash panel left of the service brake pedal, is a "push-to-release" type mechanism which is APPLIED by depressing the pedal once and RELEASED by depressing the pedal again. NO release handle is used.

CAUTION: Handling of these cables during servicing of the parking brake system requires extra care. Damage to the plastic coating will reduce corrosion protection and, if the damaged area passes through the seal, increased parking brake effort could result. Contact of the coating with sharp-edged tools, or with sharp surfaces of the vehicle under body, should be avoided.