Parking Brake System: Testing and Inspection

The park brake system can be checked for its ability to generate sufficient cable tension by performing the following steps:
1. Check the drum brake clearance and reset if required.
2. Fully apply and release the foot park brake lever 4 times.
3. Apply the lever to the 2 click position (3 clicks on hand operated brakes).
4. Raise the car and suitably support the vehicle.
5. Check the park brake cable tension by attempting to turn the right rear wheel with both hands. The wheel should rotate backward, not forward.
6. If the wheel rotates forward, readjust the rear shoe to the drum clearance until a light shoe to drum contact can be heard.
7. Release the park brake and check for rear brake drag. The rear wheels should turn freely (some light shoe to drum contact may be heard). The wire strands on the parking brake cables are coated with a plastic material which slides against nylon seals inside the conduit end fittings. This is for corrosion protection and reduced parking brake effort.

IMPORTANT: The plastic coated parking brake cables do not need periodic lubrication.

Handling of these cables during servicing of the parking brake system requires a little 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. Contacting the coating with sharp-edged tools, or with the sharp surfaces of the vehicle underbody, should be avoided.