Parking Brake Lever: Service and Repair

LEVER - PARKING BRAKE
REMOVAL

WARNING: THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FEATURE OF THIS PARKING BRAKE LEVER CONTAINS A CLOCK SPRING LOADED TO APPROXIMATELY 19 POUNDS. DO NOT RELEASE THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER LOCKOUT DEVICE UNLESS THE REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLES AND EQUALIZER ARE CONNECTED TO THE LEVER OUTPUT CABLE. KEEP HANDS OUT OF AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER SECTOR AND PAWL AREA. FAILURE TO OBSERVE CAUTION IN HANDLING THIS MECHANISM COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY.

WARNING: WHEN REPAIRS TO THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER OR CABLES ARE REQUIRED, THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER MUST BE LOADED AND LOCKED OUT TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY. THE LEVER ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM CAN BE LOADED AND LOCKED OUT AS OUTLINED IN THIS PROCEDURE.

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A COMPLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SERVICE ANY COMPONENT NEAR THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER (ORC), FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE CABLE. ALLOW THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO (2) MINUTES. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

1. Unclip the air cleaner cover (two clips) and move the cover aside.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable from its post on the battery.
3. Block the tire and wheels so the vehicle does not move once the vehicle parking brake lever is released.
4. Remove the transmission shift knob as necessary.
5. Place parking brake lever in released (full OFF) position.
6. Remove screws attaching center console.
7. Remove rear switch panel from center console.
8. Working through switch opening, grasp a parking brake cable or equalizer and pull back approximately 25.4 mm (1 inch)
9. While holding the cable or equalizer, pull the parking brake handle to it's full upright position.
10. Remove center console.





11. Grasp the parking brake lever output cable by hand and pull upward. Continue pulling cable until an appropriate pin punch (drill bit or locking pin) can be inserted sufficiently through hole in left side of the lever mounting bracket (Fig. 149). This will lock the barking brake automatic adjustment mechanism in place and take tension off the parking brake cables. Slowly release the output cable. There should now be slack in the cables.





12. Remove both rear parking brake cables from the parking brake cable equalizer (Fig. 150).
13. Remove the wiring harness electrical connector from the parking brake warning switch on the right side of the parking brake lever.





14. Remove the screw and the nut attaching the parking brake lever to the vehicle (Fig. 151).
15. Remove the parking brake lever from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION

WARNING: THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FEATURE OF THIS PARKING BRAKE LEVER CONTAINS A CLOCK SPRING LOADED TO APPROXIMATELY 19 POUNDS. DO NOT RELEASE THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER LOCKOUT DEVICE UNLESS THE REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLES AND EQUALIZER ARE CONNECTED TO THE LEVER OUTPUT CABLE. KEEP HANDS OUT OF AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER SECTOR AND PAWL AREA. FAILURE TO OBSERVE CAUTION IN HANDLING THIS MECHANISM COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY.

1. Place the parking brake lever on the mounting studs on the vehicle floor. Install and tighten the screw and the nut to a torque of 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.) (Fig. 151).
2. Connect the wiring harness electrical connector on the parking brake warning switch.
3. Install both rear park brake cables into the equalizer on the parking brake lever output cable (Fig. 150).
4. Ensure that the parking brake cables are correctly installed on the equalizer and aligned with the cable track on the parking brake lever.
5. Raise parking brake handle to full upright (applied) position.
6. Keeping your hands clear of the automatic adjuster sector and pawl area, firmly grasp the parking brake lever pin punch (drill bit or locking pin if a new mechanism has been installed) (Fig. 149), then quickly remove it from the parking brake lever mechanism. This will allow the park brake lever mechanism to automatically adjust the parking brake cables.
7. Install center console and mounting screws.
8. Install rear window switch panel.
9. Cycle the parking brake lever once to position the parking brake cables, then return the parking brake lever its released (full OFF) position.
10. Check the rear wheels of the vehicle. They should rotate freely without dragging with the lever in its released (full OFF) position.
11. Apply the parking brake.
12. Remove the blocks from the tires and wheels.
13. Reconnect the battery negative terminal.
14. Reinstall the air cleaner cover (two clips).