Parking Brake System: Description and Operation
PARKING BRAKEDESCRIPTION
The parking brakes are operated by a system of cables and levers attached to a primary and secondary shoe positioned within the drum section of the rotor.
The drum-in-hat design utilizes an independent set of shoes to park the vehicle.
OPERATION
To apply the parking brake the pedal is depressed. This creates tension in the cable which pulls forward on the park brake lever. The lever pushes the park brake shoes outward and into contact with the drum section of the rotor. The contact of shoe to rotor parks the vehicle.
A torsion locking mechanism is used to hold the pedal in an applied position. Parking brake release is accomplished by the hand release.
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 brake is applied. Parking brake adjustment is controlled by a cable tensioner mechanism. The cable tensioner, once adjusted at the factory, should not need further adjustment under normal circumstances. Adjustment may be required if a new tensioner, or cables are installed, or disconnected.