Chrysler Repair: parking brakes locked up, parking brakes, chrysler voyager

Question
My 2002 Chrysler Voyager has been sitting for awhile, went to move vehicle and brakes are locked. How do I get them to become disengaged without jacking up my car and removing the tire? Tried rocking from reverse to park and it didn't work.

Answer
Hi Cynthia,
I don't believe there is any way to free up the rear parking brakes that are rusted tight as you describe other than to do what you have tried, only keep trying that; otherwise you do have to lift each rear wheel, remove the tire and then apply some penetrating oil to the interface between the brake drum and the parking brake shoes and let it sit for a while and then put the tire back on (maybe a day later) and do the back and forth procedure using the engine.
While the tire is off it is sometimes helpful as well to apply heat to the drum (after the penetrating oil has done its action) using a small torch and then put on the tire and do the back and forth. The differential heat expansion of the drum vs shoe will aid in freeing up the bind.
Note that the parking brake mechanism is part of the normal brake shoe/drum assembly with conventional-type rear brakes, while with disc brakes at the rear there is a separate parking brake drum assembly on the rear of hub/disc.
I hope that by simply doing the rocking alone you can free this up. Otherwise you may find it more practical to have the van towed (with the rear wheels elevated of course) to a brake shop and let them do it.
Roland