Volvo: parking brake, parking brake cable, mechanical linkage

Question
Jason,
   Maybe you can help me out.  I've got a '90 Volvo 240.  I pulled the parking brake all the way on, and now I can't get the lever to release.  Consequently the rear wheels are locked up tight.  I want to tow it from the rear on a tow dolly.  But I can't budge it because I can't return the parking brake lever to the "released" position. The cable is not froze up.  It had been working fine.  But rather, the lever having been pulled to the furthest on position, it now won't release.  Can you make a suggestion on how I can either release the parking brake or otherwise release the rear wheels .  With the brake on, would that mean that the hydraulic rear brakes are engaged?  If so, is there some way I can release the rear brakes? Bleed the fluid maybe?  Might there be an easy way to release the tension on the parking brake cable(s), or the hydraulic fluid to release the rear brakes?  Any suggestions at all?  Thank you for your anticipated input.-------Jack  

Answer
The parking brake on the 240 is a mechanical linkage, meaning it isn't tied to the "fluid" disc brakes activated by the brake petal.  From the parking brake handle, a link cable runs to the rear tires to engage mechanical shoes to stop the wheels.  There are ways to disconnect this line by getting under the car, but because the system is already under tension, it would probably be very difficult to disconnect.  Rather, I would suggest the following (because I've gotten myself into this pickle in the past).

The lever arm for the brake pivots on a stationary gear underneath, with small one way teeth that ride up the circular gear as you pull the lever up (thats the clicking you hear).  To release the one way teeth in order to lower the lever, you have to press the button on the tip of the handle.  In your case, my guess is that you have pulled so hard, and there is SO much tension on the one way tooth, that you can't physically press the button in to release the lever.  So, get in the backseat, in the middle and reach up through the two front seats in order to get a better grip on the lever.  What you will have to end up doing is pulling up ever so slightly on the lever until just enough tension has been taken off the tooth that you can press the button in again and lower the lever.  It might take quite a bit of force, but from the backseat with two hands you should be able to do it.