The parking or emergency brake is actuated by a cable that spans between the parking brake handle or pedal and the rear brake drums. Over time, the cable can stretch beyond adjustment, and under sever stress the cable can snap. Replacing the parking brake cable can be done with simple hand tools and is easily within the realm of the average home mechanic.
Lift the vehicle and support with jack stands underneath the frame.
Remove the rear wheels and tires.
Remove brake drums by pulling them off the wheel studs.
Locate the parking-brake adjuster underneath the vehicle. Remove the nuts from the actuating rod, and pull the brake cables off the adjuster.
At the brake drum, disengage the parking-brake cable from the brake shoe.
Remove the retainer that secures the parking-brake cable to the brake drum backing plate.
Disengage the brake cables from the retainers on the frame, and remove the cable from the vehicle.
Slide the new parking brake cable through the drum backing plate, and reinstall the retainer.
Connect the parking brake to the brake shoe.
Reinstall the rear break drums.
Thread the parking brake cables through the retainers on the frame.
Install the brake cables to the parking-brake adjusting rod, and reinstall the retaining nuts.
Reinstall the rear wheels and tires.
Lower the vehicle.
