parking brake

[pronto210]

Hi Group,
We just bought a 1992 coupe,polo green,6speed with 44000 mile in showroom condition and we love this car except for the damn parking brake.The previous owner said they are problems so just put the car in gear when parking.
You have to pull the handle back until it unlocks and then the handle falls forward.The other day I pulled and pulled to release it,but to no avail and then I heard a snap and the handle went limp.THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BRAKE IS RELEASED so I can drive the car.The brake will not engage now however the brake light is constantly on.ANY SUGGESTIONS ON A FIX
Richard
92 coupe
Delaware

 

[Hrtbeat1]

Due to the low seat position, the parking brake is designed to fall back forward after being engaged. Its done this way to ease getting out of the car, imagine trying to hike your leg up over the handle after setting the brake to get out. If you pull the handle all the way up, press the release button, and let it retract it should clear the brake light (and actually fully release the parking brake.)

It's a fairly simple system. All cable actuated. The handle can be a little complicated if it has to be disassembled. There is a procedure I saw in the factory service manual, but I can't remember right off hand.

 

[air1jpg]

I copied the text below from my '96 owners manual. The parking brake on C4 vettes are different than most cars. I hope this helps.

To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up, then move it back down.
This sets your parking brake, even though the lever is
down. If the ignition is on, the parking brake indicator
light will come on.

To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button in as you move
the brake lever all the way down.

 

[John Robinson]

I copied the text below from my '96 owners manual. The parking brake on C4 vettes are different than most cars. I hope this helps.

To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up, then move it back down.
This sets your parking brake, even though the lever is
down. If the ignition is on, the parking brake indicator
light will come on.

To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button in as you move
the brake lever all the way down.

So thats how its done. I have had my 93 since 2004 and only used the P/B once and swore I would never use it again because I fiddled for over an hour to get it to release.

I am going to copy this and put it inside my console.

Now to the important business pronto210

 

[vette079]

And remember here that you can/must adjust the PB on a regular basis so the parking brake doesn´t get stuck. Once a week press brake pedal and pull and release parking brake three times to adjust (parking) brake pads on rear axle. Or read your FSM on this topic.

 

[kenmack]

Wow, Gotta owners manual

Hey guys this ain't rocket science,that's why they print owners' manuals.
The fix is go to a good brake shop and have a new cable or whatever you need replaced.
To release pull up until you feel tension
Push release button.Push handle down,dash light goes out.
If it doesn't release pull a bit harder on handle and push button again
p.s. EVEN IF IT SEEMS TO BE RELEASED,IF THE LIGHT IS ON IN THE DASH, PUSH THE BUTTON AGAIN TO FULLY DISENGAGE.