Parking Brake Not Effective

Pulling on the parking/hand brake on the '65 Valiant Signet convertible does not apply the parking brake. The handle will slide out 1 3/4" and then comes to an abrupt stop. Looking underneath at the cables while I pull on the handle, I can see the main cable from the handle is free but the cables entering the brake drums are stuck.

I already tried squirting some penetrating oil into the two rear cables, but that rubbery seal around the cable makes it difficult. After the oil, I pulled on the handle time and time again with no change/improvement. Is there another trick out there I haven't thought of yet? Thank you.

You can take them off and soak them in your favorite penetrant,then work the cable back and forth,or replace them.

Disconnect the rear cables from both ends and work them back and forth with some grease on the section of the cable that goes into the cable housing. If it's really stuck, do as 64mopar says and remove them and soak them in WD40, PB Blaster, CRC, diesel fuel, etc. Flexing the housing might help break the cable loose inside.

I bought two new cables at autozone for my Duster

dibbons said:

Pulling on the parking/hand brake on the '65 Valiant Signet convertible does not apply the parking brake. The handle will slide out 1 3/4" and then comes to an abrupt stop. Looking underneath at the cables while I pull on the handle, I can see the main cable from the handle is free but the cables entering the brake drums are stuck.

I already tried squirting some penetrating oil into the two rear cables, but that rubbery seal around the cable makes it difficult. After the oil, I pulled on the handle time and time again with no change/improvement. Is there another trick out there I haven't thought of yet? Thank you.

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Are you using the straw that came with the penetrant? Looks to me like taking those off may be a whole can of worms.i

I used the straw, but I have not squeezed the straw between the rubber and the cable (looks like it would be a really tight fit).

The cause is very simple. Cables are internally rusted. Best is to figure out a replacement. If you can not buy them you'll have to look for something to substitute, and may have to deal with differing lengths.

I grew up in the N end of Idaho where we have winter. Even "back then" they would freeze up in winter. NObody I knew would TOUCH a parking brake in winter. Two short stories:

One day a friend and I were eating at a local Wendy's Hamburger, which dumps out onto a 4 lane street. Someone in a Chevy Citation went out off the icy parking lot, got out into the wet but bare pavement of the street and INSTANTLY stopped!!!

For awhile, I worked from Idaho into Spokane WA. One early morning as I approached "State Line" here was a big slow down. The right lane was incredibly slow, but we had all only been driving maybe 30-35 as the freeway was a sheet of ice. I finally made my way up to the "slowdown" and here were several women in a Citation, going very slowly, AND THE REAR TIRES WERE STOPPED. It was so slick it really did not matter. I honked and waved and they pulled over. I told them their rear wheels were froze, and releasing the brake did nothing. They managed to "drag" it off the exit for the truck scales.