C1 Parking Brake

[Christopher R.]

I want to remove the parking brake lever on my '62. The rod with the handle and the serrations that you yank up to engage the brake. But I don't want to disturb the housing. The housing is bolted to the firewall on one end, and under the dash at the other. I'd like to be able to slide the rod out through the support at the top under the dash in the passenger compartment.

Looking at the AIM, it seems that the rod is attached to the cable at the engine compartment end. There's a nut and a spring clip in the engine compartment at the end of the assembly housing where it pokes through the firewall. The AIM says that they are attached by inserting the ball on the cable into a slotted hole at the end of the rod.

If I disconnect that spring clip and nut, will the rod slide out the top?

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Parking Brake

I want to remove the parking brake lever on my '62. The rod with the handle and the serrations that you yank up to engage the brake. But I don't want to disturb the housing. The housing is bolted to the firewall on one end, and under the dash at the other. I'd like to be able to slide the rod out through the support at the top under the dash in the passenger compartment.

Looking at the AIM, it seems that the rod is attached to the cable at the engine compartment end. There's a nut and a spring clip in the engine compartment at the end of the assembly housing where it pokes through the firewall. The AIM says that they are attached by inserting the ball on the cable into a slotted hole at the end of the rod.

If I disconnect that spring clip and nut, will the rod slide out the top?

Christopher,

The clip secures the outer cable to the nut. The nut screws on to the outer parking brake housing.

There is a pin driven through the handle shaft with a flat top that prevents the handle shaft from pulling all the way out of the housing. There is also a small hole on the underside of the housing that allows you to drive the pin out when you line it up with the hole.

After driving the pin out, you need to pull the handle forward and unhook the balled end of the inner parking brake cable.

Regards,

Dennis

[Christopher R.]

Re: C1 Parking Brake

Thank you, Dennis. The reason for all this is that pin to which you refer. It's missing. And that's why my parking brake alarm doesn't work.

So it sounds like I could get the rod out. But, then if I put the pin in, I couldn't get it back in.

Back to the drawing board. Anybody got any ideas on how to get that pin inserted into the rod while the rod is in place?

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Parking Brake

Thank you, Dennis. The reason for all this is that pin to which you refer. It's missing. And that's why my parking brake alarm doesn't work.

So it sounds like I could get the rod out. But, then if I put the pin in, I couldn't get it back in.

Back to the drawing board. Anybody got any ideas on how to get that pin inserted into the rod while the rod is in place?

Christopher,

Putting the pin in should not be too hard. It inserts from the top, not the bottom. Since the top of the housing is open, once you find the hole you should be able to start the pin. I don't know if you will have enough room to drive the pin in, however, you might be able to press it in with a large pair of pliers. Be careful to protect the housing if you need to use the pliers.

Dennis

[John F.]

Re: C1 Parking Brake

I just popped the broken off pin from the underside hole. You need to get under there with a light to make sure the hole and pin line up. Mine popped out very easily. To install the new pin I lined up the hole with a nail and then very carefully took out the nail and set the new pin in. With a pair of channel locks the pin went in very easily. I bought the pin from CC. I just got my alarm switch back from being rebuilt and tested by Mike Hack at Eastern Corvettes. (513)553-2080 or cell(513)600-6303. I will be adjusting it tomorrow. I hope the little flashing bulb on the dash is working.
John F

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Parking Brake

John,

For doing the adjustment, you might want to take the lamp out of the circuit by unplugging the wires and using a continuity tester.

I found the adjustment under the dash a lot easier this way.

Regards,

Dennis