Hyper-extended, now frozen, hand brake..

dalrock · Post by **dalrock** » 03 Dec 2012, 14:21

Yup, it's all my fault. My '89 240 wagon was on a slight incline and I pulled up hard on the emergency brake because I needed to look at the (slipping) alternator belt with the engine running (it's a stick). I can push the handle button in, but the lever is NOT going down..... I put a cat's paw on the toothed wheel and gave it a tap with a hammer (WD40 sprayed everywhere, EVERYWHERE! I tell ya!) to try to free it up - no joy. I've moved the beast up and down the driveway and tried freeing up the e-brake with her on the flat. NO! She hates me now... Did I mention that I'm in the tropics? land of rust and, well, rust? And that due to health problems I haven't driven this car in 18 months (have been using it for the past three weeks though, slowly addressing all manner of issues directly relating to neglect and lack of love). I am now without wheels. Any suggestions would help keep me from hurting people around me....

dalrock · Post by **dalrock** » 03 Dec 2012, 18:11

: brake lever.JPG (36.44 KiB) Viewed 464 times

I"m not sure that the problem may just be that the brake lever itself is not lowering down to its proper position. It will lower some, but then it stops. Anyone know where I can see a photo of the brake lever mechanism? I can't get the vinyl cover off the handle to get a good optic on how it seats over the gear mechanism.

dalrock · Post by **dalrock** » 04 Dec 2012, 16:14

Fixed it. The guide metal in the side of the lever mechanism got pinched in so the the lever was getting hung up on the "crease" and couldn't fit between the two side pieces that go on either side of the ratchet gear. I bent it back and it slid right down. While I was in there, I tightened up the cables so I hopefully won't even be ABLE to crank it that high again.