Parking brake handle repair

[Dave N]

Hi folks,

I have a 96 Outback, and the parking brake handle is acting flaky: it
doesn't solidly "click" anymore, and sometimes falls back down when
pulled up and released. If I reach my finger in through the opening at
the base of the handle, I can put manual pressure on the "trigger" that
fits in the gears, and while I do that the handle behaves normally
(clicks and holds just fine).

I have a few theories about what might be happening. My first theory is
that the tension has lessened between the thumb button and that trigger.
I noticed that if I hold down the thumb button and move that trigger
around with my finger, there's about 1/8 inch of play, which would be
enough to keep it from latching properly. So perhaps the spring or
cable or whatever runs through that handle needs adjusting.

Another possibility is that that "trigger" (help me out with the vocab!)
has worn down a bit. That bit of play in the trigger may be normal, but
maybe it just doesn't reach as far any more.

Another option is that maybe the parking brake cable needs adjustment.
The Chilton's manual says lifting the brake lever should take 7 or 8
clicks, and mine takes about 11 right now. It doesn't seem right, but
maybe when the cable needs tightening handle can stop latching?

So, are there other options, or is one of these most likely? If it's a
problem with the trigger itself, is there any hope of repair, or should
I just bite the bullet and replace the handle assembly?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[Leo Lichtman]

maybe the parking brake cable needs adjustment.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It does sound like your cable needs adjustment--a fairly easy job, and
you should do it. However, when I bought my '99 Outback, it was so
bad that the car would roll backwards on hills--yet the clicking was
just fine. I don't think the two things are related.

 

[Dave N]

(e-mail address removed) (Leo Lichtman) wrote in

maybe the parking brake cable needs adjustment.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It does sound like your cable needs adjustment--a fairly easy job, and
you should do it. However, when I bought my '99 Outback, it was so
bad that the car would roll backwards on hills--yet the clicking was
just fine. I don't think the two things are related.

Thanks, Leo. The manual says I need to bleed the brake hydraulic system
before adjusting the parking brake cable. Is that absolutely necessary, or
can I just jump right to the cable adjustment (which looks far simpler)?

 

[Leo Lichtman]

Thanks, Leo. The manual says I need to bleed the brake hydraulic system
before adjusting the parking brake cable. Is that absolutely necessary, or
can I just jump right to the cable adjustment (which looks far simpler)?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't have the service manual, so I went by the Owner's Manual. It
tells how many clicks the lever should have between off and tight, so
I set it to that, and it is fine now. If you try to do the adjustment
and it doesn't work, I would certainly consider bleeding as the next
undertaking.