The Assembly Manual and Service Manual for A-Body (1970 Cutlass/442) show three bolts for the emergency/parking brake assembly. Two bolts go horizontal into the firewall while the third bolt is shown sitting vertical on the housing near the parking brake release handle. It looks like it would be a fairly long bolt. My car's (1970 442) assembly is just attached to the firewall. I am concerned I am missing the bolt that goes near the handle which would give it a little more support. If there is such a bolt or support, please include a photograph of what your's looks like. Thanks

 

yes, there is a bolt. it goes straight up through the parking brake bracket assembly. while my 70 F-85 is sitting out in the parking lot here at work I don't have a way to get a photo for you

 

The bolts are not long; actually only about 7/8" or so; don't have the thread count though. I just removed one of these from a 1971 Cutlass. The third bolt does offer some extra vertical stability but the 2 firewall bolts and the e brake primary cable will hold it securely for function.

 

The space between the bracket assembly and the lower dash where it bolts to is a good 3 inches. That is why I wonder if I am missing something that was there to begin with. I would like to see a picture of someone who has it bolted.

 

Someone's pushed too hard on the foot pedal and maybe bent it down. Try pushing it back up. It fastens with a self tapping metal bolt. Looks like a 1/2" bolt head and it's only about 3/4" long. Here's a pic from my car. Sorry it's dark, I had to use my old trouble light. You can clearly see the bolt you're missing though. It's the same if you have AC (which I don't)

 

The third bolt is for more than just vertical stability. It's primary function is to prevent the bracket from swinging left/right if you don't press directly on the pedal.

 

I remember a couple years ago, went to push the pedal and that bolt shot out of there and hit me in the shin like a bullet.

 

If it swings that much the firewall nuts have come loose and primary ebrake cable isn't attached properly.

 

Sorry, but as a structural engineer, I have to disagree. The side-to-side forces won't prevent the e-brake from working, but they WILL eventually fatigue the holes in the firewall. The fact that something works once doesn't mean that it will work 100,000 miles down the road.

 

I think my picture and solution pretty much addresses what the OP wanted to know.

 

Thanks for the picture. My bracket has to come up a bit. I wish people would put things back together as they were meant to be instead of throwing them out just because they don't want to monkey with them. There are a couple of places I can think of where it may have happened. I didn't realize it was missing until I got under there and looked it up in the assembly and service manual.

 

You're welcome - should be able to bolt that up and problem solved! I'd also check the e-brake to see if it still functions. There has to be a reason why that bolt was removed; possibly to replace the primary e-brake cable? Check both cables, equalizer and tensions.

I'd also check the firewall nuts and make sure they are tight. I think they are 5/16" from memory? The studs are welded onto the park brake assembly so you only have to worry about the nuts having been torqued snug.