This is a novice question but can someone tell me how to adjust the parking brake on my '69 Oldsmobile?

It takes a lot of effort for me to be able to push it down far enough to get one "click" where it holds the car. I'd like to loosen the tension on it.

Thanks in advance.

 

There is an adjustment on the cable under the car. Should be visible when you look underneath.

 

Would it be under the driver's side area closer towards the front of the car?

 

It will be near the middle of the car close to the end of the transmission. Should be two half inch nuts on the end of the threaded part of the front cable. Use vice grips on the square part of the threaded rod and two wrenches on the nuts, and adjust away.

 

Awesome. Thank you.

 

Actually there are three nuts. Two are together to lock each other.

 

Got it. Will find some time to attempt this.

 

Keep in mind that the park brake cannot be adjusted properly if the service brake is out-of-adjustment. Adjust (or verify the adjustment is correct) the service brake FIRST.

About the only time the park brake gets too tight is when someone adjusted it without paying attention to the service brake.

 

First, I would not back off on the parking brake adjustment just yet. Instead, when you go to set the parking brake, hold regular brake pedal down with your right foot while you press the parking brake pedal with your left. You'll find that it works much easier that way.

 

X2. I have lost count of the number of times I have fixed bad parking brakes by simply adjusting the foorbrake properly. However quite often I have found it necessary to slacken off an over adjusted parking brake cable first.

Roger

 

Okay, folks if you can provide your opinion here.....I found the parking brake adjustment screw under the car but noticed that there's a gap between it and the nut (like it's caught up instead of sliding down against the nut). Before I spray it with lube and try to slide the piece to the nut does this look right?

 

I'm not following...how do I adjust the service brake? I'm not even sure what that is to be honest.

 

Yessir, I always keep the brake pedal down when I engage the parking brake.

 

The "service brakes" are the main brakes, the ones that you use "all the time" to slow or stop the car. On these vehicles (but not on EVERY vehicle) drum brakes are adjusted with the star wheel at the bottom of the brake assembly, behind the drum. In normal operation, they self-adjust when you release the brake pedal after firmly stopping in reverse. They can be manually adjusted with a "brake spoon" by turning the star wheel, or with your fingers after removing the brake drum.

Disc brakes are self-adjusting as long as the caliper piston isn't seized. There is no adjustment procedure except to step on the brake pedal and let them do their thing.

I'd expect the cable guide to be tight to the nut. The nut gets tightened against the cable guide to make the adjustment. If there's a gap between the cable guide and the nut...you've found some of the problem. Slide the cable guide down the rod to the yellow nut. I have to admit I don't understand how the cable guide can be jammed on the rod so that it won't naturally slide down to the yellow nut. Is there a spacer in there that I'm not seeing?

WHEN YOU'RE DONE, THE REAR BRAKE SHOES MUST BOTH TOUCH THE ANCHOR PIN AT THE TOP OF THE BACKING PLATE ON EACH SIDE. If all four shoes don't touch the anchor pins, the cable is too tight.

Worst-case: Remove both rear drums. Loosen the park brake cable as needed so that all the shoes touch their anchor pin at the top of the backing plate. Adjust service brakes using the star wheel at the bottom of each rear brake. THEN adjust the park brake cable so that it firmly engages somewhere short of the last notch in the park brake pedal mechanism.

The service manual will have detailed procedures and photos.

 

Thank you sir! Really appreciate the detailed information.