Parking brake cables removal and installation for 1997 Buick Lesabre?

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figure 1

Fig. Fig. 1: Parking brake cable routing and related components - 1994 vehicle shown, others similar

Front Cable

See Figure 2

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Loosen the equalizer/adjuster assembly at the front parking brake cable.
3. Remove the front parking brake cable from the equalizer assembly.
4. Disconnect the cable retaining nut from the underbody.
5. Carefully lower the vehicle.
6. Remove the cable from the control lever assembly.

Fig. Fig. 2: Exploded view of the front parking brake cable-to-lever mounting

To install:

7. Install the cable to the control lever assembly.
8. Install the cable casing retaining nut to the underbody and tighten the nut to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm).
9. Attach the front parking brake cable to the equalizer assembly. Tighten the equalizer assembly at the front parking brake cable.
10. Adjust the parking brake cable, as outlined later in this section.
11. Lower the vehicle.

Intermediate Cable

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Disconnect the intermediate brake cable from the adjuster.
3. Remove the clip from the brake pipe retainer and cable, then remove the cable from the rear equalizer.
4. Remove the cable from the bracket and brake pipe retainers.

To install:

5. Route and install the cable into the brake pipe retainers, then snap the cable into the bracket.
6. Install the cable through the top support hole in the underbody.
7. Connect the left and right rear cables to the intermediate cable, utilizing the equalizer.
8. Install the clip around the cable and the brake pipe retainer, then tighten the retaining bolts to 53 inch lbs. (6 Nm).
9. Connect the cable to the adjuster.
10. Adjust the parking brake, as outlined later in this section.
11. Carefully lower the vehicle.

Rear Cable

See Figures 3 and 4

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Back off the adjuster nut to release the cable tension.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
4. Remove the brake drum and insert the proper tool between the brake shoe and the top part of the actuator bracket.
5. Push the bracket to the front and release the top adjuster bracket rod.
6. Remove the rear hold-down spring, actuator lever and the lever return spring.
7. Disconnect the adjuster screw spring and remove the top rear brake shoe return spring.
8. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever.
9. Depress the conduit fitting retaining tangs and remove the conduit fitting from the backing plate.

Fig. Fig. 3: Use pliers, or a special tool, to depress the parking brake cable conduit fitting's retaining tangs ...

Fig. Fig. 4: ... then remove the parking brake cable conduit fitting from the brake backing plate (components removed for clarity)

10. Remove the left rear cable by backing off the equalizer nut and disconnecting the conduit from the under body bracket.
11. Remove the right rear cable by disconnecting the cable end button from the connector and remove the conduit fitting from the axle bracket.

To install:

12. Install the right rear cable by connecting the conduit fitting to the axle bracket and cable end button to the connector.
13. Install the left rear cable by connecting the conduit fitting to the axle bracket and the left cable to the equalizer nut. Connect the conduit fitting the underbody bracket.
14. Install the conduit fitting to the backing plate and connect the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever.
15. Install the top brake shoe return spring and the adjuster screw spring.
16. Replace the lever return spring, actuator lever and the rear hold-down spring.
17. Install the top adjuster bracket rod. Replace the brake drum assembly.
18. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Adjust the parking brake cable.
19. Carefully lower the vehicle.

ADJUSTMENT

See Figure 5

1. Adjust the rear brakes, as outlined in this section.
2. Apply and release the parking brake 6 times to 10 clicks, for 1987-90 vehicles. For 1991-99 vehicles, apply and release the parking brake 5 times, to 6 clicks. Release the park brake pedal.
3. Check the parking brake pedal for full release by turning the ignition to the ON position and checking the BRAKE warning lamp. The lamp should be off. If the lamp is on, make sure the pedal is in the fully release position ad pull downward on the front parking brake cable to remove the slack.
4. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the access hole plug from the rear brake backing plates.

Fig. Fig. 5: Proper parking brake adjustment will permit the passage of a 1/8 in. drill bit between the brake shoe and parking brake lever

5. Adjust the parking brake cable until a ¹ / ₈ in. drill bit can be inserted through the access hole into the space between the shoe web and the parking brake lever. Satisfactory cable adjustment is achieved when a ¹ /₈ in. bit will fit into the space, but a ¹ / ₄ in. bit will not.
6. Apply the parking brake one click, and check the rear wheel rotation. When you try to rotate the wheels by hand in a forward direction, they should not move; in a rearward direction, they should either drag, or not move.
7. Release the parking brake and check for free wheel rotation.
8. Reinstall the access hole plugs, then carefully lower the vehicle.