Parking Brake Release

73Coupe

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Well I haven't been around in a while, just been driving the hell out of my C-Body. It's been running fine and haven't had to do any heavy work on it for months. 27,000+ miles in two years since I acquired it!

I decided to tackle the parking brake release last weekend. It's the automatic type, with the
vacuum switch mounted to the steering column. The parking brake wouldn't stay on unless the car was off (no vacuum). Long story short, I trouble-shooted the issue and discovered everything is ok except for the engagement of the switch spring-loaded tang with the shifter tube (inside the column). I didn't expect this, since there is no adjustment in-out of the switch, only a rotational adjustment (which doesn't help in this case).

Anybody ever play around with this little bugger? It's a pain to get to, and hard to see what's going on. With a mirror I saw the shifter tube through the slot in the column. I wouldn't expect the shifter tube to have any adjustment inside the column, or does it? Or should there be a tang on the tube that engages with the switch? There is only a slot. It appears to be offset about 1/4" from the outside, just out of reach of the switch tang. The design of the switch tells me that the tube (or a tang attached to it) should have movement very near the inside surface of the steering column.

The link below to the Imperial club page on the switch covers everything in great depth, but not the issue at hand:

Chrysler Imperial Parking Brake Repair Information

park brake switch.jpg
 
Well I haven't been around in a while, just been driving the hell out of my C-Body. It's been running fine and haven't had to do any heavy work on it for months. 27,000+ miles in two years since I acquired it!

I decided to tackle the parking brake release last weekend. It's the automatic type, with the
vacuum switch mounted to the steering column. The parking brake wouldn't stay on unless the car was off (no vacuum). Long story short, I trouble-shooted the issue and discovered everything is ok except for the engagement of the switch spring-loaded tang with the shifter tube (inside the column). I didn't expect this, since there is no adjustment in-out of the switch, only a rotational adjustment (which doesn't help in this case).

Anybody ever play around with this little bugger? It's a pain to get to, and hard to see what's going on. With a mirror I saw the shifter tube through the slot in the column. I wouldn't expect the shifter tube to have any adjustment inside the column, or does it? Or should there be a tang on the tube that engages with the switch? There is only a slot. It appears to be offset about 1/4" from the outside, just out of reach of the switch tang. The design of the switch tells me that the tube (or a tang attached to it) should have movement very near the inside surface of the steering column.

The link below to the Imperial club page on the switch covers everything in great depth, but not the issue at hand:

Chrysler Imperial Parking Brake Repair Information
I could only provide you with pictures for a better understanding if you want but I haven't touched this part yet.
 
Thanks a lot! From the last photo, I can see there's a plastic clip that slips over the slot on the shift tube. I am missing this for some reason, or maybe it popped off and is sitting down inside the column. This explains it.
 
It's a plastic clip and a square metal washer! It's possible that its inside the shift tube and if, it's impossible to get it out of there without removing the whole column. :(
 
The shop vac didn't pull anything out, but I did manage to snap a pic which shows the opening and slot, sans plastic clip. You can see where the tang has been rubbing slightly on the shift tube.
Oh well, I locked the vacuum switch in the "P" position with a paper clip so I can at least use the brake now. I'm over it :)

parking brake switch-1.JPG
 
Fast forward three years later, and I happen to have the column out for another reason. I shook the column and heard a rattle....out drops the plastic clip.

IMG_9096.JPEG


IMG_9095.JPEG
 
Last edited:
Yup. One of the tangs on the backside of the clip was broken off. I will probably JB weld it back onto the shift tube.
 
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