I have a '71 Chevelle SS with an auto trans. The parking brake does not work. The pedal sags just enough so the 'BRAKE' light on my dash comes on. If you push it all the way to the ground and try the release it won't come up on its own. Also if pushed down, the brakes don't engage. Can I crawl under my car and look for something to see what would be wrong? The car came from Georgia and a lot of things were rusty so maybe there is something specific rusted, or maybe something else is wrong. Might need it soon as I may be converting to a manual trans. Thanks.

There are a series of cables and hooks that are used to operate the park/e brake. Look under the car and see if there are any cables under there at all and let us know.

if the pedal sags, and does not come up on its own, regardless of it being connected to the cable, the brake mechanism inside the car needs to be replaced. Used ones are available and I may have one as well. The cables do not affect the pedal mechanism, only if the car does not stop, which you have not indicated that the brakes don't hold, will the cables be the problem.

Sorry it's been a while since this post, it's been too rainy lately and I've been a bit busy to crawl under the car. Anyway, I looked under and yes there is the main cable under the car and it goes out to the brakes. What should I look for? Where it goes into the brakes? This is a stock '71 SS power disc/drum set-up. Thanks for any help.

If the emergency brake pedal doesn't return all the way, the front cable needs to be replaced, not the pedal mechanism. The return spring is ON the front cable, right after it passes through the frame. I just replaced mine a few weeks ago. Jack up the car and examine the entire emergency brake cable path. Not to hard to figure out. The front cable hooks to an intermediate cable which fans out to the two rear wheels via another cable at each wheel. Make sure that the intermediate cable is held in the proper position by the "J" hooks, which hook into the floor braces and the transmission cross member. If the cables which actually enter the rear brake assembly are rusted/seized, they will prevent the emergency brakes from actuating. If the cables have never been replaced, now is the time to do it. I replaced the front AND the intermediate cable a few weeks ago, and will be replacing the two rear cables within the next month or so when I replace the rear brake shoes.

Jerry, I have a 69. Do you have a source for the correct J hooks needed for correct install. Mine are home made / not right type of deal. Thanks, Craig