Lost my handbrake :(

[1994viper]

Pulled my handbrake it made a cracking sound and it lost tension. This happened before, but I could lower the handle and pull it back up after to engage the brake. Today was a different story. I think I might have snapped something, or broke the wire. The handle has 0 tension now. Where should I look for the problem?

I wish my reverse gear would engage properly every time. This way the car would stay put in gear, but my trany is having some "pop out" problems from the rear gear too. Also, what gear can I leave the car so it wont roll without the hand brake?

LOL I just realized. I just did a safety inspection for the car 2 days ago. No brake=no pass!

 

[dave6666]

The 2 likely places to look for the handbrake are at the wheels - pull them and have a looksie at the calipers - and then the ratchet mechanism itself at the console - the handle you pull. You have to remove the console trim to access it. A cable could have broken, or an end could have come off the cable too, but you'll have both the afore mentioned items off to replace those cables so might as well look there first.

The manual recommends reverse for holding on a slope. You can really use any gear. Try first until you get your tranny rebuilt and reverse doesn't pop out.

 

[1994viper]

The manual recommends reverse for holding on a slope. You can really use any gear. Try first until you get your tranny rebuilt and reverse doesn't pop out.

Strange. My car still rolls in 1st. I remember from my first car I had to put in to 2nd gear to make it not to roll. Years later I got a Bimmer and parked it in 2nd at my friends steep drive way, and the car almost ended up in the middle of the street. Thanks to the guy who knocked on the door to let me know that my car was rolling down the hill. The car was also N/A handbrake. That person also recommended me to put it in to the reverse. Do I have a major problem with my trany, because it rolls in gear? No clutch slip detected, no smell while driving, engages well (not rear). I will test the rest of the gears for roll tomorrow.

 

[dave6666]

Use the one that works. I never park on anything terribly steep so 1st works good and it is likely the next gear I'll need when I boogie on.