I removed the panel under the steering wheel which holds the Emerg. brake handle. I am in the process of reinstalling those panels with the Emerg. brake release. I can't get the cable to release the Emerg. brakes when I pull on the handle. Under the Blazer on the driver's side door, is a metal bracket which looks like the adjuster for the E. brake. I put PB Blaster on it and can turn the 12 mm nut on the bolt. Which way should I turn it to loosen the E. brake cable? How to check to see the Release handle is properly engaged to the cable? The Emerg. brake pedal is all the way down. My Blazer has 4 wheel disc brakes.

 

did the cable from the release handle fall off? pull the handle and look under where it hooks up. if the cable is just moving and not releasing the brake / foot pedal then it fell off. where it clips on you can slip it back on easily and if the cable is broken, (unlikely) you should be able to pull the hammer towards you and release it.

 

No, the brake rel. handle didn't fall off. It is in the plastic panel which is not attached to the under side of the dash. When you say 'pull the handle and look under where it hooks up'. Is this connection under the dash or under the frame. I found where the 'Y' connection is under the frame at the driver's side door. The one cable comes from the brake release and divides into two cables which go to each of the rear calipers. But from the Y conn. forward, it just disappears under the firewall. Where is the hook up? Is the problem that the brake rel. handle is in a panel that is not attached and therefore there is no leverage. I don't think the cable is broken. It feels like it is just jammed.
Plan B? If I can't get the brake rel. handle to work, is there a way to manually disconnect the Emerg. brakes from the calipers? Where is that done? I don't use them anyway. Right now, I can put the Blzr in Rev. or Drive and it will go no where. Thanks for your help. Jim

 

So the step on pedal is stuck in the down position and won't come back up? There is a mechanism that releases this pedal, right at the top of the pedal arm. The short cable from your release mechanism is attached to it - you can view the point of attachment of the cable from under the dash above the pedal.

I'm going to go ahead and state the obvious. If pulling the release handle operates the release mechanism, but does not release the e-brake pedal - then the pedal release mechanism is inoperative.

If the pedal releases but the open cables under the car are still very tight, then the front cable is stuck with internal rust. If the open cables under the car are not tight, but the ebrake remains on, then one or more of the two rear cables are stuck. (Why you should never step on e-brakes for auto trans equipped cards in the rust belt). South Carolina should not really see big problems with this ........

You can always take a hacksaw to the open e-brake y-cable and then remove it - but if either of the rear ebrake cables are stuck that will do you no good. Experienced person can tell without hacking up the cables + this would only work if the problem was the front cable or step on pedal mechanism. Whatever you do you should ultimately fix your ebrake system. It's there for emergencies.

See the backwards J in the lever hanging down in the closeup below? That is what the end of the cable fits in and it pulls this lever towards the rear of the car. Is your cable actually engaged properly? You can take something and pry this J-lever towards the rear of the vehicle a little and maybe your pedal will release, but don't bend it or you may be screwed in the future.

 

I may not be describing the problem correctly with the Emergency brakes. With the panels underneath the dash loose to access the Multifunction Switch wiring, I pushed the emergency brake pedal all the way down to give access to some of the 7 mm screws at the bottom. Now the pedal is still all the way down and pulling on the E. brake release handle does nothing to release it. It is as though the brakes are over extended and jammed in that position. I was asking how to manually release the E. brakes. I would guess at the ratcheting mechanism up front you could do something to release it. Or at the attachment of the two cables that go to each of the rear calipers, you might be able to release it. I don't have a FSM or a Haynes at this point. None of the cables are broken and the rel. handle is still attached. TFYHIA, Jim

 

Lesmyer, I got your post after I typed and posted my most recent post. I think you have the solution to my problem. Thanks a lot. No, rust not a problem here in SC unless you live on the coast. My Blazer has only 95k miles on it. I am going to check now. Thanks! Jim

 

Glad I could help. Be sure to post back what you found.

 

Update! Lesmyer gets the GM Goodwrench gold star. I found the small ferule on the end of the short release cable had slipped out of the 'J' hook on the cable mechanism during my M.F. switch changeout. So all I had to do was to put that ferule back in the 'J' hook and a light pull on the Rel. handle and the E. brake pedal popped to the full upright position. It is a beautiful spring day in South Carolina! I can now go into town and buy my black lab some dog food. I had run out of her Iams and had to put her on a 'South of France' diet. That is cheese grits and Pillsbury croissants. Thanks , Lesmyer, and where did you get that diagram? Jim

 

Aw shucks! Blazer47 had it nailed in post#2!

 

After getting back from grocery shopping, I reread all the posts. Blazer47 did have it nailed. I guess you have to draw some people a picture! ....Like me. Thanks to both of you for the correct answer and getting me and Law and Order back on the road! I got to go feed Abby her supper. Jim in SC