I am restoring the Parking Brake assembly for my 1972 GS and have a few questions: Red Circle in photo - What holds the spring in position, behind the hole in the rod bracket? Is there some type of C-clip or plastic retainer that goes on the rod? I understand the springs tension allows the handle to retract back into position. Blue Circle in photo - What is this little screw for? Yellow Circle in photo - I assume once connected to the parking brake cable, the reverse tension of the cable will return the brake pad arm to it's upright position - correct? ie: there aren't any springs used to return the pedal once the release lever is pulled. Thanks in advance for your responses.
Red - There is a bushing the holds the shaft and keeps the spring inside the housing Yellow - yes Blue - ? Some cars had a capacitor on the assembly. See here: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/questions-on-parking-brake-pedal.345838/
The big springs under the car, that are on the left and right ebrake cables are what pulls everything back where it goes when the brake is released. The thing on the left side in the yellow circle is the parking brake light switch, which appears to have had the wires pulled out.
Bill Bell - Thanks for the link with the picture of the capacitor. I will have to check to see if I have that capacitor and lead in among the wiring harness. Thank you also for the other two answers. Roger - The yellow circle was meant to highlight the clip that holds the parking brake cable (not the parking brake light switch). I do have the lead for that switch. Your explanation on the springs on the parking brake cable (under the car) is what I assumed - "the reverse tension of the cable will return the brake pad arm to it's upright position". Thank you for the confirmation.
As Bill Bell stated above "There is a bushing the holds the shaft and keeps the spring inside the housing". In the picture above, does anyone have any information (p/n, configuration, vendor lead, etc) or any of the actual bushings that are missing from within the red circled assembly above?
Bruno, Unfortunately, I don't need the entire assembly. the one I have is complete with the exception of this bushing. Could you take and post a picture of the "bushing, so I can a least understand what it looks like and what I am after? Thanks
@72 goat herder Here is a picture of my pedal assembly from a 70GS. I purchased a new plastic grommet thru Ames Pontiac that I never used. It seems like to install it that you need to cut it to slip it over. I thought my rubber boot got hard but the replacement is hard plastics. So I never replaced it.
Does your handle unscrew? If it does you can simply take it off and slide the grommet on. Other wise, you risk breaking the handle and then you have to replace it and the grommet. Cutting the grommet may work since the housing and spring would hold it in place. I've seen assemblies where someone simply cut a washer to slip on the back side and others where a cotter pin was inserted in the rod to hold the spring.
Bill Bell, It appears the hard plastic handle is "pressed" on. I agree that I would run the risk of breaking the handle if I were to try and remove it. I will cut the grommet and fit it in the hole. Thanks for your reply.
Utah455, In digging through a bunch of bolts and clips, i ended up finding the little grommet. The previous owner started the restoration but didn't identify many of the parts when he dissembled everything. Thanks for you help but I don't need your part now.