How to fix the "Sometimes Working" Parking Brake Handle....

[Matt M, Pa]

...and it was easy!

On my '96, the parking brake handle would sometimes come all the way up without engaging the brakes. Often, it would engage way up high after a few tries. Pulling the handle slower sometimes helped.

As some may know, there's a small lever that engages with teeth on the mechanism. This is the clicking you hear when the brake is engaged. Pressing the button on the end of the handle pulls this lever away from the teeth and allows the handle to go down. There's another mechanism like this that pulls the cables to the rear brakes.

I pulled the console out on Sunday and found that the small lever that engages the teeth for the rear cables was slow in acting. The spring was intact, but the original white grease had hardened...making this lever's action..."stiff". A quick spray of some light oil (like WD40) dissolved the grease and it's working like it should.

I know this was a problem posted on Viper forums before...hopefully this helps someone.

[Coloviper]

Thanks! My 96' did this once right after I bought it used and never again. Always makes me wonder what happened on that one pull with the lever straight up in the air. Now I know.

[DrTaco]

Nice, thanks for the post/good to know. I'll and "copy and paste" this into my preventative maint folder.

[ViperTony]

Thanks for the tip Matt!

[HPmopars]

Good useful tip, THX.

[KRATEDISEASE]

Thanks! My 96' did this once right after I bought it used and never again. Always makes me wonder what happened on that one pull with the lever straight up in the air. Now I know.

Yes, my 1997 GTS also experienced an handbrake erection. I got worried but it only happened once.

Asked Dr. Tator about it and he said it occurs time to time on gen 2 cars.

[Matt M, Pa]

I'd bet the mechanism works the same 1992-2002...so I'm sure Gen 2s can have the same issue.

If they pull up without engaging the cables....they do go all the way vertical...because there's nothing to stop it. Ya know...like actually pulling the cables and applying the brakes! I can't see how it could be damaged though.

[C.J]

I'll give this a try on my 2001. Thanks for the tip!

[SmoknTires]

Yep. Had this issue on my 94.

[72hemi]

Thanks for the tip I will give it a try!

[ksinc]

Same issue on my '98 GTS. I was wondering if my car was born with a defect :P Thanks for the tip!