I have a 63 valiant. I drove on the freeway with the ebrake on. It will not hold the car now. I adjuted the cable and the handle pulls really tight. It still didn't hold. I checked the brakes and adjusted them. They still have some life and the adjusters moved well. It still doesn't frikin work. I was wondering if I should replace the left and right cables? or is there something else i'm missing? Thanks much. John.

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'63 signet 200 owner

I'd put the back of the car and jack stands with the wheels and brake drums off. See if the cables and shoes are moving properly.

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Joshua

The e-brake just applies the rear shoes. If the cable is pulling tight and the shoes are moving when the cable is pulled then you'll need to replace the rear shoes. There is a tension adjustment where the main cable attaches to the rear cables but id the cable is pulling tight then it's unlikely that an adjustment will help.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Your cable has adjustments-- you cold tighten up the actual cable --if all the other mentioned items are ok.
By pulling extra hard lately you might have stretched the cable a bit. Lawrence

Thanks for the responses. I have spun the adjusters and set them tight so I could put the drum's back on but with the pads very close to them. I will have someone step on the brakes while I have the car on jacks and teh drums off. I may have stretched the cable but think I'll end up just replacing the pads. I am open to any other suggestions Cheers. John.

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'63 signet 200 owner

If you drove any distance with the e-brake on you more then likely glazed the shoes/drums.Seems to me from back in the day if they got glazed you'd lose a bunch of braking power,so replacing the shoes and turning the drums is in order.Oh and applying the e-brake whilst the drums are off=ok,applying the brakes whist drums off=not a good idea as you could run the brake cly's right out and have all the guts/fluid on the ground.Good luck

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

I have learned that before the hard way many years ago on my '69 vw squareback. thanks for the advice to have the drums refinished. the brakes seem to be working well and the shoes have life on them so i am confused. i think i will change the shoes and have he drums resurfaced. thanks very much. it's nice to have so much support from folks. cheers.

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'63 signet 200 owner