Parking brake trouble

Been having issues with the parking brake in my '93 2600i 4x4 that I just got. Didn't seem like it was working at all so I took the drums off.. adjusted them correct, seems like they work but the parking brake cable is frozen. When I engage the handle, it would only pull out as much as the cable was out of the shielding, would not pull the cable out any more. I yanked on it pretty firm and it did come out some but now it's stuck, can't get the back brake drums on because the shoes are being pushed out.

I really can't figure out what it is, and now I can't even take off the front cable because to do so you need to disconnect the back cables from the metal square where they meet the front cable (not sure what this is called I don't have my manual with me) and it seems like there's too much tension. Have already removed the adjusting nut so on the cab side it's just the cable with a bolt stuck to the end.

I'd like to just take out the front cable and try to oil it or just replace if it's too bad, but now I can't even do that.

Zac

Also, I'm fairly sure that one of the cables is rusted and that's causing these issues... just not sure which one. I think I might need to clip whichever one it is, since there's so much tension on there it seems like, that I don't know how else to get them off. Any ideas how to determine which cable is bad?

I can't even get my brake drums back on or get the truck off jack stands, the way things are now. So hopefully I can figure this out soon.

Zac

Lay under the truck and watch the cable assembly, while someone pulls the handle.

The handle doesn't move the cable at all, I can tell just by looking at where it comes out of the housing and attaches to the handle.

Managed to get the cable off of one brake, where it attaches inside of the brake drum. On the other side, the drum won't go on because the shoes are out too far... even though the adjuster has them closed, I believe it's because the parking brake cable is engaged. I'm trying to remove the cable from that side but it seems like the tension is even greater, so I can't get the cable off of the metal piece it attaches to. I just tried for about an hour and it still won't come free. The reason why I'm removing these cables at the brake drum side is because I couldn't get them undone underneath the truck where each cable attaches to the main cable (not sure what the part is called). Basically I just want to get the tires back on and my truck off of jack stands but now I can't even do that, since the cable won't come off and the shoes are in the way of getting the drum back on.

I hope all of this makes some sense.. I can try and take some pictures later. In short, none of the parking brake cables seem to want to move, and after prying on it some the cable did tighten some, which now won't allow me to put on the brake drums (got one side back on now though).

Ok here's an update, I ended up getting both the parking brake cables free from the drum brakes, and the drums back on, so my truck is functional just with no working parking brake. The brakes do seem to work good, I didn't test and make sure the wheel cylinders were moving the shoes out still but before I took them apart they were. I tested it a few times and it seems like I can stop great, so I'm guessing they're working.

But still, I'd really like to get my parking brake working, since I got this truck to tow my boat and when trailering it the one time I took it out, the wheels started turning backwards a little on the boat ramp, even though it was in 1st gear and engine off of course. Scared me enough to fix the parking brake before I take the boat out again.

So now I've got the back cables undone at the brakes, but still it seems like there is too much tension to remove them from the equalizer. I think that's what the manual calls it, it's the rectangular metal piece that attaches the front cable to the rear ones, with a spring on it. My goal is to remove each of the three cables, oil up and check each one, and replace if needed.

Zac

I'm surprised nobody has had this issue before. Not to be rude but is there another Mazda forum that might have more users on it? I'm used to always being able to find help on forums for any problem I've had, last 5 vehicles or so.

Here's where I'm at now: both cables removed from rear brakes. Still no play in equalizer, lots of tension. Front cable removed all the way to the equalizer, can't do much else until I get any of the cables from out of the equalizer but there's too much tension to get any of them out. Have been trying to cut the front cable with a hacksaw, without any luck yet.

So the cables are disconnected from the rear brakes... the cables are still in the truck with no movement possible, right?
Do you have a grinder? It'll cut through the cable like butter.

I ended up just getting a bolt cutter from harbor freight and it cut right through. Went to the scrap yard and got a cable off a truck, only cost me $10. Now I took the rear cables off and oiled all three of them, going to put them on in the morning and I should be good.

What a headache but I'm glad things worked out. Glad I didn't have to buy any new $40 cables.