OEM 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Parking Brake Cable

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Parking Brake Cable Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair a Parking Brake Cable on 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

  A: Before you start, be sure to disconnect the battery negative cable and wait for two minutes to allow the air bag capacitor to discharge, for your own safety. First, take off the cover of the air cleaner and set it aside and use something to keep the tires in place once you release the parking brake lever. If the situation requires it, come out the transmission shift knob, set the parking brake lever straight OFF and unfasten the rear window switch panel with its screws and the center console as well. Through the switch opening, grab the parking brake cable or equalizer, move it back approximately 1 inch (25.4 mm) and as you hold, pull the parking brake handle to its standing position. After taking out the center console, pull the parking brake lever output cable up until you can insert the pin punch through the lever mounting bracket to hold the automatic adjustment mechanism. Unhook the rear parking brake cables from the equalizer, lift out the rear seat and fold the back carpeting away from the brake assembly. Grab a 1/2 inch wrench and squeeze the retainer fingers, then pull the parking brake cable housing off the bracket. Lift the vehicle, take off the rear tire and wheel and if you have drum brakes in the back, remove the rear brake drum. If your vehicle has rear disc brakes, open the caliper by taking out the guide pin bolts, hang the caliper aside and remove the rotor. Lift off the dust cap along with the hub and bearing retaining nut, then get out the hub and bearing. On cars with rear drum brakes, take out the parking brake cable on the actuator lever and from its support plate, while on disk brakes, unconnect the cable from the adapter. Erriger Cable and routing brackets to the axle trailing arm, then pull the cable through the trailing arm hole and the sealing grommet from the floor pan. For installation, feed the parking brake cable through the floor pan, checking that the grommet is seated, go over the cable in the trailing arm and secure it using fasteners fixed at 11 Nm (100 in. lbs.). Fix the cable into the rear brake support plate or adapter, making sure the locking fingers are wide open. Connect the cable to the actuating lever for drum brake and put in the actuating spring, but for disc brakes you should set up the actuator lever and the parking brake shoe assemblies. Mount the hub and bearing again, with a new retaining nut tightened to 217 Nm (160 ft. lbs.). Add the dust cap and, after tightening it, install the brake drum or rotor and caliper and finish by tightening the caliper guide pin bolts to 22 Nm (192 in. lbs.). Install the rear tire and wheel back in their spots, tighten all wheel nuts to exactly 135 Nm (about 100 ft. lbs.), fold the vehicle back up and verify the grommet is seated. Guide the parking brake cable underneath the carpeting to the retaining bracket and and then attach the rear parking brake cables to the equalizer. Set the parking brake handle in its applied position, remove the pin punch and let the mechanism adjust. After that, mount the center console and rear window switch panel. Activate the parking brake handle to properly pull the cables, ensure the rear wheels turn freely, use the parking brake again after blocking, remove the tire blocks, attach the ground wire on the battery once more and mount the air cleaner cover.