Normal Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

When the parking brake control pedal is pressed the pedal should move a short distance, with more pressure needed to apply the pedal as it gets closer to the floor, until the parking brake shoes are fully applied. When the pedal is pressed, tension is applied to the front parking brake cable. This tension pulls on the RR parking brake cable, which is attached to the RR parking brake shoe actuator and applies the RR brake shoes. At the same time, the tension in the front cable causes the front cable conduit to attempt to straighten out. This straightening effect causes the front cable conduit to pull on the LR parking brake cable, which is attached to the LR parking brake shoe actuator and applies the LR brake shoes.

This pinpoint test is intended to diagnose the following:

Rear parking brake cables and conduits
Front parking brake cable and conduit
Parking brake shoes and hardware (hybrid vehicles)
Brake shoes and hardware (non-hybrid vehicles)
Parking brake control