Principles of 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.
Hybrid vehicles are equipped with drum-in-hat type parking brakes and non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with rear drum brakes. Both systems operate in a similar manner. When the parking brake control 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.