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67 DeVille emergency brake release help

Started by jims427400, October 05, 2018, 08:24:44 PM

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jims427400

Can someone explain to me how the emergency brake inside the car works? Once the Ebrake pedal is engaged how is it released?
Thanks all,
Jim

The Tassie Devil(le)

There are 2 ways.

The Automatic way, via the engine vacuum when the transmission is shifted out of Park, and the NSS at the bottom of the steering column is activated to draw vacuum from the diaphragm that is attached to the park brake mechanism to release the pawl.

And the second method is a manually operated lever that is under the dash, that one lifts up with the fingers of the left hand, to release the pawl.

If you get down and look up under the dash at the parking brake mechanism, you will see the lever.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

35-709

If it is not releasing by vacuum, as it should, look for a disconnected (and/or possibly leaking) vacuum hose, a mal-adjusted neutral safety switch which serves not only as a NSS but also a the e-brake release activator AND your back-up light switch.  Cadillac used that basic system for a couple of decades or more.
 
How It Workz is in the Owner's Manual and, of course, the Cadillac Shop Manual.
1935 Cadillac Sedan resto-mod "Big Red"
1973 Cadillac Caribou - Sold - but still in the family
1950 Jaguar Mark V Saloon resto-mod - Sold
1942 Cadillac 6269 - Sold
1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible - Sold
1950 Packard 2dr. Club Sedan
1935 Glenn Pray - Auburn Boattail Speedster, Gen. 2

savemy67

Hello Jim,

Once you have found the manual release lever (per Bruce's post), set the brake and pull the lever to verify that the release is working properly.  You can use this method indefinitely if the vacuum release is not working, although it is a little awkward.

If the vacuum release is not working, you may have a broken diaphragm at the parking brake pedal assembly (less likely), a malfunctioning neutral safety switch (NSS - more likely), or a disconnected vacuum hose (most likely).  Under the dash the pedal assembly diaphragm is connected by a vac hose to the NSS.  Another hose connects the NSS to a connector at the firewall.  In the engine bay, a hose runs from the firewall connector to a vacuum T.

For '67, the shop manual has a vacuum hose routing schematic in the air conditioning section.

Respectfully submitted,

Christopher Winter
Christopher Winter
1967 Sedan DeVille hardtop

jims427400

Thank you all for the excellent directions. I'm currently trying to get a firm pedal after bleeding the new brake system. After that I'll check out the Ebrake/vacuum system.

Jim