Disengage Parking Brake on 1999 LE Camry

[brettley]

My gf and I just moved to the city and she rarely uses her car. For some reason (probably b/c she used to live in VT) she keeps her parking brake on all the time. Well, my guess is since she hadn't used it in some time her parking break seized up or rusted and now we can't get the brake off.

Any suggestions on how to do this? I can't lift the car b/c its parrellel parked on the street and I can get the car to really move. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Her car is a 1999 LE V6 Camry. Thanks.

[Mike Gerber]

First try rocking the car just a bit back and forth with the brake released. Hopefully that will break things loose. If not, you will probably have to get a floor jack under the rear of the car and lift it in the air. Then support the car safely on jack stands. (Break the lug nuts free before lifting the car.) Once the car is safely in the air, remove the rear wheels. Have someone get inside the car and try to release the parking brake. Note which way the cable(s) try to move from underneath by the rear wheels. Now try to pull what you can see of the cable in that direction. You may need a pliers or a vicegrip to do this. Some good penetrating oil like PB Blaster should also help. If that doesn't work, your only choice may be to have the car towed in to a shop where they will probably try the same things with the car on a lift. They will probably suggest replacing the rear e-brake cables as they are probably rusted inside their protective sheath.

Mike