# Parking brake **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 11, 2007, 11:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452 "2007-09-11T11:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gutters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@gutters](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gutters)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/1 "2007-09-11T11:05:53Z")
I have a 2000 pontiac sunfire automatic, with a frozen parking brake on the rear passenger side. Looking for help on getting it unfrozen myself any suggestions ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 11:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/2 "2007-09-11T11:12:37Z")
Frozen as in frozen with ice, or frozen as in rusted fast? Is the brake on or off? If it’s stuck on, sometimes you can break it loose by driving the vehicle to force the wheel to turn. First you have to figure out what’s not working, then you can try to repair it. What’s frozen, the cable or the brake shoes? ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/3 "2007-09-11T12:48:02Z")
Agreed, first you have to find what’s stuck. The lever? Jammed cable? The brake itself? Crawl under and check each section. ---
**Author:** ![gutters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@gutters](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gutters)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/4 "2007-09-11T15:46:20Z")
car has been setting about a month with the parking brake on driver side seems to be released not the passenger side ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/5 "2007-09-11T16:02:55Z")
I would start by releasing the brake handle and then do a little rocking (try to drive forward (easy) and then back (easy). Often that will free it up. Even if you get it freed up, check it out to make sure it is not now dragging which will overheat the brakes and maybe damage the rotor. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/6 "2007-09-11T16:13:06Z")
you have to actually get down under the car and look to see how the brakes are operated. usually a cable comes from the e brake pedal/lever which goes backwards towards the rear axle. usually it splits into two (left and right) where these split is usually where you can get to them to figure out how they are working. since one side has released, the problem is NOT in the lever, pedal area; it is from the split of the cables to the rear brake drum. sometimes just wiggling the cable push pull, and a little ‘helping’ it will let it release. the problem is that it WILL happen again. you need to lube the cables so they slide. on the other hand, the problem MAY be in the wheel hub/disc area. thats more work, and a little more difficult to get at. post back as you keep investigating and what you find ---
**Author:** ![gutters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@gutters](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gutters)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/7 "2007-09-13T15:58:04Z")
Thanks got under the car found the cables pushed and pulled and brake finally released ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake/4452/8 "2007-09-14T02:12:28Z")
> the problem is that it WILL happen again. you need to lube the cables so they slide. if they got stuck it will do it again. find out how to lube the cables. save yourself the hassle of having this happen when you really don’t need it! (like at night, or on the way to the airport when you are in a hurry)