Parking Brake

I recently pulled up on the parking brake when I heard/felt a jolt/pop and the brake won't engage now. I have a cavalier repair manual coming and was wondering if there is a probable diagnosis of this problem before I try to eyeball it with the manual pictures.

when you say the break won't engage. Do you meen when you pull up on the emergency brake leaver? If so, sounds like you broke the cable.

First thing I would do is inspect the brake cables, to make sure they are not broken. If it is broken, replace it and adjust as necessary. Secondly, inspect the rear brake components for wear and/or broken parts. Replace as necessary. If all looks okay, service and adjust the rear brakes and that will also adjust the emmergency brakes, ie the handle will have less travel.
Good Luck.

I have a question too about the emergency brake cable. I inspected the cable. It is fine. It engages when I hold up on the emergency brake lever. HOWEVER..it will not stay engaged unless I hold the lever up. The lever will not stay in place on its own.

On the release button, there is a black plastic piece that has a spring on it. It runs through the emergency brake lever. At the bottom, there is a piece of metal that locks into the grooves to lock the lever in the engaged position. On the black plastic piece that runs to the piece of metal that locks into the grooves, it looks like a piece has broken off.

Can you buy the black piece of plastic that has the spring in it? How do you replace it as I could not figure out how to remove it. I think the piece that is broken presses down on the metal piece and locks the lever in the engaged position.

Any help on how to do this would be appreciated.

Come on someone must know

This forum isn't always the answer, you might have to make a stop at your local gm dealership to talk to the mechs there, they'll be able to tell you wether you can get the part or not because if you can, chances are it will have to be through them anyways.

either that or at a junkyard.. which would be the cheaper of the two.. look in your manual on how to fix it up