Parking Brake problem...

hello,
i have a 97 safari that when i press down on the parking brake, it will not click or clamp down. The BRAKE indicator will light up but thats all it does. And to release the parking brake, i have to manual pull the release lever and the parking brake up for the light to go away. Is this due to a bad or cut parking brake cable?? if so, is this easy to change out urself??

thanks in advance

hello it sounds like e brake cable is sticking/rusted it also be something in the rear brakes.could also be holding brakes on.need to jack up & check parts to see which 1 it is good luck!!

Sounds like the mechanism to catch and release the brake pedal is broken, not necessarily the brakes. Does the parking brake seem to be working (do the brakes appear to be holding?). There is a "gear" mechanism that holds it down when you step on it and then releases it when you step on it again. You can usually hear an audible clicking as you press down on the pedal. I would say that your problem lies in that mechanism. (I am assuming this is the type of parking brake you have by your post).

the E parking brake does not work. nothing happens when i press down on it. before, when i press down on the E brake, i can hear it make a clicking sound. What happen was, my cousin was driving the van and didnt kno the E brake was on. So he kept driving it for about 40 miles. When i got the van back, The E brake was still down but did not engaged. The E brake does not release when i pull the lever. I have to manually hold the release lever and pull the E brake up. When i looked underneath the van, i can see a broken spring that connects to the brake cable. Is this my only problem?? Where can i get this spring at??

Thanks for all the help!!!!

the E parking brake does not work. nothing happens when i press down on it. before, when i press down on the E brake, i can hear it make a clicking sound. What happen was, my cousin was driving the van and didnt kno the E brake was on. So he kept driving it for about 40 miles. When i got the van back, The E brake was still down but did not engaged. The E brake does not release when i pull the lever. I have to manually hold the release lever and pull the E brake up. When i looked underneath the van, i can see a broken spring that connects to the brake cable. Is this my only problem?? Where can i get this spring at??

Thanks for all the help!!!!

Wow - I hate lending my car out for that specific reason, people can be idiots and I hate it when they are idiots with my stuff:shakehead

Anyhow, I am pretty sure you may be on the right track but I have not worked on one your year. Give me a bit and I am sure I can find out though.