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Looking through an old (1953) Popular Science magazine and found a bunch of stuff on the "new" 1954 Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge. Desoto didn't make the issue for some reason. This hint was for the "long-used Chrysler parking brake". Anyone employ this technique?

Did the member that needed parking brake for there truck find them?

I got to spend 4 July working on my Plymouth. The task at hand was completing the Parking Brake repair on the P20. When I bought the car it was only barely functional. The brake lining was worn very thin, the cable was at maximum tightness, the return spring was missing, the cable under the dash was badly bent from no return spring, etc. I ordered a new cable (I don't remember from where) but it turned out to be 5" short, so I had to extend it with a threaded rod and coupling nut. No pictures of it yet. I also ordered a remanufactured parking brake band assembly with a fresh lining. That seems to have a slight bend in it that doesn't quite match my drum. I'll have to watch it. But my release springs were rather smushed and crooked. Was this from being over tightened? The picture below has them on the adjusting bolt in the wrong order... I couldn't find replacements of the lower one and the upper (longer one) that I found was $13 (without shipping) so I decided to make my own. I found some springs with similar wire size and coil diameter at a good True Value hardware store in town. I measured the length of my existing smushed springs, added 10% and 1/2 coil and then cut with a Dremel tool. Held the cut coil with pliers and heated with my torch. Finished with this: Installed they looked like this: My car didn't have the hand brake lever return spring, and thus caused some of the problems with the cable. I had asked here on the forum where it attached to the car. I got the impression it didn't much matter so long as it was behind the parking brake mechanism. This bolt from a seatbelt was available. I had ordered some random springs several months ago, but they seemed ill-suited for this job. A different local hardware store had this spring (only one, no price, no UPC, no markings, not in their cash register system) and sold it to me for $3.50. It works great when I release the lever. I did the adjusting with the 0.020 feeler gauge, but I feel like I'll need to revisit this soon because the shoe doesn't fit the roundness of the drum perfectly. I tested it in the driveway and I can kill the engine with the parking brake. And I tested it on a substantial hill, and it will hold the car without it being in gear. Good enough for me -- not likely to do either thing in real life. I have the Mopar parking brake switch installed, but I haven't wired up the buzzer yet. Will do that soon. OFF TOPIC QUESTION: My drive shaft universal joint boots are ripped and the grease has been thrown out. What is involved to replace the boots?

Folks, First, I'm a new person so please be gentle. This is my first official posting on P15-D24. Within the last two weeks I have purchased my first ever MoPAR after being in the VW world for far too long. I am a bit skiddish but am learning all about these cars. A recent visit over to the wheel and brake place that I've taken my car to made a discovery about my new car. The parking brake handle is there, but nothing else leading up to where the parking brake 'should' be is there. It's just plain missing. I've seen parts on Andy Bermbaum today but not sure of what I should get. My questions are two fold: 1. If the entire parking brake assembly including cable and such are gone, where do I find these parts? 2. Has an aftermarket part or parts been made to fashion a parking/emergency brake? Any assistance would be appreciated. -FedoraGent