How do you release the parking brake on a 1979 Chevy Malibu when the release cable and handle is broken?
This is what I did with my 79 Chevy Malibu when the release handle broke off (the little cable it was attached to broke).I found out that the "cable" that broke off in my hand when I pulled the release, wasn't the actual parking brake cable, it was just the release cable. It is only a few inches long and it does attach to the brake mechanism under the dash but it's not the actual brake cable.So i looked way under the left lower dash to see how the parking brake pedal was connected, and carefully tried a few things to see if i could pull on it and make it disengage. Yes there was a little metal part close to the pedal arm base, that is about 1/2 inch rectangle sticking out to the side. it has a little slit in the center of it, maybe that is where the release cable used to go. So when I pulled back on that little half- inch rectangle, it did release the brake pedal. Then I was able to drive.So if anybody thinks your emergency brake won't work when the release cable breaks off in your hand, that may not be factual. You might still have the parking brake, just need to replace the handle and the little short release cable for the interior of the car. So you can RELEASE the brake in the normal way. But please check it out really well to find out for sure!