Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I think the possibilities have all been mentioned. Mine had the same symptoms a while back and I replaced the entire assembly with an NOS one, but these units are often easily repairable. There are TWO springs, check for both and I'm enclosing a picture of the smaller one that returns the handle to the horizontal position. Also if the ratchet teeth on the bar are OK but the edge of the pawl is bad, consider just adding some weld to the pawl and reshaping with a file.

Attach file:

---

  (21.06 KB)

Thanks for all of the info guys, the springs were a bit weathered but otherwise ok, all of the teeth were just a bit rounded and the latch had a bit too much missing. I did however order a new assembly and it works perfectly. No more rolling in park at least till i get to look at the tranny.

I've had the same problem with my very low mileage (34K miles when i got it) 5672 parking brake. The pawl is worn. Using a file it is HARDENED. Probably .010-.015 cyanide. The pawl on mine is worn. I'm replacing the entire assembly with one from a parts car with over 100K miles. Haven't tried it yet but the replacement shows very little wear.

Hah sounds like somebody sat there playing with the brake for too long. Hopefully the new one i bought will last a while.

Another thought though, now that i can stop it from rolling in park, and it runs-ish, by that i mean it doesn't run well in drive. It seems to stall if you leave it in drive for too long.

I'm curious as to where i should go next in the project, Like i said earlier I'm still new to this and i don't want to be tearing this thing apart with no direction.

I discovered that the parking brake mechanism was manufacutered withOUT deburring. Nearly all of the edges have burrs on BOTH of my units. I deburred the high mileage unit and put it on. SMOOTH and RELIaBLE.