The parking break on my mom's '89 XJ has not functioned in almost 5 years. I assumed the cable itself was loose and I was too lazy to crawl under and fix it seeing as its an automatic.

I changed drum brakes with all new shoes and brake cylinders yesterday (they were warn to nothingness), and bled the lines properly.

Lo and behold, my parking brake worked! Then after driving it for a while it didn't work. And then a little later it did. I guess my problem is that half the time it engages just great and keeps the car in place, but other times nothing happens at all and pulling on the handle feels loose.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

Cables are probably stretched out, just crawl under it and tighten the nut on the cable. Should be above the rear driveshaft. Chances are you'll have to move the nut a few inches so be ready for an arm ache and get your hands on a ratcheting box wrench if you can.