This past weekend I replaced the parking brake assembly and pads, and to my astonishment the driver side assembly was missing with the brake line zip strip tied to the dust shield. So I got the strut bar and lever off a camry at the local yard and assembled everything to spec. After adjusting the starwheel and the nuts on the handle, the only side that engages is the passenger. So I figured maybe someone took the driver side out for a reason or because they didn't know how to adjust the lines at the equalizer. So my question is where is the equalizer on the Celica? I checked the under body and online databases but none were of help. If I can get the lines adjusted there then I should theoretically be good to adjust. Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks guys

The ebrake shoes are adjusted at the wheel themselves via the little gear at the bottom between the shoes.
The two ebrake cables run down each side of the car then come together above the resonator heat shield.
then one line runs into the car and connects to the handle.

you can BARELY see it here (looking from engine bay to rear) there is the back heat shield and it is just above that, kinda brown and silver in this pic just below the crescent in the frame.


This post has been edited by playr158: May 24, 2010 - 11:35 AM

Ah man that's a sneaky little location. I wonder if the driver side brake line is seized or caught and that's why only the other side engages?

a) not assembled correctly

b) adjuster not adjusted

c) cable stretched and can no longer be adjusted for, needs to be replaced.

This post has been edited by playr158: May 24, 2010 - 12:51 PM

May I ask if heat shield must be remove in order to replace e-brake cable?

yes. I haven't done it in over 6 years but you might be able to get away with partial removal, but it does need to be moved.

Yea that's what I figured I'll just get a new cable and go from there, thanks for your help man

If I recall correctly, the e-brake cables must cross as they come together to prevent binding. Remove the drum, pull the lever, see if the driver's side cable retracts properly. If it does, you know the problem lies within the e-brake assembly. From there it's a relatively easy matter of identifying the balky part. If not...well, you mentioned you know of a junkyard with Celicas.