I noticed today sitting in a very hilly parking lot that my parking brake:

a.) Doesn't illuminate on my dash all the time

b.) Doesn't prevent me from moving backwards, whether I'm using engine power in reverse or just sitting on the clutch or in neutral with gravity pulling me.

I'm sure the dash thing is just a bad connection somewhere, but the other issue is the one that worries me, basically the only thing that's kept me from rolling away after parking on a hill is the fact that I put it in gear, and I'd prefer to not put that kinda stress on my gearbox. So is that a cable issue or is that something in the actual brake system(stock)?

 

Drum brake self adjustors quit working. Pull you drums if you have access to a compressor blow the shoes clean inspect the shoes and hardware and adjust the brakes.

 

Put it in 1st or reverse and turn the wheels into the curb if pointing downhill, away from the curb if pointing uphill.

 

I know how to park on a hill, the point is if I'm in a parking lot facing uphill I can't do that as there is no curb. And that means that all the weight of my car trying to roll backwards is on whatever gear I'm in, and my transmission is hardly a spring chicken.

I'll look at the brake hardware this weekend, cheers.

 

"my transmission is hardly a spring chicken"
I had to lol there, good way to put it

 

It won't hurt the transmission. It's a lot less strain than just driving the thing.

Carry a set of wheel chocks.

 

dont use a compressor to blow it off! use brake and parts cleaner! you can get it at part stores. that or wear a mask when you blow it off.

 

I'd use water to blast it off, followed by brake parts cleaner.