'91 740 with 180k:

For some reason, if I lower the hand brake all the way down on the console, it actually creates friction while I'm moving. If I pull it up a click or two, the friction lessens, and if I pull it up another click, the friction goes away entirely - but the brake light comes on. Is this something to adjust with the cable under the console, or will the wheels have to come off for this?

Thanks for the help.

 

It sounds like you may be missing a spring or have a sticking lever somewhere. I'd start at the wheels and move forward.

 

Get it level and supported on the rear jackpoints and check both rear wheels turn when the handbrake is off. Chock front wheels and put the car in neutral. Looking from the rear of the car, on the left of the rear axle, there is a littel metal support which makes sure the cables are correctly tensioned. Sometimes the pin can work its way out and the support fails and the cable cannot be properly sorted. Make sure that is OK first. Make sure that the wheel mechanism is OK (it uses drum system, and the pads are OK (pull on the cable and see if the wheel is locked). Then its a matter of adjusting the nut behind the handbrake level in the car until the wheels are free. This assumes both cables are not completely stretched. They are not expensive to replace. One tip...there is a long and a short cable. If you are replacing the short cable (goes from the right back wheel to the left of the axle as you look at the car from behind), attach the cable to the main cable first...I attached it to the wheel and then you need Arnie strength to link it to the axle cable..DOh Mike