HELP please! New Z owner without an e-brake! Car novice!

[tehOm3n]

I purchased my 300zx today from a guy in the area under the assumption I went over everything on my mental checklist for car condition. Everything except the f#cking e-brake! I assumed it was in good condition considering he never mentioned anything about it. Besides the e-brake, the car is in EXCELLENT condition. My dilemma: I can't park anywhere. I have an auto store 2 miles down the road that I hope will have the parts to fix it. The actual problem: I pull the e-brake all the way back, I don't get the usual clicks when engaging it. I have the car parked as level as possible with the e-brake pulled back very far (and hard - it seems to work JUST enough), a rock behind the tire, and the car parked in 2nd gear. What do I do? I'm new to cars, and my intent was to get a 240sx and do a tune up and worry about performance later. Should I just take it to a shop, or am I going to pay out the ***. I have tools, and good friends - so I beg someone tell me what to do to get this situation fixed.

Thank you SO much in advance.

Dave

[nsrZ32]

No need for a rock and all that stuff. Parking it in gear will hold it in place.

Get the car up in the air and make sure the linkage and everything is intact. If it is, then you're out of adjustment. If that's the case I'll try to get some pictures together and show you how to adjust it.

[tehOm3n]

Is parking it in gear harmful to the car in anyway? Thank you so much for the reply.

[evildky]

parking in gear is not harmful at all, and the adjustment for the cable is at the bottom of the handle you just have to remove the top console, and if the cable is tightened all the way you might need a new cable, they can get stretched out over time, most likely not a big deal

[Gino]

if the bolt on the handle is tight, then you need to adjust the e-brake at the hub rear hub. Our brakes have a drum inside for the ebrake. You need to take your rear wheels off, there is a little dust cover pop that off. Use a flathead screw driver and theres a little knob in the hole. You have to turn the knob until it tightens (i *believe u have to spin it in a upward motion). Once its tight, turn the knob back about 5 or 6 knotches. (make sure the ebrake is down. If the bolt was tight on it, i like to loosen it up a little bit so theres room for more adjustment in the future with the bolt, instead of having to take the rims off again). before you put the rim back on, with the ebrake down make sure there is no resistence. If there is, maybe go back a few more knotches. Check the ebrake itself, i usually like mine to go up atmost 45degrees. goodluck.

[NSR240sxe]

welcome to NICO!!

[300zx_tt]

maybe your brake is just disconnected? I heard that a lot of people disconnect the E-Brake for winter because where there are rough winters it tends to freeze up and then it becomes useless. You can prevent that by using an inti seizure substance that comes in small bottles. I don't know what its called I've seen it at AutoZone. Any car store should have it. Maybe the brake is messed up, there inst any reason why it shouldn't be working.