'95 Deville parking brake release problem.

[pompste]

Hi,first time i used the parking brake today after having it for a year.I pushed down on the parking brake and it would`nt catch (stay down).Went down under the dash to get a closer look.The manual release was in the released position(pointing towards the drivers seat) with a disconnected small spring hanging on on end.I pushed the manual release all the way towards the firewall and it barely stayed there---but with the manual release pushed towards the firewall,i then pushed down on the parking brake and it held and locked.I then put the vehicle in DRIVE and the brake should have released but it did not and the parking brake held the car in DRIVE quite firmly.Then when i moved the manual release towards the driver seat it released and stayed in the released position as when i first started this procedure----and now when i push down on the parking brake it won`t catch (stay down) again.
I noticed everytime i manually moved the release back and forth i could hear a whooshing air release sound.I checked the rubber hose to the actuator and it looked OK.
Any suggestions to a fix will be appreciated.Thank you.

[Ranger]

First you need to figure out where that spring goes and reconnect it. That's why it won't engage.

Probably have a bad vacuum diaphragm on the release. Put a vacuum hose on it and suck on the end. If it does not hold vacuum it is bad and needs to be replaced. Thats why it won't release.