The parking brake sinks in completely I don't know if I need to adjust it or if a new cable is needed.

need to tighten /adjust the cable line at the one into two connector
How to Adjust Parking Brake in Chevy Silverado Parking Brake Adjustment 1999 2006 2007 2013 Chevrolet Silverado GMC... Adjusting parking brake cable

There should be a turnbuckle in the cable between the rear brakes and the handle to take the slack out of the cable. On newer models with self adjusting brakes you would turn the adjuster inside the brake drum.

The parking brake can be "adjusted" from either inside the vehicle or underneath, although adjusting the parking brake AT the brake itself is the correct way to adjust the brakes themselves. The proper procedure would be to adjust the actual brakes, then to test at the pedal or handle (depending upon which vehicle you have). If the handle or pedal has too much "freeplay", THEN the cable or handle/pedal will need to be adjusted.

If you do not use your parking brake on a regular basis, the brake components will usually build rust (if it is a "drum-type" parking brake). This also can prevent the brake from holding properly.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if your mechanic is taking advantage of you without knowing exactly what was done to your vehicle, but I would say if you are not satisfied with your current mechanic, go to a few places and get the parking brake "checked." Ask other mechanics their opinion- after they have inspected the parking brake, do the brakes need service or not? What can be done to improve the parking brake's performance?


One last note, some technicians don't realize that new parking brakes need to be broken in, and any small amount of grease or oil can negatively affect the operation. If you DO wind up needing brakes, try to use your parking brake as often as possible to keep everything working smoothly.

You will need your park brake adjusted, If you use it quite often, then you may need new park brake shoes. I don't know what make or model you have, some have adjustments on the cables, others at the hand lever to cables, and some are only adjustable at the actually brake shoes.

You cannot adjust the cables on a minivan manually. the tension is automaitcally adjusted by the self adjuster on the pedal release.

The park brake cables on this vehicle have an automatic self adjuster built into the park brake pedal mechanism. When the foot operated park brake pedal is in its released (upward most) position, a clock spring automatically adjusts the park brake cables. The park brake cables are adjusted (tensioned) just enough to remove all the slack from the cables. The automatic adjuster system will not over adjust the cables causing rear brake drag.

Due to the automatic adjust feature of the park brake pedal, adjustment of the parking brake cables on these vehicles relies on proper drum brake.

When the park brake pedal is applied the self adjuster is by-passed and the pedal operates normally to engage the park brakes.

When a service procedure needs to be performed on the park brake pedal or the park brake cables, the automatic self adjuster can be manually locked out by the service technician.

The brake shoes need adjusting. Disengage the parking brake.
Before fitting new shoes you should slack off the parking brake cable completely. Locate the adjuster(just follow the parking brake cable. Undo the locknut and slack off the cable.
Remove the rear wheels and drums again. You will find a screw-in type adjuster between the shoes. Turn the adjuster to increase the distance between the shoes. The left and right wheel's adjusters turn in opposite directions to achieve the same result. Fit the drum to see if it slides over the pads easily. Do so until you start having diffyculty sliding the drum over the shoes. Fit the drum and rotate it. You should not hear any scraping or have any resistance on the drum when it is rotated. Refit the wheels. Test the parking brake. If it is still too slack adjust the cable under the car until you when you engage the parking brake it engages fully after 3-5 clicks.

Brake Shoe: Service and Repair
REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle and remove rear wheels.
2. Remove and discard spring nuts securing drums to wheel studs.
3. Remove brake drums.
NOTE: If drums prove difficult to remove, retract brake shoes. Remove access plug at the rear of backing plate and back off adjuster screw with
brake tool and screwdriver.
4. Remove U-clip and washer securing adjuster cable to parking brake lever.
5. Remove primary and secondary return springs from anchor pin with brake spring pliers.
6. Remove hold-down springs, retainers and pins with standard retaining spring tool.
7. Install spring clamps on wheel cylinders to hold pistons in place.
8. Remove adjuster lever, adjuster screw and spring.
9. Remove adjuster cable and cable guide.
10. Remove brake shoes and parking brake strut.
11. Disconnect cable from parking brake lever and remove lever.
INSTALLATION
1. Clean support plate with brake cleaner.
2. If new drums are being installed, remove protective coating with carburetor cleaner or brake cleaner.
3. Clean and lubricate anchor pin with light coat of Mopar multi-mileage grease.
4. Apply multi-purpose grease to brake shoe contact surfaces of support plate.
5. Lubricate adjuster screw threads and pivot with spray lube.
6. Attach parking brake lever to secondary brake shoe. Use new washer and U-clip to secure lever.
7. Remove wheel cylinder clamps.
8. Attach parking brake cable to lever.
9. Install brake shoes on support plate. Secure shoes with new hold-down springs, pins and retainers.
10. Install parking brake strut and spring.
11. Install guide plate and adjuster cable on anchor pin.
12. Install primary and secondary return springs.
13. Install adjuster cable guide on secondary shoe.
14. Lubricate and assemble adjuster screw.
15. Install adjuster screw, spring and lever and connect to adjuster cable.
16. Adjust shoes to drum.
17. Install wheel/tire assemblies and lower vehicle.
18. Verify firm brake pedal before moving vehicle.

Loosen the cable nut at the rear brake, pull the cable until the tension is tight, then tighten the cable nut. Since the parking brake only operates on the rear brakes, your rear pads may be too worn causing the parking brake not to hold. Check the pads first to see if they need to be replaced. Also, the parking brake cable can stretch or break over time. Verify that isn't case since you may need to install a new cable rather than adjust it.

Hope this helps. This is out of the factory manual. Let me know if this works for you.
PARKING BRAKE NOTE: Tensioner adjustment is only necessary when the tensioner, or a cable has been replaced or disconnected for service. When adjustment is necessary, perform adjustment only as described in the following procedure. This is necessary to avoid faulty park brake operation.

1. Raise vehicle.
2. Fully back off cable tensioner adjusting nut at equalizer to create slack in cables.
3. Remove rear wheel/tire assemblies. Remove brake calipers and rotors.
4. Verify park brakes are in good condition and operating properly.
5. Verify park brake cables operate freely and are not binding, or seized.
6. Check park brake shoe adjustment.
7. Reinstall rotors and make sure rotors turn freely.
8. Reinstall brake calipers. Tighten guide pin bolts to 41 n·m (30 ft.lbs.)
9. Reinstall wheel/tire assemblies after brake shoe adjustment is complete.
10. Lower vehicle enough for access to park brake foot pedal. Fully apply park brakes

NOTE: Leave park brakes applied until adjustment is complete.

1. Raise vehicle again.
2. Mark tensioner rod 6.35 mm (1/4 in.) from edge of tensioner bracket Adjustment Mark On Cable Tensioner Rod
3. Tighten adjusting nut at equalizer until mark on tensioner rod moves into alignment with tensioner bracket

CAUTION: Do not loosen, or tighten the tensioner adjusting nut for any reason after completing adjustment.

1. Lower vehicle until rear wheels are 15-20 cm (6-8 in.) off shop floor.
2. Release park brake foot pedal and verify that rear wheels rotate freely without drag. Verify pedal returns to fully released position.
3. Lower the vehicle