Working on my '55.2. The parking brake has never worked, and now I've discovered why. The brake line going in to the drum is not connected to the parking linkage. And to be clear - the current set up of the truck DOES have a parking brake line coming out of each of the rear drums; but it is NOT hooked up to anything. The parking linkage DOES have a parking brake cable hooked in to the linkage, but it does NOT go in the the drum. So basically, I have 4 sets of lines that are zip-tied together under the bed and nothing is hooked up an working.

I have to assume the rear-end on my truck is from a 55.2 but the truck was assembled in the 1980's and the engine and tranny are from a 78 blazer, but I assume the rear end is still from a 55.2 (I can't ask my FIL about it, he's passed away).

So - I need help and input on how to tackle this. Is there a way to disconnect the brake cable from the linkage (see manual, Item #4 on figure 99) http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/gmc/5559mm/5559mm255.html

and then I can just then install the brake cable that is currently installed to the drums?

Or, it is better to pull the drums off and disconnect the brake cable that is in the drums right now, and connect the cable that is currently installed with the rest of the brake linkage system? I've never worked with drum brakes before.

Hope this all makes sense. I would post a photo but it just looks like a giant mess.

1955 GMC 100 Series 2