When you push the car back and forth while it's in park gear, you actually are moving a lot of parts. Your engine will put some tension on its mounts because it rocks back and forth a bit as it's not actually locked down (the mounts let it move around without vibrating the inside of the car). Those can be hit with silicone lube.
You may also need to adjust your drum brakes. They "self-adjust", but as far as I can tell that's just a fanciful dream someone had. It's easy. To test whether it has the right clearance, put your car in drive and set the e-brake. Next, put your foot on the gas pedal and gently increase pressure. If the car is able to move before you reach 1200-1500 RPMs, your brakes need adjustment.
To adjust them, put the rear of the car on jackstands so the tires are off the ground. If you have no jackstands, they're like $8 per stand at walmart. CINDERBLOCKS WILL NOT CUT IT. DON'T EVEN FUCKING THINK ABOUT IMPROVISING HERE. Don't set the e-brake.
Next, take a brake spoon (one of
these bad boys) and put it on the adjustment star. It is accessed through an oval window on the inside dust shield of the drum brakes. It is accessed with the wheels on from between the wheels.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu92 ... e3529c.jpg
This is the adjustment star, you'll see it through the little window.
Now, using your spoon, turn the star until you can't turn the wheel at all by hand. Then back it off 5-8 clicks. Repeat for each side. Then, get in the car and engage the e-brake lever. It should only take 5-7 clicks to fully engage.
Most cars can self-adjust, but the e-brake in corollas, the chevy prizm, camry etc etc fall really short of the goal. I have tried backing up and stopping with the brake pedal, reversing into the e-brake, reversing and engaging the e-brake repeatedly, etc etc etc. It just doesn't work very well, regardless of whether or not you always engage it when you park the car (although it does work better when you do this).
Readjust the drums whenever they make noise when you hit your brake pedal, the e-brake doesn't hold to 1200-1500 RPMs, or the e-brake lever has to travel really far to engage.
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