Its a convertible if that matters but I don't think it does for this particular application. I have rear disc with separate shoes for the e brake.

My e brake originally held but I kept pulling it all the way to the top and it loosened up.

I found a video online, pulled the center console up but I couldn't get it all the way off without tearing out the dash too. I was able to get to the adjuster screw but only with the handle in nearly the uppermost position. Turned the screw clockwise until no space left. It turned quite a bit.

The brake holds on a flat surface but that's it.

So I found these instructions online but I'm a little confused:

Remove the center console that surrounds the hand parking brake. Locate this inside the car between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat.

• Adjust your Chrysler Sebring parking brake adjustment if your car has a drum brake or disc in drum brake system.
• Locate this inside the car between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat.

Use your pliers to unscrew the nut to loosest point, to release the cable.

Start the engine using your key and then press down on the foot brake with your foot.
Pull up on the hand parking brake and release. Count how many clicks it takes and stop pulling up on the hand parking brake lever when you are at three to five clicks.
Screw the adjuster nut close to the metal plate, leaving no space.

• Start the engine using your key and then press down on the foot brake with your foot.
• Screw the adjuster nut close to the metal plate, leaving no space.

Replace the center console.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 of Section One.

Use your screwdriver in theadjustment hold to turn the adjuster the direction of the arrow. Then turn the adjuster five notches in the opposite direction to set the parking brake.

Pull up on the hand parking brake and release. Count how many clicks it takes and stop pulling up on the hand parking brake lever when you are at five to seven clicks.

Screw the adjuster nut close to the metal plate, leaving no space. Replace the center console.

• Start the engine using your key and then press down on the foot brake with your foot.
• Screw the adjuster nut close to the metal plate, leaving no space.

(end instructions, sorry for not formatting back to original text size)

I'm confused by "repeat Steps 1 and 2". Am I supposed to loosen it, press the break, pull the handle, tighten it, then loosen it completely again before starting over? This seems like it's defeating the purpose. It also says to replace the console in-between I'm guessing this is because it's hard to remove so you have to replace it to get the handle down?

Or am I supposed to press the brake, pull the handle, tighten, press the brake, tighten, and so on? That makes more sense but I really would prefer some clarity before going the trial and error route.

Anyone who can help is greatly appreciated!

 

Spend a few bucks and get a Haynes or Chilton's shop manual. They have instructions there that are more straightforward. Even if you don't plan on doing much by way of repairs to your car, one of these shop manuals is a good investment. You can find out how to repair almost anything and if you have to hire it done you will be able to discuss it intelligently and will not be pushed around by somebody trying to take advantage of you.

 

The procedure you note is a workaround and not the preferred procedure. A properly adjusted parking brake will pull up no more than 15 clicks for full parking brake.

Note there are 2 screws in the console storage area and 2 screws under the shift bezel. It is necessary to remove the shift **** to remove the bezel. The shift **** is held in place by a set screw at the front of the shift ****.

I would first recommend inspecting the parking brake mechanism in the rear disk hat. It may be difficult to remove the rear disk as there tends to be a ring of rust on the outer edge of the hat that makes it difficult to pull the rotor over the parking brake shoes. Patience and turning the rotor while pulling will slowly rub the rust ring away.

I found the lever that the cable pulls on to be binding/not moving freely and did not allow for proper contact. The lever is a part of the parking brake shoe so a new set of shoes may be needed. It may be the shoes have worn (unusual) and require an adjustment in the rear hat. The shoes need to be adjusted out to a diameter of 6.75 inches (171 mm).

There is a specific note in the factory service manual (fsm) that the tension equalizer under the center console needs to be replaced anytime an adjustment is needed to the parking brake. It is this tension equalizer that may have stretched too much when the parking brake shoe lever was binding and is not allowing for the proper parking brake force. The fsm also notes the nut be turned in so 26 mm of threads are showing.

 

Side note, with 4-wheel disk brakes, the parking brake and disk brakes are 2 separate systems; applying the foot brake pedal does not affect the parking brake.

I personally have found it exceedingly difficult to use a screwdriver (or anything) to rotate the star-wheel adjuster for the parking brake shoes from the outside. I always seem to rotate the adjuster in the wrong direction....