Parking brake

If you have rear disc brakes, the parking brake is needed to adjust the piston in the caliper. You have to use a special tool to retract the piston so the new, thicker pads will fit in. Once everything is assembled, you'll have a low brake pedal because the pistons in this design do not self-adjust like all front calipers do. Exercising the parking brake runs the piston out to adjust it.

Most commonly it is the parking brake cables that become rusted tight. When that happens, you can use a large pliers to work the parking brake lever on each caliper. That will adjust them up so the brake pedal will feel normal.

Also be aware that depending on where you live that P-Brake may be an inspection item. If it doesn't work it's a fail. Changing out the cables is an easy repair.