1992 Toyota Previa

ON 7/15/2001 I DROVE MY WIFE'S PREVIA AND NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED TO HAVE AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF DRAG WHILE GLIDING WHILE IN "DRIVE" AS IF THE BRAKES WERE SOMEHOW ON, ALTHOUGH NEITHER THE MAIN BRAKES NOR THE PARKING BRAKE WERE ON. ONE DAY LATER, MY TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT WAS A "STICKING PARKING BRAKE" AND THAT IT WOULD COST $490 (!!) TO FIX. A FEW CALLS TO OTHER MI TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THAT IT'S NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM AT ALL. SINCE THE PARKING BRAKE DRUM AND SHOE UNIT IS SEPARATE FROM THE REAR DISC BRAKE ROTORS, BUT STILL ENCLOSED FROM THE WEATHER, I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHY THIS WOULD BE SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COST OF $490 IS ABOUT WHAT A FULL DEALER DONE BRAKE JOB WOULD COST IF NONE OF THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT SEEMS TO ME, AND MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS WERE THEY ASKED, THAT BRAKES CAN WEAR OUT BUT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO CAUSE TERMINAL DETERIORATION IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT SYSTEM IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. A HIGH VOLUME DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T EVER ALLOW THEIR MECHANICS TO TOUCH THE PARKING BRAKES BECAUSE "OF THE COMMON OCCURRENCE OF HAVING THOSE BRAKES SEIZE UP." HOW'S THAT FOR RELIABILITY? (OR IS IT PLAIN LIABILITY?) PLAESE NOTIFY ME IF ANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM OR IF THEY HAVE MERELY PASSIVELY COUGHED UO THE $500 BUCKS AND 'GOTTEN ON WITH IT.*AK