Parking Brake Cable gets snagged in control lever (inside car) pully

I have a 1997 2WD XE Pickup where the front parking brake cable gets snagged in the control lever pully upon releasing the brake. I lubricated the center lever arm assembly and replaced the return spring at the equalizer assembly believing that it was too deteriorated and weakened by age to take up the slack of the cable when the brake is released by forcing the lever back but neither corrected the situation. The arm does swing back and the brake does release if I pull manually on one of the rear cables. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated!