2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission parking brake released = accident

[darom]

What an unpleasant day! Went to drive the truck to work today, got out to close the gate. I made sure the parking brake pedal was engaged to the floor and stayed there. As soon as I closed the gate, I heard the pop sound and saw my truck rolling into my neighbor's car. The truck's bumper is barely scratched, hers - the hood, headlight and turn signal busted. I am glad there was no human being in its way. Now I have to face the increased insurance rates consequences.



2 years ago I fixed my rear drum brakes with new 3500 GM wheel cylinders and new shoes. The parking brake cable was tightened up. The truck stops great. I always leave the truck parked with the 1st gear engaged. Obviously couldn't do it with the engine running today.



I saw a few posts from 2001-2003 of the people whose parking brake snapped on them as well. Most of their issues were related to the stuck parking brake pedal or bad cable. In my case it is the mechanism which gives way and releases the pedal. What a bad design! Was there a parking brake TSB?



How can I fix it? I feel like tearing the whole p. o. s. assembly out and doing a floor mounted parking lever you see in sedans. With ratcheting mechanism I doubt it will snap again.



Looking forward to your ideas.



Thanks!

 

[budnate]

install a hyd roll control with a toggle switch, it will lock both front or rear brakes which ever you tie into, sure fire fix.



Line Lock/Roll Control

 

[darom]

Excellent idea, budnate! I will definitely install something like this for cases when the engine is idling and the truck is on the slope. Brilliant.

Have you installed these solenoids on your cars?

Thank you!

 

[budnate]

yep, use them all the time on the street cars to hold the front wheels while heating up the rears for racing.



my uncle had some really cool ones years ago in his 4x4 scout it had a lever to lock either end when wheeling so you could get out see where you were at and go again, only deal with his I think the lines came in the cab, I would not go to that exstreme for what your wanting,



I would just install the electric unit under the hood, between the master cyl and the front lines, and install a nice clean switch in the truck where you like, make sure its not where you can knee it when getting in/out.



so you know to set one you hit the brakes twice to get the pedal nice and firm flip the switch and it will lock the brake fluid right there and hold it till you release the solenoid.



peace, B.

 

[kenny61]

had the same thing happen to me one resulted in accident. second time it popped as soon as i put it on and was able to re-apply. Something in the mechanism just released on its own both times. never was able to figure out why

 

[dsherman]

install a hyd roll control with a toggle switch, it will lock both front or rear brakes which ever you tie into, sure fire fix.



Line Lock/Roll Control

Will they work on A anti lock brake system ? And are they a very hard to install.

Which one would you purchase for your truck ?

Thanks

 

[darom]

dsherman, I've been researching line locks all days today. I would look for a heavy-duty device that can hold for more than 30 seconds obviously. One of the TDR members installed the Hurst version but it wouldn't hold for too long, and it would overheat. That's not acceptable in my book, since I can't afford another accident.

A lot of people referred to Pork Barrel system. Here is the write-up on the 4x4 site:
Pork Barrel Engineering - Safety Break Line Lock Kit - Trucks 4x4 @ Off-Road.com

Since 2002, their web site has disappeared. I'd love to install one of their systems on my 94. I will keep on looking.

I will update the thread once I find something interesting.

 

[surfbeetle]

I had to replace the parking brake foot mechanism a few years back. Mine did the same thing, but the truck was in gear and off.

 

[seafish]

Here is the type we use on some of our fire trucks...
MICO, Inc. : Products/Literature

Also, check out post#14 at this TDR thread--
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...2085-mico-lock-parking-brake-ever-use-em.html

 

[darom]

surfbeetle, your truck rolled with the gear engaged? Wow, I did put the 4x4 behind the rear tire just in case tonight. Now this whole thing just simply freaks me out.

Was yours in the 1st or reverse? Which one is better to use?

 

[darom]

seafish, Mico products are not cheap ... Their manual switch looks like a good solution. Thanks for the links.

 

[surfbeetle]

surfbeetle, your truck rolled with the gear engaged? Wow, I did put the 4x4 behind the rear tire just in case tonight. Now this whole thing just simply freaks me out.



Was yours in the 1st or reverse? Which one is better to use?

No, I guess I should have clarified, I meant that the parking brake pedal mechanism had released itself and because it was in gear and off, the truck did not move. I was lucky in that regard.

 

[msperos]

I run the Mico's at work on my forklifts and have one in my 42'. Very well built products.

 

[darom]

msperos, if I find a junk yard for forklifts, do you think I can re-use one for our 1/8 (???) NPT Dodge brake lines? What diameter brake line do the forklift roll-locks accept? I am assuming they are designed for the heavy duty?

For example, would this be ok to use on a 3/4 ton truck?
NEW Forklift: MICO Lock Brake Kit LPM - eBay (item 150319905443 end time Jun-06-09 13:13:50 PDT)

Thanks.

 

[RLHannink]

I had my parking brake pop off just after I locked the door, couldn't get my keys outta my pocket in time, watched it roll across the street into the neighbor's minivan. Ouch. Now I always wait until the Cummins is cool enough to shut down, then park it in gear. I have also used Mico locks on forklifts, and thought about putting one on the Dodge, but the ones we had on the lifts never seemed to do much, they'd "fade" and let it roll. That was probably due to crappy brakes on the lifts, though. I bet it'd be easier to jam the high idle stick I have between the brake pedal and the seat.

 

[RHestand]

This all sounds pretty scary to me, considering several times this prev. winter in WI, I warmed my 98 with it in drive, emergency brake on, and me in the house.

I at least had it pointed at a big tree, but it was about ten feet away.

I'll not be doing this anymore.

Thanks for the info.

Ray

 

[surfbeetle]

I guess now we know why the local utilities and firetrucks have a set wheel chocks on a rope that the employees are told to use whenever they're parked.

 

[icman95]

You got it! My parking brake sucks and as many times as it's been adjusted, it won't hold the truck on a hill. I park it in gear and always put a wheel chock in if on a hill. I carry it in the corner of the bed just behind the driver's side so it's easy to get to each time. At first it takes some getting used to to remember to use it, but after a while it becomes second nature.



Also, it is company policy at work to use one every time. Can you guess why?... ... .



Two idiots on two separate occassions FORGOT yes, FORGOT-as in no mechanical malfunction, just a human one-to set the brakes when parking their trucks in a customer's lot. Sure enough, the trucks rolled into parked cars. Lovely!

 

[DIESELWRKS]

I havent had a e-brake in 2 years mine has ripped the metal on the mounts from the fire wall they want a arm and a leg to re weld the area to put back on the parking brake. my truck I thought was in gear and popped out or was out and rolled down my basement driveway blew through a cinderblock and brick wall all the way to the mirrors was in my basement. but the light of the situation I got my aftermarket black grill and aftermarket raised cowl hood. sorry to hear and glad no one was hurt. I carry a chalk-block in my truck now and hug a curb always since then. I just need to find a welder that is wheeling to do this fix for cheaper and I can re-put my e-brake bracket back on. because I weld like ray charles. ( no offense to the blind) ... ...

 

[RLHannink]

Kind of an update. I just put new rear brake shoes on my 97, now the parking brake works relatively well. Actually gets tight, and doesn't hit bottom of the pedal travel.



The shoes that were directly connected to the p-brake cable were almost all worn out, the others looked as good as the new ones I put on. I HAD been in the habit of slamming the p-brake before the Dodge would come to a full stop, but I am pretty sure that this technique to shave a coupla seconds off my day actually cost me a new set of shoes...



From now on I wait until I'm stopped before I step on the brake. Maybe my shoes will go longer than a year and a half or 50K miles. And my p-brake will work OK for longer