Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 2001 dodge 1 ton dully diesel 4x4

[firefighter]

I have a brake problem in that I smoked the front brakes twice on long steep grades, how can I test the brake pressure to the rear brakes to see if they are doing their share of the braking required.Thanks

 

[SnoKing]

Maybe you need an exhaust brake and the transmission mods to make it work. I would not tow my 12K+ 5er with out one. Snoking

 

[JR]

Gonna have to pull the rear drums and visually inspect your adjusters and the little stopper that keeps the adjusters from backing out. If everything checks out slide the drums back on and adjust shoes from back side until they drag just a touch.
Other thing you can do to help improve the brakes a little is upgrade the wheel cylinders to GM 1 ton cylinders. They are a direct bolt in but offer a little more brake pressure.Also if you have the load sensing valve over the rear axle on the drivers side you can disconnect it and adjust it up a little to give more pressure to the rears.

 

[JSchuh]

If the truck is a late 2001, 2001.5, it has disk brakes in the back.

 

[JR]

If that is the case then there is no adjustment As the OP was inquiring about.

 

[Road Dog]

It's not just brake pressure -- the rear brakes can bind (disk) or be rusted (drums). Long ago, when vehicle inspections were required, the testing stations had a 4 platform rig that measured the braking of each wheel.

Maybe the trailer's not doing it's share of the braking.