2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2002 Parking Brake adjustment

[Oxjockey]

OK, is this as simple as I think it should be to adjust? Mine is going straight to the floor with 6680 miles on it, and I'm not thrilled. I'm concerned about it holding the truck with any sort of a load... after I got in an Escort and set the brake on that, I realized mine's a little lacking.



Any tips would be appreciated.



Bryan

 

[emjay]

You might want to check your rear shoes if you haven't already. Besides cable stretch, worn shoes can give you a low PB pedal. Sorry, I don't know offhand how the adjustment is done.

 

[Pit Bull]

Take it to the dealer. That is what your warranty is for

 

[Oxjockey]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Take it to the dealer. That is what your warranty is for

Very true, but my dealer is like 80 miles away.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Oxjockey

Very true, but my dealer is like 80 miles away.

We bought them to drive um. But if you don't want to drive that far any local dodge dealer can work on the emergency brake.

 

[dalexander]

Oxjockey,



Since it was new mine has always gone to the floor. It just turned 10000 miles today. I figured it was the way the rear disc brakes worked on the Dodge. I had a mustang with rear Disc brakes for 5 years and it never needed adjusting either. Always pulled up to the same place even with new pads. Does someone out there know if this is normal? Seems hard to believe that the mechanics would miss it on the new vechicle inspection at the dealer.



Any info would be appreciated,



Dennis

 

[GMcLean]

There is a small rubber plug in the back of the rear backing plate that lets you access the adjuster for the rear e-brake shoes. You will not hear a clicking sound when adjusting these shoes due to the adjuster only being held in place with the lower spring contacting the adjuster. Lift the rear of the vehicle and spin the rear tire while adjusting the shoe till the tire will not turn any more, then back the shoe off a couple of clicks till the tire turns freely again. .

In 2001, there was a TSB for replacing the cables when the brake pedal hit the floor all of a sudden due to the crappy design.

This no longer applies to 2002 since they redesigned the cable.

Just in case any of you where not aware of the fact, the disc brakes are only for the service brakes and there is a shoe internal for the e-brake... Garth

 

[dalexander]

I just got back from a trip to the store and decided to see how effective the e-brake was. Even though it goes to the floor when I set it while parking, I was only able to push it down half way before the rear wheels locked up. So it does the job. I ordered the factory manuals yesterday for issues like these, if I am not sure I can go to the manual. Thanks GMcLean for the input I am going to look up the e-brake in the manual to see how it operates sounds different than the other systems I've seen on other 4-wheel disc systems.



Thanks, Dennis

 

[Phil Stuart]

E-Brake pedal travel

I thought the exact same thing when I bought my 2002.

It's just the way it was designed. Mine holds very well on an incline even tho pedal goes good ways down to the floor

It is deffinitly different than drum brakes I will say that!

I love the 4 wheel discs.



Phil

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: E-Brake pedal travel

Originally posted by Phil Stuart





I love the 4 wheel discs.



Phil

Phil, I'm with you!!! I had a 2000 3500QC 4x4 before I bought this truck. The rear drumms were bad for stopping. I think the fronts did 90% of the work and they had to be replaced every 15-20K miles. This 2002 stops on a dime

 

[Rob Thomas]

Re: E-Brake pedal travel

Originally posted by Phil Stuart

I thought the exact same thing when I bought my 2002.

It's just the way it was designed. Mine holds very well on an incline even tho pedal goes good ways down to the floor

It is deffinitly different than drum brakes I will say that!

I love the 4 wheel discs.



Phil

I love my disk brakes also, so not to burst your bubble, but the e-brake is a drum-brake, inside the rotor, yes, there's 2 complete stes of brakes on the rear of your truck.



Like Garth said above, you can adjust them from the access slot on the backing plate, but also to pick up the cable slack, on the frame between the cab and the bed (drivers side), there is another adjustment. Look, you'll see it, just tighten the nut to remove the cable stretch.





Later, Rob