Emergency brake stopped working, help!

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This morning, I set the emergency brake as usual. When I left work, I grabbed the release handle and nothing happened except the "brake" idiot light turned off. I thought to myself, maybe I didn't set the brake after all. So, I put my foot on the e-brake pedal and push. It goes to the floor with no effort!

When I got home, I climbed under the truck to look around. The cable is very loose, but in one piece (not broken. ) But, it seems like the right side drum controls the tension on the cable, and it is not providing any. Anybody else experience this? Ideas on what's wrong and how to fix it? I don't have a service manual yet (figures!) so my only options are to "guess" or take it to a dealer... ... .

Any help would be appreciated... ... .


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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins.
Renton, WA

 

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I don't have a manual on the truck, either, but if it's like any other truck with drum brakes in the rear, you will just have to pull off the drum and see if something has disconnected. If you can get the drum off, everything else is usually self-explanatory. The hardest part is usually getting the drum off. There's usually a little opening on the bottom in back of the drum to get a screwdriver in, and you can back off the starwheel to release the brakes on the drum. I could be wrong, your truck might be totally different than the vehicles I am familiar with.
The other option, is if the emergency brake is not actually keeping the wheel from turning, which you'll know if you can just put it in gear and it will roll... when I had probs. with the drum brakes in my vehicles, and I know it's a real hassel to take the drum off, I'd bring it to one of those places that does brake repairs and gives free estimates. They'll loosen the starwheel up for you and remove the drum free of charge, and even tell you what's wrong with it. then all you have to do is drive it home, pop the drum off and take care of the problem, or sometimes it's something so simple that they will just reconnect it, put your drum and wheel on and send you on your way at no charge. I have had that happen to me before.
Anyway, I don't know if this helps at all, but I hope it does.
Good luck.

 

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Scott,If you have a Midas nearby they will inspect for free and most likely fix for free. Don't know what your temps have been on that side of the hill,but if you set wet brakes and it freezes sometimes the shoe will stick to the drum. When you go to release the cable goes slack and can come out of it's notch. The frozen brakes will release when your truck moves,but won't work well till the ice melts. This can be a real problem on low HP passenger cars,not enough power to break the brakes lose. I'm sure you have a simple fix,no need to worry.

 

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Ok, I pulled the right drum off. It almost fell off on its own! #ad
Probably because I had a safety inspection about 2000 miles ago... .
ANYWAY, here is what I found. The "stopper" on the end of the cable has come off, allowing the cable to slip through the holding notch. So, it should be an easy fix, as only the "stopper" needs to be replaced. I need to have brakework done anyway (warped drums & rotors, and marginal front brake pads) so it will be fixed then. Now, to find a brake shop open this Friday.


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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins.
Renton, WA

 

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hold on , i ve had this problem too

first, look just in front of the drivers
rear side tire see where the emergency cable goes into 2 lines look at the metal
unit that holds the 2 cables, see if its is telting ,one cable is being pulled more than the other, whatever one is being pulled the most is where the cable end inside the drum came off. pull that side use the correct size socket onthe wheel bearing nut
pull the axle, and then drum see where the
emergency cable is off its holder. thats the problem, order new retainer sleeves
at dealer a buck or 2, BUT the big fit
oncr the retainers are in PUT some wire
around the retrainer sleeve. it will keep the retainer from leeting go of the emergency cable. it worked for me!
ps i pul the drums 3x per year to adj brakes
i ve never changed front pads since rears
are always adje properly.
good luck this will fit it.

bill

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1993 w350 ex cab, banks
open exaust, pw injectors s/b in a week
ham radio,big rig mud flaps,duel optimas
nv4500 just put in
plan to keep this one
140k miles

 

[Archive]

The drum brakes on my 99 needed manual adjustments every 6k miles. Wasn't real bad, the auto adjusters work "okay", but they still needed some ajustment. I have a great brake guy (one man shop) in Phoenix. All he does is brakes.

I saw Midas mentioned in an earler post. Be careful with those guys, had nothing but problems. Mostly wrong parts, and improper installation. (What else is there). They at least honored their warranty nationwide, but still failed to resolve the problems by creating new ones. But that's a small novel and another post in a different forum, if anyone is interested.

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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges,