2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Loss of Emergency Braking Ability

[Kurz82]

I just realized yesterday that my Emergency Brakes have really lost their ability to hold the truck on an incline. Is this normal? I had the truck lightly loaded on a fairly steep incline, and wanted to leave the truck running while I put something else in the bed. The E-Brake could not hold the truck still. Is this a common problem, or is their some tweaking that I could do to put some balls back into my brakes? (I'm actually worried that they won't help if I ever needed them). Every time I use the brakes, I stomp the pedal to the floor, and it doesn't do anything. What can I do?



TIA



Rich

 

[Whitmore]

Rich, although I am not an expert by any means , I do believe you need to adjust the rear brakes, there is a rubber plug on the bottom inside that you pull and you can take a small screwdriver and run the starwheel up till you barley hear the brakes squeek, jack the tire up in the air so you can feel them too and dont forget to block the front wheels front and back so you are safe.



cheers, Kevin

 

[Joe G.]

This brake is called a "parking" brake, not an "emergency" brake. There is a reason for that.

 

[Sticks]

You may also have to take up some of the slack in the cable. There should be a turnbuckle or something of the like along the cable under the bed.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by Joe G.

This brake is called a "parking" brake, not an "emergency" brake.

Hey ... . At least Brake isn't spelled Break #ad

 

[Joe G.]

It might as well be spelled break as reliable as it is. I would never attempt to restrain a loaded truck on any kind of slope with it. Unless, of course, you would like a bit of excitment. In older cars it was called an emergency brake. Old Mopars had a pistol grip handle under the left side of the dash that worked a band around a drum on the end of the transmission. You could slide the wheels going pretty fast with that thing.

 

[illflem]

Don't know about the Y2Ks but on earlier models the only time recommended to tighten up the parking brake turnbuckles is after parts have been replaced. Adjust your rear drums first.

 

[CFAR]

Whitemore is right adjust your rear brakes.



Whitmore what happened to the chicken?

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by Joe G.

Unless, of course, you would like a bit of excitment.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[dremelts]

Rich,



I would highly recommend that you never depend on your parking brake to hold a load on an incline. I have had my P-brake release itself twice. The second time it happened right after I had depressed the pedal and took my foot off it. I'll admit that it is possible that my foot could have bumped the release lever.



The first time that it happened, though, I had parked and was about 40 feet away when I heard the brake "pop" and turned around to watch it roll back into a pole and smash the tail light assy.



One person reported that his truck rolled into the lake at a boat ramp when his p-brake let go.



I always carry a wheel chock in the bed of the truck now.

 

[rckwlkr]

MY Ram is lifted and I have also run into the same problem of not being able adjust the brake into any decent holding. Has anyone tried installing a line lock and using it instead of a parking brake??

I might try it to see how it works

 

[dremelts]

rckwlkr,



There has been some discussion on this forum about using a Line-Lock. You have to make sure that you use one that is rated for continuous duty.