2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Parking brake weak

[RMecum]

My parking brake is weak... I push it down and it gets tight like it's fully applied but it doesn't hold. When I release the service brakes I feel the truck move and then hold with the "Park" pin in the transmission. Does it just need adjustment or is something wrong in the brake system (drums)?

 

[trqmnstr]

Mine does the same thing. It worked fine until I had the rear brakes serviced. It hasn't held ever since. I've adjusted it but it didn't help. I hope there's an easy fix for this.

 

[BTighe]

same here too. barely held before new shoes and drums. after it was funny triing to park on a hill especially with a trailer. a few months later things are much better.

 

[rkressg]

For the 01. 5's with rear disk brakes, if you look at the rear brakes, there are a set of drums inside the rotor.



First, check and see if you can tighten the e-brake cable. Look under the truck between the frame and the drivers door. There should be a cable there. See if you can tighten the nut in the bracket. That is an adjustment point for the e-brake.



Second, if that can not be adjusted any tighter, you can adjust the brakes from inside the little drum. If you look at the inside of the rear wheels, behind the caliper, you will see a small oval shaped piece of rubber (or just an oval hole if the rubber is gone). Inside is a brake adjustment screw. You can adjust the brake shoe tightness just like you are adjusting a wheel cylinder on drum brakes. You can use a tool called a 'spoon' for this, but if you don't have one, you can get a large screwdriver. Just stick it in, you will find a gear in there.



Do not twist the screwdriver, but pivot it up or down. One direction will tighten the brakes, the other will loosen the brakes. Adjust as necessary, but be careful not to overtighten or else the brake might constantly drag.



If the adjuster is frozen, just spray a little PB Blaster in there and wait. It should free up. Do not spray too much, as it can ruin the shoe linings. Also, do not force the adjuster, as you can break off the teeth on the ring.



-Rich

 

[trqmnstr]

Any suggestions for non 01. 5?

 

[RMecum]

Mine's an '01 with drums...



I'll hope for some good suggestiions... I plan on doing the rear wheel cylinder up grade but I doubt that'll help the parking brake.



Mike

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Mine ... set the P - Brake and tap the foot brake once it's set and you should be good. I noticed that theese wheel cylinders are slow as heck to return when it's cooler out. It could be the fact that brake fluid has th eornate ability to absorb 35% its own volume in water just out of the air on a humid day if left uncapped. Could it be that our systems are just simply sensitive to the water content? My adjusters are M I N T and yet it still does it. I am going to evac the system soon and replace the fluid and see whats up if it makes a difference,

 

[CORed]

While I was still under warranty, I told them about this problem on my 01 and they definitely fixed it, I assume by adjustment only. I don't expect they went to the trouble of evacuating and replacing the brake fluid. But after about 10,000 miles, they are back to where they were - kind of like as described above.



I figured I'll attempt the adjustment procedure on the rear drums first and see what happens!



Steve

 

[vssman]

1) Make sure the brake shoes are adjusted properly. With the wheels in the air, you should feel drag when you spin them by hand.

2) Then, if needed, adjust the parking brake cable so it goes down several clicks.

3) The parking brake (drums) do not hold very good in the reverse direction.