2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Parking brake wont hold??

[litespeed]

I was just at the dealer last week... ... . Had the brakes checked... ... . Told them, I pull HEAVY. I also complained of a weak parking brake.



While launching our boat at the ramp, the parking brake will not hold the truck and boat. So, I un-hooked the boat at the parking lot and went back to the ramp (not many hills in Florida). Nothing... ... . The truck kept rolling towards the water?



Now I was just in the dealership... ... ... They said they adjusted the brake! And it does seem better... But barely????



If the truck is hot, the brake wont hold the truck on the ramp. If the truck is cold, the brake will barely hold the truck IE: Parking brake all the way to floor.



Can anyone give me the proper procedure for adjusting this thing???? I have no problem doing it... ... . I am just not that familiar with the new braking system on these trucks... ..... Mine has DISCS on the rear.



Drums... ... . No problem... ..... I'm new to discs on the rear... ... .



Thanks,



AJ

 

[supeerman4422]

if you pull the rear discs im pretty sure there is a drum brake like set up inside for the parking brake... this is how it is on my parents 01 suburban with disc brakes in the rear... check the shoes and see if theyre worn out... and if they arent there should be a star wheel adjuster like on a drum brake set up...



-Tom

 

[litespeed]

Tom,



I'm not seeing an adjustment hole? But it does look like there is some kind of "Shoe" inside the inner part of the rotor? So I'm guessing that the outer rotor and caliper have nothing to do with the emergency brake? Rather there is this "shoe" that presses against the inner side of the rotor to hold the truck... .



There looks to be some kind of lever and adjustment screw on the brake cable just under the front of the bed on the outer frame rail? I'm guessing that this may be the place to adjust it?



I just wonder how much to adjust and if there are limits as to how tight this cable should be?



AJ

 

[PC12Driver]

The adjustment on the cable is just for cable slack. The proper way is to adjust the starwheel via the slot in the dust cover on the backside of the drum (parking) brakes (this way the s-cam for the parking brakes will have full travel). On one side the slot is above the axle and on the other the slot is on the bottom. There should be a rubber plug in place that you'll need to pop out to get to the starwheel. The slot is about 1" wide and just high enough to get a flat blade screwdriver in to.



To adjust the brake, jack up the rear wheels and spin the starwheel so it expands the shoes against the drum. Rotate the tire while you're doing this, and when you start to feel the brakes drag, back off the starwheel 'till the drag goes away, and that's it.



There's a picture of what's going on inside the parking brakes of disk brake equipped trucks here. You don't need to take the wheel off to adjust them, but you can see the starwheel that I mentioned between the shoes on the top of the axle.

 

[litespeed]

PC12,



Thanks... ..... I ran a search and had a hard time finding info. on this. That thread is exactly what I was looking for... ... Thanks!!



I was a little weary of adjusting the cable... ... . It looked pretty tight!



AJ