Parking Brake

[JKing]

Came home from a weekend camping trip on Sunday afternoon and parked the rig (with 30' Jayco TT) on the street in front of the house and set the parking brake. I was pointed slightly down hill. After unloading the stuff from the trailer I went to park it in the back yard. Got in the truck, pushed in the clutch, and started to roll down the street, even with the parking brake set. Pushed the brake pedal down (still not cranked up) but wouldn't stop. Quickly started the truck and finally had some brakes. Reached down to release the parking brake and didn't get the familiar sound of it releasing. Checked the parking brake pedal with my foot and it's just kind of flopping in place. It won't engage and there is no ratcheting sound as you push the pedal down. Looked under the truck and the cable is sagging 2-3" from the normal position.

Has anyone had a parking brake cable break? I haven't had a chance to look into what actually happened yet. Probably won't have time until the weekend. Just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and what the fix was.

Thanks

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'98 2500 reg. cab 2WD SLT, 12V, 5 sp. , 4. 10, TST #11 plate, K&N RE-0880 & 25-0880, Autometer boost & pyro

 

[Phil Stuart]

JeffroSr

Pull the drums and check the cables on both sides to make sure it hasn't broke or pulled out of the little ball end on the cable.
You should see something right away if you didn't when under the truck. Also check the equalizer cable attachment. Oh,before you pull the drums off, pull on each individual cable going to it's respective wheel and if it pulls out it's broke inside the drum.

Phil

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`01 2500,4x4,QC,LB,ETC,5 spd(DDX),HDtransfer case(DHG)
3. 55 LSD,Tow Pkg. ,Snow plow pkg. ,Forest Green PC,Mopar alum. side steps,Mopar mud flaps with Cummins logo,Mist grey seat covers,Tekonsha brake controller,Hadley air horns,Pacbrake.
Built in St. Louis
THE BIG GREEN MACHINE

Phil Stuart

[This message has been edited by Phil Stuart (edited 05-14-2001). ]

 

[fritzbo29]

JeffroSr:

My first new-generation Dodge, '94 2500 5. 9 gasser had the E-brake cable snap right about the joint down by the brake drum. Had a heck of a time getting the drums off the back. The cable broke on my '94 after only about a year. Was able to rig it with some bailing wire to pass inspection, but had the whole cable replaced by a local mechanic for 75 bucks. Too lazy to do it myself. 6 months later traded that truck for a 2001 ETH/DEE. They must just be using some crappy cables, as it appears mine broke at the weld from the wound cable to the metal post at the far end. Hope you can get it fixed quickly and easily.

Cheers
Fritz

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Fritz Thurmond
2001 4x2 QC HO 6-spd 3. 54

 

[rono]

This is unreal! I parked my truck Friday and when starting to work monday, I had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me!! Parking brake release was not the same as usual. When I stopped and tried to set the brake, it went to the floor and will NOT hold the truck. I found that the cable was loose where to 'hooked' to the right rear brake backing plate. There is a yoke that the cable is supposed to be hooked into and one side of the yoke was broken off. I sort of set the cable back in the yoke and so far it is holding, but I don't expect it to stay. I haven't had time to see if this yoke is bolted to the backing plate or is part of it. I'll try to look tonight and post tomorrow.
ron

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'01. 5 ETH, DEE, 2500 Silver, QC, 4x4, SB. 3. 54 LS All options except leather. Not bombed Yet. Life Member NRA & NAHC. Ron Osborne

 

[rono]

This is unreal! I parked my truck Friday and when starting to work monday, I had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me!! Parking brake release was not the same as usual. When I stopped and tried to set the brake, it went to the floor and will NOT hold the truck. I found that the cable was loose where to 'hooked' to the right rear brake backing plate. There is a yoke that the cable is supposed to be hooked into and one side of the yoke was broken off. I sort of set the cable back in the yoke and so far it is holding, but I don't expect it to stay. I haven't had time to see if this yoke is bolted to the backing plate or is part of it. I'll try to look tonight and post tomorrow.
ron

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'01. 5 ETH, DEE, 2500 Silver, QC, 4x4, SB. 3. 54 LS All options except leather. Not bombed Yet. Life Member NRA & NAHC. Ron Osborne

 

[JKing]

Phil hit the nail on the head with his reply. The cable had come out of the groove on the parking brake lever inside the right side drum. Took disconnecting the main cable and doing a brake job (without replacing shoes) to get the cable reinstalled. I guess the hardest part of the whole job was removing and reinstalling the adjusting nut for the parking brake. I don't have any 6" long, 13mm deep well sockets so it took a while with a box end wrench turning 1/3 of a revolution at a time.

Jeff


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'98 2500 RC, 2WD, 12V, 5 sp. , 4. 10 LSD, TST #11 plate, K&N RE-0880 & 25-0880, Autometer boost & pyro

 

[David Wheeler]

Another parking brake failure

Felt the same "flopping" foot pedal as described above. However, upon inspection, it appears the cable "broke" the cable connector it attaches to under the truck (part of the adjustment mechanism). Took the truck to my dealer and will have the connector replaced as soon as the part arrives. I live in a hilly area and finding fairly flat places (without curbs) is difficult..... including my driveway! Neighbors think I've lost it by parking sideways in the highly elevated driveway



Good luck all!!



David

 

[Ramafid]

My parking brake isn't working nearly as well as it used to. I guess I'll have to check into the situation. The pedal doesn't go to the floor so maybe I just need a simple adjustment. Dodge strikes again!

 

[JKing]

Funny this should come up again now... ... Went to the lake last Friday afternoon and backed the trailer onto the site. Got out to check if I was in the spot I wanted to setup, got back into the truck, foot on the brake, released the parking brake and BAM!!!!, same thing happened again!!! I'll have to look a little closer at the way the cable hooks into the parking brake lever. Maybe I can close it up a little to avoid this again. Or, maybe I'll just buy another cable and start from scratch this time.

 

[Jammar9082]

Parking Brake Problem

This is a real safety issue and needs to be reported to our friends in Washington. The number of incidents reported on the TDR will only be the tip of the iceberg when considering the total Dodge Ram numbers. I am going to inspect my brake tomorrow.



The online complaint form is found here:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm