Winter Tricks

[mudgeek]

The first cold snap of the winter just arrived here on the Colorado front range. One of the joys of the cold is that my parking brake wont release on the passenger side, seems like banging on the wheel fixes it. My mechanic buddy suggested " Don't use the parking brake when it's cold".

Anyhoo this got me thinking there must be a wealth of experience on here of folk from the cold zones, with tricks and tips for prepping first gens for the sub zero weather.

My latest discovery is that Rainex seems to make scrapping the windshield a lot easier.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Simplysmn]

Try some HOT water splashed onto brake drum ?

 

[mwilson]

The first cold snap of the winter just arrived here on the Colorado front range. One of the joys of the cold is that my parking brake wont release on the passenger side, seems like banging on the wheel fixes it. My mechanic buddy suggested " Don't use the parking brake when it's cold".

Anyhoo this got me thinking there must be a wealth of experience on here of folk from the cold zones, with tricks and tips for prepping first gens for the sub zero weather.

My latest discovery is that Rainex seems to make scrapping the windshield a lot easier.

Cheers, Bob

The cable itself may be frayed or the cable housing is breached somewhere so that the moisture is getting in. Also if it was driven during a storm and then parked before the brakes dried the shoes may have frozen to the drum.

"Don't use it" is not bad advice during temperature swings.

I switched to the "Rain-Ex" brand washer fluid. Will melt frost, does not freeze in the washer nozzles and will indeed make the windshield a breeze to scrape.

 

[BIGNASTY]

What year truck do we have to watch for this on?

 

[DVolk]

Ive had the passenger one stick on in the summer before , its a were issue but depending on the wheels you have carring a propane torch can thaw the brakes if there stuck ,If you drive through water before you park the truck ride your brakes a littel to dry your lineings

 

[mudgeek]

Mine is a'93 w250. I'll try thawing out the housing tomorrow and see how that goes.

 

[tobaccogrower]

while we are on the subject of parking breaks........my cables to the drums always stick. have to get under the truck and pull the cables back to release. do they make replacement cables? I really like my parking break. with small kids and a running truck I'm afraid they may put it in drive(on the farm). don't know why dodge didn't make it a normal -have to press the brake to shift out of park-

 

[ONETIREONFIRE]

I try my best to never ever touch the park brake. I learned that from 3 generations of dodge truck owners. This winter has been a brutally cold one here in Saskatchewan, The Fuel froze up on me twice this year with antigel already in the fuel. Here are a some ideas from up here for a very cold winter:

-Some Antigel is terrible stuff and can turn to jello when it freezes. stick to quality brands like stanadyne or 4+
-Completely cover the grill as well as underneath the truck from the front bumper to the engine crossmember with cardboard. The coolant heat gauge will actually climb to about half with my truck when it hits -30.
-Completely remove the engine fan if its always really cold
-Add a plug in Oil pan heater
-If you have modified your fuel lift pump and are using completely different fuel filters (especially when they are mount in the frame rail) These filters can freeze up. I found a heat blanket that wraps around the fuel filter and uses 12 volt power. (wolverineheater.com)
-If you really have money instal an Espar or Webasto coolant heater
-Load test Battery
-Never use ether!

Im sure i missed something. When it does gel up its usually necessary to change the fuel filter if your in a rush. I'm hoping to install an Espar next year then I'll be laughin. Can anybody suggest a nice winterfront for these trucks?

 

[SAndreasen]

I really like a piece of cardboard easy in and out for when I'm pulling heavy or not I pulled the fan so I have to pull the cardboard when I'm pulling my big trailer

 

[DVolk]

some times its plain easier to use a block of wood to keep it from rolling in bad weather

 

[matthewb]

Mudgeek,

I`m having the same issue as you. As a matter of fact, I just posted asking the same questions. Mine is a `93 W350 and my passenger side parking brake has stuck on me 3 times in the last 2 months. I have completely rebuilt the brake system on this truck. All new parts from the P-Brake pedal in the cab back to the rear axle, and everything brake related in the rear axle is brand new as well. I`ve already cooked two sets of pads off on the right rear due to a stuck brake. I dont believe it is the shoes sticking to the drum, I blame the cable. There has to be water getting in to it somewhere. I thought of trying to lube the cable with oil or grease, but its almost impossible given the design.

Please let me know if you get any good tips or advice. While I agree with the "dont use it" idea, (and what im going to do as much as possible), in my area of the country I need to be able to have that function. I own 2 other CTD`s from different generations and none of them has experienced this issue. It seems to be one of the "perks" to owning a first gen truck. Gotta love it!

 

[sg5054]

Try taking a new cable and immersing it in an oil of your choice.
Coil it up and push it down flat into the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. Pour enough oil into it to just cover it. I do my tailgate cables like this and use something called Corrosion X. It looks like Marvel Mystery Oil. Red and thin. I leave the cables for a couple of weeks in the bath. They are lasting longer. No need to discard the oil afterwards.
The oil will get inside the jacket. Try working the core back and forth in the oil bath. That will help get into the jacket.

 

[DVolk]

The ideal tickeck would be if you knew a place that could make a new set up would be to have the cabel lubed up with grease or never seeze

 

[Shadrach]

My buddies with a 93 W350 has problems with his cables seizing up in the cold all the time. If he parks it inside over night they work fine. Outside the next day back to seizing. His is a stick and a service truck so he needs to run the truck to operate his air compressor therefore the brake gets used all the time. He has bought several new set of cables from Dodge and it still happens. Frustrating and expensive. David

 

[mwilson]

David,

Time for a Mico-Lever Lock...used to have these on everything...

http://www.mico.com/sites/default/files/document-pdfs/80-950-152.pdf

Mike.

 

[tobaccogrower]

how much are those locks? are they just like line locks used in race car apps?

 

[DVolk]

I guess if all else fails a 2x2 cut correct length wedged between the seat and brake pedal

 

[mwilson]

how much are those locks? are they just like line locks used in race car apps?

They work on the same premise. Back in the day you flipped the lever, pumped the brake pedal a few times and walked off. Wreckers had them, UPS had them, etc...

BUT if the brake system leaked down the vehicle would take off. They fell out of favor when Air Brakes became more widely accepted with the spring parking brakes and also due to some runaways.

Mico revamped the offering by including a pressure pump that senses any drop in pressure with the Mico Lock applied and pumps the system back up. It is a far safer system than it used to be back in the days of single master cylinders with vacuum boosters.

Mike.