Cursed parking brake.. need some advice here to fix

[Grug556]

Guys on my 21 Limited the other day on Christmas eve was driving around, when I stopped after about 50 miles or so of highway driving pulled into house and activated E brake as usual. The pedal went to the floor with zero resistance..no ratcheting...just woosh, I thought I was gonna put my boot through the firewall:whoo:

Any how retried it several times. Gradually some ratcheting came back, I think its well in excess of the 5-7 click range. IT goes right to the floor probably easy 12 clicks plus. I tried E brake at say 5-10mph. It wouldnt stop truck at all. Light came on, red warning E brake and Yellow symbol on right side of dash cluster, looked like collision or something light, it just blinked and went off. IT came on when i pressed E brake. I drove around abit kept using E brake, it got slightly better to the point that there is some very minor braking, not enough to stop but enough you can feel slight drag. Pedal still goes to floor but with some audible clicks. This is the wifes truck, she says its been ok up to this point, but may have seen the light a few times but didnt mention it. On my 16 Limited the E brake will stop the pig solid from over 40+ mph easy..have tried it. Has the usual 7 clicks or so and full engagement is maybe 75% or so of total pedal travel, compared to the 21 which bottoms out on full travel.

So question is

What do you think the problem is as first there was no braking now there is slight braking with E brake.

Rear discs still OEM. Mileage maybe 45K or so.

Should i start at center console and check main cable first? Question on adjustment of this cable. Do you tighten it with check nut off first, E brake off? What direction do you turn adjuster in center console to tighten cable?

Is this all the adjustment I will need or do I need to pop off rear wheels and use flathead blade and adjust the star gears at bottom of each hub? I am puzzled why it suddenly failed, then sort of came back abit but still isnt working anywhere near enough to hold truck on an incline or us to stop if hydraulics failed.

Any ideas here on this one? I am sort of confused where to start here. If doing the cables first do I even need to mess with star gear or will cable adjustment work, provided the shoes arent fused, dragging or the tension springs have popped off in the drum area.

Checked as well, no sign of excessive heat anywhere in rear, no smell of burning nothing. Not sure this rules out dragging the drum pad, but thats where im at right now

Needing some advice on where to start and what to do.

Thanks guys.. Merry Christmas to :heh:

 

[flyrv9]

First, I don't think the E-brake was designed for everyday use. On an a car with an automatic transmission there is no need; unless parking on a steep incline. To troubleshoot, I'd look up the maint manual here in the stickys posted by Nashman. It's for an older 5th gen, but I doubt there have been any changes to the system. That way you can see what the system is comprised of (does it use both rear wheels for example) and look up any adjustments or other service actions.

 

[AuSeeker]

Guys on my 21 Limited the other day on Christmas eve was driving around, when I stopped after about 50 miles or so of highway driving pulled into house and activated E brake as usual. The pedal went to the floor with zero resistance..no ratcheting...just woosh, I thought I was gonna put my boot through the firewall:whoo:

Any how retried it several times. Gradually some ratcheting came back, I think its well in excess of the 5-7 click range. IT goes right to the floor probably easy 12 clicks plus. I tried E brake at say 5-10mph. It wouldnt stop truck at all. Light came on, red warning E brake and Yellow symbol on right side of dash cluster, looked like collision or something light, it just blinked and went off. IT came on when i pressed E brake. I drove around abit kept using E brake, it got slightly better to the point that there is some very minor braking, not enough to stop but enough you can feel slight drag. Pedal still goes to floor but with some audible clicks. This is the wifes truck, she says its been ok up to this point, but may have seen the light a few times but didnt mention it. On my 16 Limited the E brake will stop the pig solid from over 40+ mph easy..have tried it. Has the usual 7 clicks or so and full engagement is maybe 75% or so of total pedal travel, compared to the 21 which bottoms out on full travel.

So question is

What do you think the problem is as first there was no braking now there is slight braking with E brake.

Rear discs still OEM. Mileage maybe 45K or so.

Should i start at center console and check main cable first? Question on adjustment of this cable. Do you tighten it with check nut off first, E brake off? What direction do you turn adjuster in center console to tighten cable?

Is this all the adjustment I will need or do I need to pop off rear wheels and use flathead blade and adjust the star gears at bottom of each hub? I am puzzled why it suddenly failed, then sort of came back abit but still isnt working anywhere near enough to hold truck on an incline or us to stop if hydraulics failed.

Any ideas here on this one? I am sort of confused where to start here. If doing the cables first do I even need to mess with star gear or will cable adjustment work, provided the shoes arent fused, dragging or the tension springs have popped off in the drum area.

Checked as well, no sign of excessive heat anywhere in rear, no smell of burning nothing. Not sure this rules out dragging the drum pad, but thats where im at right now

Needing some advice on where to start and what to do.

Thanks guys.. Merry Christmas to :heh:

I have a 4th Gen and I would guess that the parking brake is much the same on a 5th Gen...on the 4th Gens you would first make sure the parking brake shoes are adjusted correctly using the star adjuster via the hole in the drum/rotor, adjust until it is making contact inside the drum and then back it off 4 to 5 clicks, then the next adjustment would be the cable under the console, and next if needed there should be some adjustment to the cable at the parking brake pedal as well.

Hopefully someone with a 5th Gen can confirm.

 

[thennen]

Call a dealership and describe your problem. Maybe they'll have tips or will adjust it for free.

 

[Ezlife45]

Sounds to me like someone drove the vehicle with the emergency brake activated. Probably smoked the brake shoes. Pull the rear wheels off, pull the rear rotors off and inspect the shoes, adjust or replace as necessary. There may be an adjustment under the rotor, there should also be a threaded rod on the cable to tighten the cable.

Start at the source (rear rotors) and work your way to the front.

 

[Grug556]

Sounds to me like someone drove the vehicle with the emergency brake activated. Probably smoked the brake shoes. Pull the rear wheels off, pull the rear rotors off and inspect the shoes, adjust or replace as necessary. There may be an adjustment under the rotor, there should also be a threaded rod on the cable to tighten the cable.

Start at the source (rear rotors) and work your way to the front.

I have wondered this as well. Yesterday took it for a drive. Parking brake is now about 50% effective. Not sure how sitting for two days makes brakes improve in performance but now it barely holds vehicle on a grade in N. Going out now to take it apart..today its 11C.. otherwise next weekend its going down to -15C... so no time like now.. ugh

ill post if I find anything

I am going to pull console, disconnect cable yoke, then pop off wheels and check star gear. First adjust star gear, to max then back off a few clicks so no drag. Then reconnect cable and tension the yoke in the console.
:target:

 

[Ezlife45]

I have wondered this as well. Yesterday took it for a drive. Parking brake is now about 50% effective. Not sure how sitting for two days makes brakes improve in performance but now it barely holds vehicle on a grade in N. Going out now to take it apart..today its 11C.. otherwise next weekend its going down to -15C... so no time like now.. ugh

ill post if I find anything

I am going to pull console, disconnect cable yoke, then pop off wheels and check star gear. First adjust star gear, to max then back off a few clicks so no drag. Then reconnect cable and tension the yoke in the console.
:target:

If the shoe brake material is gone you can't see that from the back plate (Adjusting hole), If you're like me and like to inspect the shoes while adjusting the ratchet (star washers) then you'll see it as soon as you pull the rotor off.

 

[Grug556]

Finished the job. Adjusted front cable about 1/4 inch or maybe another 3 threads on the rod tighter. Adjusted both star wheels. Rebedded the drum pads. Now have 6 or so clicks on pedal with full screaming smoking lockup on rear when E is used. Doesnt appear to have any drag on running. Holds the vehicle in neutral on a very steep grade no issues now.

Lets hope this solves it.

 

[Grug556]

If the shoe brake material is gone you can't see that from the back plate (Adjusting hole), If you're like me and like to inspect the shoes while adjusting the ratchet (star washers) then you'll see it as soon as you pull the rotor off.

Rear pads looks low now, I think when I get some new Akebonos and rotors Ill take a look at the drum pads. It was funny passenger side star wheel black and dirty..drivers side.. shiny steel and zero dirt..:whoo:

 

[AuSeeker]

Rear pads looks low now, I think when I get some new Akebonos and rotors Ill take a look at the drum pads. It was funny passenger side star wheel black and dirty..drivers side.. shiny steel and zero dirt..:whoo:

Just an FYI the parking brake has "shoes" like old drum type brakes not pads, if and when you replace them I would highly recommend buying OEM shoes, many have had issues with aftermarket shoes not being exactly the correct size and had issues getting the parking brake adjusted and working properly!!

Also if and when you remove the rotors/drums be sure to back off the adjustment on the star wheel, if you don't the shoes could hang up inside the drum and damage/bend the mounting hardware and you will have to replace the hardware.

 

[Grug556]

Just an FYI the parking brake has "shoes" like old drum type brakes not pads, if and when you replace them I would highly recommend buying OEM shoes, many have had issues with aftermarket shoes not being exactly the correct size and had issues getting the parking brake adjusted and working properly!!

Also if and when you remove the rotors/drums be sure to back off the adjustment on the star wheel, if you don't the shoes could hang up inside the drum and damage/bend the mounting hardware and you will have to replace the hardware.

My pad, I referred to the stinking mini drum shoes as pads. I get exactly how the setup is with those miserable springs...ugh.

I did the usual, went till I couldnt freely turn rotor by hand, then backed off 2-3 units till it spun freely. Rebedding the shoes afterwards in case they were cooked or glazed. The smell was awesome..but now it grips well.

Its odd I have never had any issues on my 16 limited, but the 21 Limited I guess wasnt adjusted by dealer when sold.