Has anyone's parking brake frozen in the cold?

F

Frontier719

New member
While I was in the gym, the temperature dropped and I'm pretty sure my parking brake froze on--there feels like there's some slack in the handle and it sucked driving home in the snow.

Is there a common place where they freeze? i haven't gotten into the brake system on the 4Runner yet so forgive me for my ignorance. Does the parking brake only apply a brake to the rear wheels? Or does it apply the brakes on all four wheels?
 
Register to hide this ad
The parking brake is rear only. They freeze when there's moisture between the shoes and drums or in the cable somewhere.
 
When I lived up north as a young'un we would often leave the parking brake off to avoid such a possibility. Level ground, in gear, wheels turned to the curb...
 
Had it happen a couple times in a 2002 Audi A4 many years ago. Brought it to the dealer and they thought I was crazy. Had to leave it overnight somewhere and pick it up when the sun came back up and warmed it up enough to release.
 
Bstrom said:
When I lived up north as a young'un we would often leave the parking brake off to avoid such a possibility. Level ground, in gear, wheels turned to the curb...
Click to expand...
Well, when you live in the mountains there's no such thing as level ground--or paved roads with curbs where I live. I'm sure id be fine leaving the brake off--I just like the peace of mind.

Guess I'll figure out a new place to park when it gets cold :)
 
Typically, it's the bellcranks--the lever on the back of the drum where the e-brake cable connects to. A little ice and road salt and those puppies just stop moving--either engaged or disengaged. Sometimes it's ice and just temporary, sometimes it's corrosion and persistent.

I posted all you need to know four years ago:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/154830-bell-cranks.html#post1533139


Hopefully the DIY link in there is still good; it's very well done. I did not need to replace mine, however, I just wire brushed and slathered in anti-seize. Still doing fine several years later.
 
Last edited:
The section of cable behind the rear axle that goes from drivers side drum to passenger drum doesn't have anything to freeze "to". It's the cable from the parking brake handle to the drivers side drum, which is sheathed (within a conduit) that is susceptible to freezing if water gets within the conduit it runs in.

A moving part can't become immovable if it doesn't have something to freeze to.
 
TheDurk said:
Typically, it's the bellcranks--the lever on the back of the drum where the e-brake cable connects to. A little ice and road salt and those puppies just stop moving--either engaged or disengaged. Sometimes it's ice and just temporary, sometimes it's corrosion and persistent.

I posted all you need to know four years ago:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/154830-bell-cranks.html#post1533139


Hopefully the DIY link in there is still good; it's very well done. I did not need to replace mine, however, I just wire brushed and slathered in anti-seize. Still doing fine several years later.
Click to expand...


Yeah I remember one time it was so cold.. What? Wait, this is California, we don't have no stinkin' cold!
 
I went out and have a couple good yanks on that cable and it dislodged it. Seems to work now. I'll find out for sure in the morning. Thanks for the help guys
 
Yes, I have had that happen, the 96's would freeze where the cable comes out of the housing at the axle towards the left side...the rubber boot had degraded so water would get in there and freeze. So obnoxious. I could always tug it loose as you did but did eventually replace it with a Dorman Tru-Torque cable 2 1/2 years ago and all has been good since. Not a hard job, either.

little write-up on replacing the cable on the 96... post 1369 +
http://www.yotatech.com/f200/habaneros-1996-4runner-build-up-thread-201751/index69.html

My bell cranks were and are in great shape, just that stinkin' cable would freeze.
 
Last edited:
TheDurk said:
Just mudslides, earthquakes, wildfires, and Arnold.
Click to expand...

Hey, the "r" is silent in Ahnold. And yes about 2% of the population deals with wildfires and mudslides. And earthquakes affects another 2% of the population about every 10 years.

Oh yeah and we got a NorEaster coming, haha, not.

Seriously though, one year's worth of cold weather deaths in the east is more than a decade of wildfire and earthquake deaths here. But you do have that awesome govneh' in New Jersey!
 
As already mentioned, check your bell cranks. It's functioning on a pivot pin and not uncommon for the bell crank to freeze and stop pivoting, thus keeping the brake slightly engaged even though the parking brake lever is released.


If frozen, you need to remove them from the backing plate, remove the rubber boot, put in a vice and spray the pivot point with lube oil and work them back to pivoting (may need some whacks with a mallet in tough cases).

Once back to pivoting pack the rubber boots with grease and reinstall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 3,316 (members: 1, guests: 3,315)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,122
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top