hand brake

[94extreme]

is there any way to adjust the hand brake? it seems to be a bit not tight enough.. i thought after i did the shoes it would tighten up but no deal.. doesn't seem to hold my truck too well on an incline..

 

thanks

[Precise1]

Ok, I'm assuming you have rear drums. Adjust the rear brakes... I generally use the 'tighten till they bind then back 2 clicks' method. As long as they rotate freely. Then, under the truck about where the body slopes up to the cargo level, is the adjuster for the parking brake. Tighten it up... The manual says 7-9 clicks, but as long as you are not dragging, it's probably ok. Thats how mine is and it will hold the truck no problem.

How old are the rear shoes ?

 

B

[94extreme]

well, part of the problem here is that i couldn't find shorty to adjust the shoe spreader enough... i got it to a point where i can barely get the drums on.. but the hand brake is still very loose... i'll have to check underneath tomorrow for that part.. thanks.

[Precise1]

Ahh, didn't know the drums were off. You need to adjust the brakesat the drum, drive and use them a bit then re-adjust, then adjust the parking brake... Find the shorty, buy another, or hammer out a tool... Setting it right now will make you happy in future, Confucious says...

 

B

[94extreme]

Ahh, didn't know the drums were off. You need to adjust the brakesat the drum, drive and use them a bit then re-adjust, then adjust the parking brake... Find the shorty, buy another, or hammer out a tool... Setting it right now will make you happy in future, Confucious says...

 

B

i have been on a lookout for that guy for a bit and no luck thus far.. will call buddy who hopefully has one..

[88pathoffroad]

It's not the drum spread adjusters, you guys. It's simply the cable tension. Readjust the cables at the "Y" joint under the center of the truck.

[Precise1]

Well, not to argue, but.... If you are going to set the rear brakes correctly, you start at the drum (especially if you have removed them and monkey'd with things) and work back to the hand brake. Just trying to do it right... :

 

B

[94extreme]

i forgot about this but i ended up taking the wheels back off and re-adjusting the shoes.. that worked well. BUT now (about 2-3 weeks) i am back to not having the hand brake at all.. the line under the truck seems rather slack and cocked to one of the sides.. any ideas? i may tear into it this upsoming week if i have the time..

[Precise1]

When you re-adjusted the shoes, did you eyeball it or use the star adjuster from the back side ? Did you bleed the brakes, drive for a little bit and then re-adjust them again ? The shoes can and will seat and settle into their operating position after installing. If all that is fine, re-adjust the cable tension underneath the truck but make sure to check the cable. It could be fraying. Also check for free movement of the cable through its guide. Sometimes they bind and that would make any adjustments wrong. The cable should not be very tight if the lever is not engaged. Shouldn't take very long at all...

 

B

[94extreme]

thanks b, yes, i re-adjusted the star thinghy with a paint can opener.. that worked rather well actually.. everything was right on... i didn't bleed the brakes since i need a whole flush here in the nearest future.. the truck seems to be brakeing with both front and back.. i will open it all up again and report.. thanks again.. maybe it is the old tired cable now.. i'll just check that whole system this time..