Parking brake only works sometimes

[DWR]

So… installed brand new cables, and parking brake shoes and adjusted them the proper way/as suggested on the forum. Cool right? Not really. For whatever reason sometimes the parking brake works REALLY well and other times hardly at all. What in the heck could be causing that?

Really want to solve this because I want to be able to trust it to be able to preheat my jeep when camping/saddling up for some riding and also for when I try to copy @Plumber1 on board shower setup…

 

[KennethS]

Maybe post a picture of the brakes with the drum removed so folks can see how the hardware is installed.

edit:
Wait, you said parking brake shoes, so is this rear disc brakes? What year vehicle is this?

 

[TheBoogieman]

What year vehicle is this?

1997.

 

[Jim B]

Maybe adjust the brakes tighter if everything else is in good condition

 

[DWR]

Yes it’s a 1997 with a Dana44 using aftermarket wilwood disk brakes with a drum parking brake. If I had a picture of how steep the driveway it holds on sometimes I think it would paint a better picture of why I’m confused.

 

[DWR]

Bump/any other ideas? My only thought is maybe I dont have the new parking brake cables secured just right to where they are able to shift/not pull as much sometimes? @mrblaine Since you are the defecto brake expert around here, does this sound like a solid theory?


If so, can someone post a pic of how they secured their cables with zip ties/the little bracket that I couldn’t find anywhere good to hook up?

 

[97TJNM]

Maybe post some pictures of all your cable connections so we can see? I had a problem with my brakes after installing my Dana 44 with discs, but it was consistently not holding, not like what you are describing. Of course, adjusting mine properly fixed my issue.

I think photos of your setup would help us understand what you're dealing with.

 

[DWR]

(American) passenger side

 

[DWR]

American driver side

Please excuse how dirty she is… have had the time to clean her up after a recent wheeling trip that unfortunately involved some mud

 

[97TJNM]

From the pictures, I can't see anything obviously wrong. That said, I'm just a redneck that likes wrenching on my Jeep. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

 

[DWR]

From the pictures, I can't see anything obviously wrong. That said, I'm just a redneck that likes wrenching on my Jeep. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

Haha I appreciate you taking a look either way… maybe they do simply just need more adjusting…

 

[mrblaine]

Haha I appreciate you taking a look either way… maybe they do simply just need more adjusting…

If this slack I pointed to is how they are at rest, then I don't know what you used for instructions if they told you to do that.

 

[DWR]

If this slack I pointed to is how they are at rest, then I don't know what you used for instructions if they told you to do that.
View attachment 399497

Would it not be pushed like that due to the spring? Also maybe a bit different due to being wilwood not OEM? (Cables are the recomended OEM replacements though) I adjusted them by lifting the rear and spinning the star wheel on each side till I could feel some resistance when spinning the wheel. I do have to ask, should I have put the TC in neutral so that it wasn’t spinning the opposite side wheel/ so it’s easier to determine when it is tight enough?

 

[Link]

Delete

 

[mrblaine]

Would it not be pushed like that due to the spring? Also maybe a bit different due to being wilwood not OEM? (Cables are the recomended OEM replacements though) I adjusted them by lifting the rear and spinning the star wheel on each side till I could feel some resistance when spinning the wheel. I do have to ask, should I have put the TC in neutral so that it wasn’t spinning the opposite side wheel/ so it’s easier to determine when it is tight enough?

Properly done-
Back off the cable adjuster under the tub until there is slack in the cables with the parking brake handle down.
Adjust the star wheel inside the drum until there is a bit of effort to turn the tire with the trans in neutral. You want a small bit of drag.

Once that is done, adjust the splitter under the tub. Snug it tighter, pull down on it and watch the levers at the backing plates. You are trying to get all the slack out without applying any force to the levers or pull with the cables. You can tell when it is correct by watching the levers. If you get lost and aren't sure, back the nut off and let the levers go back to full rest.

When you done, take it for a slow drive around the block or equivalent. Depress the button on the parking brake handle so you can apply it a decent amount on and off several times to bed the shoes into the drum surface to achieve greater contact.

Take it back, adjust the star wheel again after loosening the cables, get the small bit of drag, then adjust the cables again. When that is done, if nothing else is amiss, the brake will set hard 3-4 clicks up from the bottom and will hold the rig on most any angle until the anchor post shears off.

 

[jfetters]

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[mrblaine]

Thank you for sharing this.

Which part?

 

[Rickyd]

American driver side
View attachment 399482

View attachment 399485

View attachment 399484

View attachment 399483


Please excuse how dirty she is… have had the time to clean her up after a recent wheeling trip that unfortunately involved some mud

Am i seeing an axle seal leak on both sides?contaminated shoes?

 

[jfetters]

Which part?

I should have clarified - the procedure/steps for properly adjusting the parking brake. My parking brake has never held really well, and will try readjusting using the steps you outlined.

 

[mrblaine]

I should have clarified - the procedure/steps for properly adjusting the parking brake. My parking brake has never held really well, and will try readjusting using the steps you outlined.

I've shared it many times, no one ever looks for it.