Unable to adjust e brake

So my ebrake is pretty much non existent. I looked up a DIY on adjusting it. So I got up under the truck, and noticed that the bolt that you adjust to tighten the ebrake can't be moved any futher because its in its "tightest" position so to speak. I don't know how else to word it.

Is there another adjustment I can make so that my ebrake actually works?

 

Wish I could help but i cant even find the DIY. Could u send the link?

 

I have found that whenever my E-Brake was like you described it meant my back brakes were out of adjustment. I get under the truck and adjust the back brakes manually and it tightens up the ebrake and gives you a real nice pedal feel again

 

http://www.lieblweb.com/ebrakeadjustment.html

That's the DIY I used, its for a different year, but appears to be the same setup.

Is there a DIY for this?

 

Not sure but it is really easy to do. You need to jack up the truck so both back wheels are off the ground (make sure to chock the fronts just for safety) and on the back of the drums is a little oval rubber plug. Pop it out and the brake adjuster is in there. Get yourself a brake adjusting tool from the autoparts store, it makes it much easier. You'll be able to hear the adjuster click as you adjust. The goal is to have a very slight drag on the wheel. Make sure to do both sides.

 

Thanks man. Its pretty rusty back there, hopefully none of the components have seized.

 

wtf...where did 'e-'brake' come from?

I thought they were a handbrake??

 

Call it what you will, ebrake, emergency brake, parking brake....

 

How are your shoes? do they need changed?

Usually, when things are that outta whack in terms of adjustment, the shoes need changed. Check the shoes.....

Like shift96 mentioned, there's a star wheel inside the drum that also adjusts the shoes. Move the star wheel and use your hands to rotate the drum. Keep adjusting until you get slight drag on the drum as you manually try to rotate it.

Once you do that - you need to RE-adjust the ebrake again.

If the star wheel doesn't move, then you'll have to take the drum off and check to make sure there's no dirt in there. Or, if the adjuster assembly is seized, it'll need replaced.

 

Parking brake levers are seized...

 

I'm going to start with the star wheel and see if that helps. Easiest thing first. However the shoes might be bad as my rotors are tad bit warped. I hear this happens if your drums are bad because it puts more pressure on the front brakes.

 

As far as I know, none of the compents are seized unless its inside the actual drum. Looking under the truck while having someone else pull the brake, everything seems to be moving just fine.

 

The braking system acts the same in terms of hydaulic pressure.

If your rear drum brakes aren't working properly, the truck isn't slowing down as fast as it should and you're applying the brakes harder to make up for it. Which - could indeed put more pressure on your fronts.....

Good Luck & keep us posted!