Sticking Parking Break

FWIW I live in VA and it has goten below freezing every night for the past few weeks. The highest it's been has been around 40 during the day. Hasn't been snow on the roads for two weeks now!

I spoke with with a local garage and inquired about greasing the cable as one suggested and he mentioned that the cable was enclosed . He also mentioned that I shouldn't use the parking brake during freezing weather as a rule of thumb .

So I'll not use it for a few days to see if the myth will be busted .

 

I think someone else asked, but is it getting wet? Mine will lock up after I wash it sometimes, cause water gets in the drum and it rusts a little. Specially if I move it just a little after washing then put the break on, I have to pump the brakes a few times to get it to break free. But I don't have any issue day to day, just after I wash I guess cause I'm hosing out the wheel wells and alot of water hits them. Maybe for some reason your getting alot of water in the drums during a drive. Not sure how you would resolve that though.

 

when parking on a hill to avoid the weight of your truck resting on the transmission and an easy shift out of P i
first shift to N with foot on break
second pull e break parking break (whatever you call it)
third take foot off of break
the truck will then move an inch or so and rest on the rear breaks.
fourth put it in park or 1st gear.

I have been doing this for years and for me its just a lot more comforting that when i shift out of P it doesn't sound like a hard shift under there.

 

Jesse, sounds like a workable solution, I'm just glad you chimed in because I didn't think I was the only one who has experienced this issue and how to avoid gripping the drive train and rear brakes. It appears that there may be some who have never, never ever had this happen to them. Once again good solution.

 

Hasn't been water on the ground for about 5 days now nor have I washed her

 

Hmmm, Maybe water can't get out? Maybe some got in there and can't drain. I think I would pull the drums to check it out.

 

Yea it works well for me, i have been using this method for 10 years now. There has to be less wear and tear on the paring gear.

 

this happened on my last truck.
the cable itself is probably getting corroded or gunky.
so when you release the parking/emergency brake
the springs underneath the truck no longer have
the strength to pull the cable fully back.
ex.- do you find yourself trying to push the lever
all the way back in to get the light off??

1. try lubricating the cable itself. if this works you will be good to go.

2. if not , you may have to replace the cable assembly with a new one.

I had to do number 2 after number 1 started to not work anymore.

 

My parking spot at work is on about a 30 degree incline and this is exactly how I do it. Did it in my mustang with the handbrake, do it now with the footbrake. Instead of a heavy thunk when it shifts into gear, there is nothing but a nice smooth start. It's got to be easier on the truck.

 

So I went a few weeks without applying the parking brake but I'm still experiencing the same symptoms as before. Today I decided after changing my rear diff fluid that I'd take a look at the rear break drums and low and behold it looks like a have a problem. Thinking I've got a leaking rear axle seal that's caused grease build up on the brake mechanism.


I saturated everthing clean with break part cleaner and put it back together and will check it in a couple weeks to see how bad the leak is and probably replace the seal at that point.

 

subbed
I have a 6sp and need to use the PARKING brake in my driveway...and yes, every morning when I release it, it sticks.
HAven't had the drum off like the OP, but curious.
Mine releases when I let the clutch out in reverse.

 

White litheim grease. mine was doing the same thing

 

Yup, I'm resurrecting a dead thread...I found this on Google, so I'm sure others have (and will in the future).

As mentioned, here's how you're supposed to do it [for automatics, at least]:
Apply the brakes, shift into Neutral, set the parking brake, let off the brakes, then shift into Park.
This ensures the weight of the vehicle is resting on the brakes, not the transmission, and I'll tell you why this is important:
When I had a Mercedes 300SD, I had to park on a slight incline at my house everyday. I always put it in Park, and rested the weight of the car on the transmission....until it snapped. When putting it in Park, the shifter would engage a pin into the transmission that would physically prevent the transmission from rotating. So all that time it was in Park on an incline, the weight was resting on a single pin, and in my case, the pin had sheared in half. NEVER let the weight rest on the transmission!!!

Ok, now that I'm off of my soap box, here's my issue. My parking brake sticks as well. With my truck on flat ground and everything bone dry, I applied the Parking brake while I was in Neutral, then disengaged it while still in Neutral (didn't touch the brake pedal at all), then shifted in Drive, and the truck didn't move. Even while starting to accelerate, I can feel that the brakes were still engaged. I had to pump the brake pedal a few times before they fully released. I also noticed that the Parking brake pedal has a significant amount of play in the first few inches of engagement.

Is there a cable adjustment somewhere? My Pontiac Bonneville had the cable adjustments inside the rear hubs. Is that the case for the Tacomas as well? Or is there another adjustment point or "return spring" somewhere in the line that I should be looking for?

 

The cable adjustment is under the center console.

 

yes, and an easy check to see if the parking/emergency brake is adjusted properly there should be between 7-10 clicks heard when applying it. I have found out that if you are getting 10 or more clicks on the parking brake usually its because the rear brakes are out of adjustment after readjusting the clicks are in the 7-10 zone http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/04300110.pdf

 

that will do it

 

Doesn't matter if you have an auto or manual transmission, setting the parking brake works the same.

 

Thank you for the PDF. You are the man!

 

No. Put your parking brake on before taking your foot off the brake. Not so good for the tranny to roll back before engaging your parking brake. That is why a lot of older automatics clunk when you put them in gear...

 

Also, should I make the adjustment on the brakes before the cable adjustment, or other way around?