e brake locks up

right rear e brake locks right up..... it releases fine, but is a super sensitive brake. Anyone experience this? is it normal?

 

Mine does it if I push the pedal down too hard, my buddies has done this as well.

 

Yes, had this issue on my 2006..... Ebrake cables needed to be replaced. I had just replaced the shoes and drums at 125K and my brakes became really touchy and wanted to lock up. I had to go to the dealer for a TSB and I asked them to look at them, assuming that it was an adjustment or I assembled something wrong.... even though I've been doing brake jobs for 35+ years...... that is what they found..... and it trashed one of my new drums which were big $$$.

 

It is not, direct cable to the drum.

 

Interesting thread. I was idling in a parking lot the other day and decided to use my ebrake since I never do. I gently pushed on the peddle and it stopped suddenly after the first couple clicks. I figured that is just how it works.

Sounds like a terrible idea. Drum brakes are much more subject to brake fade than disks. I am sure your drums got hot.

 

OP, I suggest checking the cables for free movement, then check each arm at the back wheels. Just a little FYI on these. Back in the day they used to call these emergency brakes when we had the old mechanical brake systems. People still call it that today just out of habit, but it is NOT an emergency brake. IF you look it up in every model out there, it is called a PARKING brake, and it's sole purpose is to hold your vehicle in place when parked. By design the current system only applies ONE of the brake shoes when activated. This causes a LOT of heat, and will glaze the brake shoe, rendering it ineffective very quickly. That is why if you use the parking brake when on a hill it only works a couple of times and even then it doesn't really help much.

 

Wow I didn't know they only worked on one side.

Question for you. How often do you need to adjust the rear drums?

 

I see, the brake does indeed act like a parking brake it keeps the wheel virtually locked when "parked". So not an "emergency brake"! Well, then its working as designed. I'm better with that! I'll use it as a parking brake. Its great for that.

 

Lube your brake cable also, that helps so it releases freely and doesn't stay locked up on you. Had mine freeze on me once and almost couldn't get my truck moving.

 

Are you being aggressive right now? You used your brake for something it wasn't designed for and I have a good imagination?

See points below as to why I made my assumption for brake fade.

1) You said you used your parking brake and then it got soft like your regular brakes felt. (Highlighted in "Dark Red")
2) You turned your truck off on a hwy and used your parking brake down a steep grade with traffic around you.
3) I didn't know your speed. You said you were "coasting" (Highlighted in SeaGreen) which sounds like it would be more than enough to heat up a set of drums.

^ Still sounds like your brakes got hot.

^ Bama's point here reaffirms my point.

If you are so smart and your truck traveling at 1/2 MPH wasn't too hot. Then why did your brakes get softer and why did you post here if you already know the answer?

 

Maybe you just got dehydrated and weak from the long wait in traffic so it seemed like your parking brake wasn't engaging because you really weren't applying enough pressure

 

Lulz

 

You guys keep saying "pedal", like there is a pedal to activate the E-brake. You mean the hand brake, by your right knee? Only vehicles I've driven with the pedal E-brake are domestic cars and such.

 

Umm, mine is a dual cable, you can pull the console / cupholders up and see the assembly under there. Clearly one cable from the E-brake running to a piece of flat bar, from which two cables sprout off, each going a slightly different angle to the rear axle. Or are there differences between the various trim levels?

 

My 2007 had a pedal, so does my F150. I believe the manual transmission Tacos have the lever, autos have the pedal.

 

Heh, no shit?? I thought they all were the same. My 2012 has the exact same e brake brake setup as did my 2004, 2001, and 1993. Might even be the same parts, twist handle on the right side of the steering wheel, lower. They all were manuals though.

 

perhaps I didn't clarify my post enough. I can see where it might have been misunderstood. What I am saying is that on each side of the truck (left and right) the parking brake cable only pulls on ONE shoe on that side. When you apply your brakes normally, the wheel cylinder pushes outward on BOTH of the shoes. Hopefully that explained my post better.

 

Automatics have a parking brake pedal on the left side.

 

It activates one Brake Shoe on each side... Not one side.