Frozen E-Brake!

Hey guys, I've seen a few threads about this from a few years back but wanted to see if anyone had more updated info on the problem. Last night it was cold out and I went to head home in my truck and seeing as it's a manual I always have my hand brake engaged. However, last night I couldn't get it to disengage for the life of me. After about a half and hour of jacking around I got it to pop loose by using a combination of rocking the truck, 4H, and pulling on the brake line. The only solution that seems consistent that I've come across on TW is to wiggle the line where it enters the drum so if it happens again I will try this first. Not sure if it's worth it for me to take it in to Toyota or if that will even make a difference in the future. Any advice would be appreciated as this is could prove to be very annoying if it happens again in the future.

 

I really wish I could tell my trick because I have a manual as well and set the brake every time I park and it's now been through several cold, snowy seasons and I've never had this happen to me. Probably jynxing myself now though. From what I've read in other threads on this topic you probably won't have much luck with a dealer; most will say they can't replicate the issue and hit you in the ass with the door on the way out.

 

I don't have an answer but I'm subscribing here in case somebody else does. This has started happening to my 09 this year. Never happened before I replaced the brake shoes so I can only assume that it's got something to do with new/full thickness shoes vs worn ones? Whatever the reason, it's annoying as hell. Happens to me when it's wet out and then freezes, most embarrassing time was last week at the end of the day I got in my truck to drive home and tried to pull out of my spot at work. NOPE, rear passenger wheel was completely locked and made a LOUD screech as I tried to pull away.

In general for me it is a combination of pulling the ebrake and mashing on the brake pedal that eventually frees it.

 

Humid conditions prior to a temperature drop to below freezing is likely the primary cause of this issue. Heating the drums by driving and use of the brakes prior to setting the e-brake may help to evaporate any moisture, but condensation as temps decline may still occur and lead to the problem anyway. I can't recall ever having this problem with my '06 Taco, but then my miles driven prior to setting the brake were pretty much always substantial.

 

Sorry, never had a problem with my manual living in the snow belt. Maybe one difference... I always set the ebrake but never pulled it to last notch. Always left some wiggle room. How I determined how hard to pull was got on a hill, pushed in the clutch and pulled the ebrake until truck stopped coasting. For me, it was about half way to the last notch.

 

Lifted? E.cable stretched?

 

I have an AT but always use my handbrake from the years of driving an MT and have yet to experience this.

I don't think there is a real "fix" for this, but I also just use enough brake to engage, not try to fuse it together. That being said, it could still happen and when it does I will post the skidmarks from dragging it free.

 

I've never had this happen during winter, but I did have happen when off-road last summer. I'm not sure why is happened, but I suspect it was from some deep muddy water I drove through earlier in the day. It happened four times in a row until I finally remembered to not use the parking brake. The next day it was fine.

 

It does have a small lift so that could be a part of the problem although it doesn't seem too terribly stretched.

 

Then combine that with drums that are adjusted too tight...
It's supposed to be backed off 15 clicks from locked. Mine was 5 clicks from locked; no lift.
If the drum brakes are not adjusted correctly, then the parking brake cannot be adjusted correctly.

 

The problem is the brake shoes sticking to the drum when they get wet. It's only happened to me after washing the truck - never from normal driving. Doesn't have anything to do with freezing weather. The last time it happened to me (just the other day) I used a long punch and a hammer to tap on the drum (through the wheel) until I felt and heard it release.