I put this on the brakes and steering forum too. So it looks like there is no adjustment on the Parking Brake on this ride other than adjusting the shoes up. As far as I can see my Parking Brake should work like a champ, but it won't hold on much of a hill. I have new shoes, new drums and it is adjusted up so I can hear them drag. I can actually feel it getting tight then looser as you spin the wheel, like one of the new drums is slightly out of round, so I don't think I could go much tighter. Is it possible one or more of the cables is stretched? I did see the shoes spread when I had the drums off and I stepped on the Park Brake, so I know things are working at least that much.

Any help would be great.

V-465

 

There should be an adjustment in the cable, somewhere around half-way between the front and rear tires, left side of the truck. It's like a turn-buckle, at least on mine. You can just tighten up that, so the cable pulls more when you press down your pedal.
You should be able to adjust it such that you can't push the parking brake all the way to the floor no matter how hard you try, and yet things are still free when you pull the release lever.

 

Is your truck somewhere in the 1992 to 1997 vintage? I will go have another look.

V-465

 

Mine's an 88, though my mom's 02 has a very similar thing(Though I couldn't find a turnbuckle there). On hers, I used a cable-clamp and took up the slack that way. But on hers, it was supposed to be self-adjusting, too.

 

Just went and had a look, there is no adjustment on the cable that travels down the left side of the truck. There is a coupling that couples it to the front cable coming out of the cab. There is the one cable to two cable connector at the bracket back toward the rear wheels. The long cable that goes down the frame rail is pretty floppy, definitely not tense. I just wonder if it is stretched out or something.

V-465

 

simple. cut it and slap in a turnbuckle. adjust as stated and good to go.

 

I am thinking that is going to be the way to go

V-465

 

I am thinking I better find a fairly stout turn buckle, maybe stainless, including the clamps.

V-465

 

wouldn't hurt.

 

the cable that comes out of the cab has a nut on the end of it to shorten the connection in the piece that adapts it from one cable to two.
but seeing as it is now close to 22 years old, it is most likely seized.
i have used the dorman 03006 universal cable adjuster on a few vehicles.

 

Mine does not have the adjustment where it goes to two cables. The cables just have ends fused on them that go into the two to one adaptilator thing. The cable that comes out of the cab ends just below the front of the door, then couples to the next cable that runs down the outside of the left frame rail to the two to one adaptilator thing. All the cables have ends fused on them with no adjustments at all. I think it either has a cable for a double cab, wrong year, or it's stretch out. The truck does have 310,000 miles on it. That's a lot of steps on the Parking Brake, 'specially since it's a manual and no "park" feature like the automatic tranny version would have.

V-465

 

The 92-96 trucks have a spring loaded rachet mechanism in the pedal assembly and it is supposed to self adjust.
They usually do, and I don't think cables can stretch far enough to use up all of its adjustment.

 

Yep, self adjusting. Dont expect the park brake to hold much when rolling backwards.
How far down does the pedal go?

 

At this point the pedal goes so close to the floor, I would say all the way. So if it is not adjusting, what is the likely problem? Does it have a pre-load like a garage door spring that you need to wind up before hooking the cable into it? It looks pretty easy to get off of the truck to have a look at. May just need some cleaning up?

V-465

 

Eric I have the same problem. I too, have adjusted drag in drums and don't have an adjustment along the cable. I can bottom out my parking brake pedal. Anyone have an idea which cable would be the culprit or how to rule them out?