I know this isn't the right forum for this, but i really need a quick reply. My emergency brake won't release, and I can't move my truck one inch. Is there some simple fix, or do i need to have it towed to a shop? I need to get if fixed quick cause i have two finals tomorrow and no way to get there if my truck isn't fixed. Thanks

 

so the lever doesn't pop back up? right?

 

the lever pops back up, and the light goes off, but no matter how much gas i gave it it wouldn't budge. I could get it to sqeuk a little but that was it.


EDIT:
Pretty much the only thing i can think of doing is pouring hot water on it, cause i don't have any tools or anything up here, but i don't know, i don't understand how e-brakes work


I Have been edited

 

Calm down, Bob. Give us a little info.

What type and year truck? Are the brakes frozen as in ice?

 

98 mazda b-3000, drum brakes in back, and i don't know what's keeping it stuck

 

here it is in a nutshell. The lever pulls a cable. The cable pushes the back brake shoes out to the drum. then then back doesn't move.

does the cable still have tension on it?

 

Try backing up a bit, if that won't do it, crawl underneath the truck and yank the cables back and forth like you're trying to pull them out.

 

If you have icy conditions, then, yes, it could be water that's got in there after you've driven and parked and then set the parking brakes that could have frozen afterwards.

If that's the case just get a gallon or two of warm water and pour it over your drums and over the sleeve (if it comes with one) that leads from the drums to the front of the truck - anywhere you could get buildup.

Do this until it's free. --- if it's frozen with ice.

If not tell us for sure you know it's not iced. Then we can go from there.

 

If the truck has drum brakes and you release them, first check to see if the cable under the truck is loose, if it is then try to back up. If this doesn’t work get a hammer and tap on the drums. This will work if the shoes and drums rusted over night.
If you find that when you release the brake the is till tention on the cable the you need to look under the dash and find where it's binding


good luck

 

phew, i got it. I yanked on the cables, then climbed in and floored it, and it broke free. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

If you're going to crawl under the truck for any reason, please remember to block it in place. It might not want to move now, but I'd hate to see you free up the cables, only to have it roll over you. If, and when you do get them free, consider not using your e-brake for the winter, and possibly look at getting some new e-brake cables installed. They usually only start freezing up like this when they are old.

 

Some of the old Bobtail trucks I used to drive years ago had the e-brake on the back of the transmission and would lock up the driveshaft instead. I used to carry a blow torch around in the cab just in case it froze up.

 

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