Parking brake adjustment
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Everett, WA
Parking brake adjustment
I need to adjust the parking brake on my '96 F350 because it won't hold on a hill. I wanted to do it over the weekend but the instruction in the Chiltons manual didn't match my truck. I don't have the adjusting rods on the cable system underneath the bed like it says. Is it adjusted at the pedal or inside the drums? It's not a Super Duty so it doesn't have the brake on the driveshaft. Thanks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
the super duty trucks don't have driveshaft brakes. follow the parking brake cable to under the back of the cab. there should be a nut in the middle. that is what you tighten to adjust it.
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Everett, WA
There is no threaded rod adjuster where the cable splits to the drums. It's just a bracket where all three cables come together. It's a diesel truck, do they have different parking brakes than gas trucks?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Lathrop, MO
The shaft that the single cable from the pedal attaches to should be threaded. You problably have a spring from the bracket too the plate that has the 2 cables from the drums anchored. Inside the spring at the bracket is where the adjustment nut should be. If it is like mine it will be heavily corroded. Plan on several applications of pentrating oil before it can be moved.
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Your Rear Brakes is out of adjustment , also so jack up the rearend , an take the cover off @ the Hub inside an take a screwdriver an turn it one way to see if your going in the right direction if not go the other way , an do both wheels like that an after u get all that u should have a good parking brake
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From: Sioux City, Iowa
Originally Posted by Powerstroke96
Your Rear Brakes is out of adjustment , also so jack up the rearend , an take the cover off @ the Hub inside an take a screwdriver an turn it one way to see if your going in the right direction if not go the other way , an do both wheels like that an after u get all that u should have a good parking brake
Last edited by mdjohnson; Feb 14, 2006 at 10:10 AM. Reason: typo
Senior User
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From: Lathrop, MO
Originally Posted by Powerstroke96
Your Rear Brakes is out of adjustment , also so jack up the rearend , an take the cover off @ the Hub inside an take a screwdriver an turn it one way to see if your going in the right direction if not go the other way , an do both wheels like that an after u get all that u should have a good parking brake
You are partially correct, if the rear brake is far enough out of adjustment the the parking brake may not engage properly. A possible quick check for this is to simply see if the rear hub can be removed without running the adjustor down.
Pulling the hubs at this point is probably a good idea just to make sure everything is attached correctly and working.
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Freshman User
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From: Everett, WA
I appreciate the replies guys, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. I have no reason at this point to suspect the problem lies inside the brake drums until I have tried to adjust the brake via the cable mechanism. What I am specifically trying to figure out is how to adjust the cable tension. I want to try that first before I tear into the drums. I know what you have referred to as the adjusting rod - it is clearly shown in the picture in my Chilton's manual; however, the cable mechanism on my truck differs from this setup. I have posted pictures in my gallery showing the link bracket between the pedal cable and the drum cables. Although the pictures are a little fuzzy, there is clearly no adjusting rod. Do I adjust the cable tension directly at the pedal mechanism? Thanks.
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From: Bonita Springs FL
I understand what you're saying, skeeter, but you're the one getting ahead of yourself. You're approaching this the wrong way. It's entirely possible that the whole problem lies in the rear drums. You have to make sure the brakes are adjusted properly, and if the parking brake still doesn't work, then you have reason to go ahead and tighten up the cable.
The self-adjusters on these trucks never worked all that well, even from the factory. They are designed to adjust the shoes outwards one click at a time, and only when you are in reverse and come to a complete stop. Even then, they are not always going to work properly. They are a poor design at best. You can't rely on them to adjust the brakes properly. You must learn how to periodically adjust the rear brakes yourself with a screwdriver. They have no way of sensing when the brakes are out of adjustment or when they are already adjusted so tight that any more will result in cracked shoes and drums from overheating.
Once you get them adjusted properly, try your parking brake. If it doesn't work right, then you can look at adjusting the parking brake.
Hope that helps some.
The self-adjusters on these trucks never worked all that well, even from the factory. They are designed to adjust the shoes outwards one click at a time, and only when you are in reverse and come to a complete stop. Even then, they are not always going to work properly. They are a poor design at best. You can't rely on them to adjust the brakes properly. You must learn how to periodically adjust the rear brakes yourself with a screwdriver. They have no way of sensing when the brakes are out of adjustment or when they are already adjusted so tight that any more will result in cracked shoes and drums from overheating.
Once you get them adjusted properly, try your parking brake. If it doesn't work right, then you can look at adjusting the parking brake.
Hope that helps some.
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I would also check to make sure the cables are actually working. I just changed one on my truck that was frozen. With only one working it apeared when I steped on the pedeal that the brakes were out of adjustment when really it was the frozen cable that made the whole system week.
Blindlightguy
Blindlightguy
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From: West Palm Beach, Florida
This usually fixes that problem.
Originally Posted by andym
I understand what you're saying, skeeter, but you're the one getting ahead of yourself. You're approaching this the wrong way. It's entirely possible that the whole problem lies in the rear drums. You have to make sure the brakes are adjusted properly, and if the parking brake still doesn't work, then you have reason to go ahead and tighten up the cable.
The self-adjusters on these trucks never worked all that well, even from the factory. They are designed to adjust the shoes outwards one click at a time, and only when you are in reverse and come to a complete stop. Even then, they are not always going to work properly. They are a poor design at best. You can't rely on them to adjust the brakes properly. You must learn how to periodically adjust the rear brakes yourself with a screwdriver. They have no way of sensing when the brakes are out of adjustment or when they are already adjusted so tight that any more will result in cracked shoes and drums from overheating.
Once you get them adjusted properly, try your parking brake. If it doesn't work right, then you can look at adjusting the parking brake.
Hope that helps some.
The self-adjusters on these trucks never worked all that well, even from the factory. They are designed to adjust the shoes outwards one click at a time, and only when you are in reverse and come to a complete stop. Even then, they are not always going to work properly. They are a poor design at best. You can't rely on them to adjust the brakes properly. You must learn how to periodically adjust the rear brakes yourself with a screwdriver. They have no way of sensing when the brakes are out of adjustment or when they are already adjusted so tight that any more will result in cracked shoes and drums from overheating.
Once you get them adjusted properly, try your parking brake. If it doesn't work right, then you can look at adjusting the parking brake.
Hope that helps some.
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Everett, WA
Thanks for all the help guys. I adjusted the drums and the parking brake works better now, but it still seems like it could be better. It will hold on a slight hill now (10-15 degrees maybe) but the pedal has to be all the way down. I can't say how well the brake worked when the truck was new, but I do know that my 1991 F250 I just got rid of had a way better park brake. Anyway, guess I'll have to open the drums next to see what kind of shape the shoes are in. Thanks again.
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