Emergency brake

[Quickstop [UK]]

Was trying to get the E brake to return when I release it.

If I adjust the lower screw thing and the shoes go wide, the e brake doesn't work. The forked bar in between the two doesn't engage as it's too short.

Are there different sizes? Is this common?

We need an e brake for the registration over here.

 

[ziembic]

Re: Emergency brake

I am a little lost. Are you talking about the adjustable forked bar on the other one. Can you edit this picture and draw an arrow towards what is too short?

PS I don't remember if this is an accurate picture of our setup, but all the pieces should be close.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Emergency brake

I'm confused also but if you're adjusting the shoe adjustment (the toothed screw just below what's labeled "parking brake cable" in the diagram) in an attempt to adjust the parking brake you're on the wrong track. That screw is ONLY to adjust the brakes, NOT the parking brake.

I'd have to look but I -think- our parking brake adjustment is where the parking brake cable crosses over from side to side and is pulled by the parking brake cable that goes up to the pedal. There is an adjusting nut there. That cable should be loose when the parking brake is released.

I'd have to look in the manual for the correct adjustment procedure.

 

[ziembic]

Re: Emergency brake

I have always adjusted the brakes, and then adjusted the cable by using the y connection adjustment under the mid point of the truck. The two cables come together at a balance bar and this is where the e-brake adjustment is made. You want to adjust the brakes with the adjuster at the bottom a little at a time until you start to feel a little drag on the drum when it is installed. Then once the brakes are adjusted on both sides, begin to take up slack on the e-brake cable until the pedal is useful. Don't put too much tension on the cable because the pedal has some throw, and the human leg is pretty strong. You want the brake to work, but not so much that you are putting a hurt on the cable, because it will snap. Make sure all of the drum parts that move are lubed. The brakes are self adjusting once you get them close.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Emergency brake

The brakes are self adjusting once you get them close.

Trivia file item: Self adjusting drum brakes only adjust in reverse. (Disk brakes are, of course, inherently self adjusting.)

 

[ziembic]

Re: Emergency brake

Yes I did forget to mention, the faster you go in reverse the faster the brakes adjust....:rotf: just kidding, a little bit of backing up self adjusts them.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Emergency brake

Yes I did forget to mention, the faster you go in reverse the faster the brakes adjust....:rotf: just kidding, a little bit of backing up self adjusts them.

No prob. Just one of those weird items that a lot of folks don't realize. If I'm not mistaken, back in the day, Corvette's ran with the adjusters "reversed" (pun intended) with their race cars on road courses to keep the brakes adjusted during a race. Don't remember how long that lasted before they just switched to disks.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Emergency brake

I am a little lost. Are you talking about the adjustable forked bar on the other one. Can you edit this picture and draw an arrow towards what is too short?

PS I don't remember if this is an accurate picture of our setup, but all the pieces should be close.

Jeff - that's the same setup. The bar I am confused with is the one below the piston. If I set up the brakes correctly then the cable doesn't pull the lever far enough to push the bar and then the shoe.
That bar has a notch in it at either end. There's about 1cm of travel in there that's stopping the thing from engaging.

I'm confused also but if you're adjusting the shoe adjustment (the toothed screw just below what's labeled "parking brake cable" in the diagram) in an attempt to adjust the parking brake you're on the wrong track. That screw is ONLY to adjust the brakes, NOT the parking brake.

I'd have to look but I -think- our parking brake adjustment is where the parking brake cable crosses over from side to side and is pulled by the parking brake cable that goes up to the pedal. There is an adjusting nut there. That cable should be loose when the parking brake is released.

I'd have to look in the manual for the correct adjustment procedure.

Don - thanks, you're right. There are two adjustment methods in there. I just need to figure out a way to get the e brake to engage and also make the foot brakes work.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Emergency brake

Thanks Dave.

I've never had the rears apart myself. I've replaced the cables and oiled these ones so the release is better.

I searched but I guess with people not needing the e brake or ditching the stock setup in favour of rear discs, there's not too much info on here.

An old Chinese proverb says that asking a stupid question makes you look foolish for a while but to not ask it makes you ignorant forever

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[ziembic]

Re: Emergency brake

This may sound dumb, but could the shoes be backwards or up side down or both? I know some cars have different shoes on the front vs the rear of the axle. If they are not different sometimes they can be put in backwards or upside down.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Emergency brake

They seem like they won'tgo in backwards but I'm wondering now - I'll check them tomorrow.

It depends if there is a hole for the lever arm for the e-brake. I'm pretty sure they're in right but it can't hurt.

It was supposed to be a little job but now it's a mission!

 

[Don W.]

Re: Emergency brake

This may sound dumb, but could the shoes be backwards or up side down or both? I know some cars have different shoes on the front vs the rear of the axle. If they are not different sometimes they can be put in backwards or upside down.

Upside down no, backwards, yes. Note in the diagram that the amount of lining (its length) on the shoe to the left in the diagram is less than the amount on the shoe to the right. The "short shoe" is a leading shoe and the the "long" shoe is a trailing shoe. The short one goes to the front of the vehicle regardless of which side, left or right, it's on.

This would not keep the e-brake from working though.

One thing that concerns me with this post is what if, somewhere in the past, the brakes were worked on and not reassembled correctly? Although the posted diagram is accurate it may not match our setup in some details.

Quickstop. Can you post a good pic taken from square on? IOW not at an angle.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Emergency brake

Upside down no, backwards, yes. Note in the diagram that the amount of lining (its length) on the shoe to the left in the diagram is less than the amount on the shoe to the right. The "short shoe" is a leading shoe and the the "long" shoe is a trailing shoe. The short one goes to the front of the vehicle regardless of which side, left or right, it's on.

This would not keep the e-brake from working though.

One thing that concerns me with this post is what if, somewhere in the past, the brakes were worked on and not reassembled correctly? Although the posted diagram is accurate it may not match our setup in some details.

Quickstop. Can you post a good pic taken from square on? IOW not at an angle.

Don, I will do. Your description is exactly as mine are set up though - the leading shoe has less brake pad than the trailing shoe on both sides.

I'm going to set them up correctly so they drag slightly when you rotate them then make a quick vid of the bar moving.

In all honesty, I think the bar that is in there is too short. Before I started this investigation the brakes were set up right for the hydraulic lines. The e brake wouldn't engage. I might put some washers on the lever. I need about 1 cm or so.

Photos to come..., maybe a vid too!

Cheers!