Parking brake

[Mark_be]

Hello,

My truck got a new parking brake and parking brake pedal because the pedal got bended by pushing it too hard.

I get the idea that the parking brake starts to bite too soon. By that I mean that I think that I should be able to push the pedal deeper before the brake starts to do its work.

Because it starts to brake so soon, I think that's the reason why the 1st pedal got bended, because ... don't know how to say, but ... the pedal didn't get over its weak point before tension came onto it. (do you know what I mean by that?)

When I release the parking brake, it's really released completely, so it doesn't keep braking once released.

Is it possible to release some of the tension in the cable so the pedal can be pushed a bit deeper before engaging completely?


Thanks,
Mark


ps At the shop they told me it was normal, but I do have to say that they have very little experience with powerstrokes, so I don't completely trust them... The problem is that I can't go anywhere else since the 1st expert lives about 3400 miles from here.



EDIT: I've just measured how deep I can push the pedal without forcing it and that's only 2.5 inches. What I've also noticed is that when the parking brake is released, I can pull the cable and see something moving under the pedal. I assume that's an automatic cable tensioner? Could it be that my cable tensioner is already at the far end of its adjustment while it should be at the front end of the adjustment range with new parking brakes?


Thanks again.

[Mark_be]

Not a lot of succes.

I'll ask something else: when should the cable tensioner under the parking brake pedal regulate the most while releasing the parking brake? With new brakes or with worn brakes? I try to visualize it, but I don't even have a clue.

[coot1]

How far you can push your parking brake pedal depends on how the parking brakes are adjusted at each rear wheel before they grab. This is done by adjusting the star wheel for each rear wheel. As they wear the pedal will have to be pushed farther and farther down until you get all the way to the floor and they still don't grab enough. Then you need to adjust them again. 2 inches of travel doesn't sound bad for freshly adjusted brakes.

[russelltevans]

how do you adjust them?

[Mark_be]

Originally Posted by coot1

How far you can push your parking brake pedal depends on how the parking brakes are adjusted at each rear wheel before they grab.

So if I understand correctly, there is no automatic tensioner? I thought there was, because there's a spring behind the pedal that releases a gearwheel when the parking brake is in the released position.

If that's not an automatic tensioner, what is it then?

[RFTLTS]

there is a little drum brake setup inside the rotor for the disc brake and it adjusts just like the drum brakes of old. Turn the star wheel until just before the shoe touches the drum.

[kodeman]

Originally Posted by RFTLTS

there is a little drum brake setup inside the rotor for the disc brake and it adjusts just like the drum brakes of old. Turn the star wheel until just before the shoe touches the drum.

If you want to be lazy like i was, i didnt remove the wheel , Crawl under the rear axle , right under the axle tube going into the backing plate, there is a rubber plug, remove that and you will see the star/adjuster , turning it one way will increase pressure, and of course the other direction will derease pressure of the shoes on the rotor... Hope this helps

This is on the backside of both rear wheels, adjust equally..

[kodeman]

Here are some pics....

[Mark_be]

Thanks!

[etnies69924]

in the picture, correct me if I am wrong but it looks like its the same concept as doing drum brakes..... that is how you would adjust it with a flat head screw driver, or am i missing something?