Parking brake pedal won't engage

[friscocrownie]

Having a problem with the parking brake on my 84 C10, I can push the pedal down and the parking brake holds the truck fine, light comes on and everything seems fine except for the fact that the pedal will not latch, i.e. when I take my foot off the brake releases. I'm guessing I need to get a new assembly, but was wondering if there are other, and maybe easier, fixes I could look into....any thoughts/recommendations?

[my67chevytruck]

is the handle in a bind by any chance, and not allowing it to lock into a gear? while looking under the dash, operate the brake release and see if anything funky is going on. it could be a spring issue on the brake release as well....

[Keith Seymore]

Yep - make sure the handle is pushed in.

If there is a weak spring or the handle is bound out, it might think you are pulling on it.

K

[friscocrownie]

I checked the handle and the only spring I see, both seem to be where they should be...when I am looking at the pedal assembly and push down, I barely hear the ratcheting I am used to...could the gears just have worn out? How hard is it to pull the whole assembly out?

[LONGHAIR]

It all comes out as a complete assembly, the hardest part is usually getting the cable seperated from it.

[friscocrownie]

The pics and instructions in my Haynes manual don't seem to line up with what I have in my truck....it looks like there are two studs/bolts going towards the firewall that would also need to be removed and then another closer to the kick panel, does this sound about right?

[tucsonjwt]

When I took the one out of my 83 C20, there were two studs that go through the firewall with nuts attached on the engine side of the firewall. As I recall, at least one of the studs did double duty and also held something else inside the engine compartment. I think I had 3 side bolts going inside the kick panel area. A real pain to wiggle in and out of the truck.

I am working on a parking brake problem also. My cable is too far extended where it connects to the pedal assembly, causing the pedal to not retract fully when the handle is pulled, but I have not figured out how to adjust it.

I would put your head under the dash, depress the pedal by hand, and see what is happening with the cable end. Maybe your cable is to far extended also and you have no tension at all on it.

[tucsonjwt]

I just adjusted my parking brake. Don't bother looking for the locknut referenced in the Haynes manual - our trucks don't have one. Instead, there is a non-threaded portion on the threaded adjustment shaft on the forward end of the shaft at the equalizer. Put vise grips on that non-threaded portion and turn the adjustment nut. I did the Haynes 4 click thing and it only took a few turns to take up my slack. Did you try just adjusting your cable before you go any further?

[tucsonjwt]

See my other post about the parking brake light for a better view of how the parking brake assembly bolts into the truck, plus a view of the parking brake warning light switch which has a lead which must be disconnected before your remove the assembly.

[McSwine]

I just paid to have my parking brake adjusted (same thing, would not engage) since I don't have sense enough to do it myself. But now my rear brakes are sticking. I would take it back to where I had the work done, but I'm afraid driving that distance will wear out my brake shoes. Anyone got any ideas on how I can fix this myself?

[my67chevytruck]

Originally Posted by McSwine

I just paid to have my parking brake adjusted (same thing, would not engage) since I don't have sense enough to do it myself. But now my rear brakes are sticking. I would take it back to where I had the work done, but I'm afraid driving that distance will wear out my brake shoes. Anyone got any ideas on how I can fix this myself?

Sounds like you need to back off the parking brake adjusters....

[McSwine]

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

Sounds like you need to back off the parking brake adjusters....

Can you tell me where they're at? One for each side or does one adjuster do both?

(and thx for the reply)

edit: I have an '83, if it matters

[87chevy.com]

Hers a tip on removing ebrake cables (the kind with prongs on all sides). Once the cables unhooked from the ebrake shoe or handle, grab a 13mm or 1/2" wrench and slide the box end over the cable and it will press all the tabs and making the removal of the pain in the arse cable a breeze. Learned that from the pick-n-pull "worker"... works like a charm!
clint