Parking brake issue - Diesel Forum

matntamrose · 04-07-2009, 12:07 PM

Having an issue with my 2005 F350 4x4 parking break. Sometimes it sets but most the time it doesn't engage. If I hold the lever out and pump the foot pedal, it will grab sometimes. Was wondering if their is anything I can do to make an adjustment myself. I live on a hill and bring our 14,000 pound fifth wheel home to set up and worry about having it parked in front of the house on the hill with no brakes to support. I do put wheel blocks behind the truck and trailer, but when I pull it out of park and into gear, I can feel the torque it had on the transmission.

**SmokeyWren** · 04-07-2009, 03:49 PM

Your parking is a drum brake up inside the rear rotors. It's called a "shoe-in-hat" brake.

You adjust the parking brake the same way you adjust any drum brake. On the backing plate for each rear rotor there is a rubber plug. Put the rear axle on jack stands. Remove that plug and you can see the "star" adjusting wheel. Adjust that star adjuster until the shoes are tight against the drums, then back off until there is very little drag between shoes and drum.

Lefty loosie, righty tightie.

You can buy a "drum brake adjusting tool" or "brake spoon" for a coupla bucks at any decent hardware store. Or poor shadetree mechanics can get by with a flat-blade screwdriver.

matntamrose · 04-07-2009, 04:01 PM

Thanks for the reply SmokeyWren, Question I have then is why you think it will sometimes set? When I push down on the parking brake pedal, it usually goes all the way to the floor with little resistance and to parking brake support, but sometimes it will grab like it is supposed to and stop half way and I can deffinately feel the truck with the brakes on then.

**SmokeyWren** · 04-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Sorry, but I don't know. Mine has never done that. I know a lot, but I don't know everything.

matntamrose · 04-20-2009, 04:00 PM

I have been noticing that the parking break engages more often if I don't have my foot on the foot break. Doesn't do me a whole lot of good though if I am on a hill and need the truck with brake support.

FMTRVT · 04-20-2009, 06:47 PM

The service brakes (hydraulic) and the parking brake (cable mechanical) are completely separate. They won't interact.

It sounds like you need a new pedal assembly.

Jmaccan · 10-15-2009, 10:46 AM

Mine just started to do the same thing, I went to set the brake and the pedal drove all the way to the floor as if the cable had snapped, checked it all out and the geared wheel that attaches to the pedal arm looks like it should have a sprag or ramp and roller clutch in it, but the clutch doesn't seem to be holding as the gear just free wheels and never actually holds the automatic adjuster, going to check out a new pedal assembly today. Has anybody changed one out? How hard is it to dislodge from under the dashboard?