1996 Parking Brake equalizer

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bobmobile

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I have a 96, std. cab, with a manual transmission. The parking brake isn't engaging anymore. There are no issues with the shoes, they've been inspected and adjusted. There looks to be some adjustability on the equalizer, but I'm not sure how that is supposed to work and can't find any info. Has anyone ever changed to a more common equalizer? Or any advice on how to adjust it?
Thanks!

For reference, the delco number is 25512384.
 
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spitanddirt

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I haven't changed to a different equalizer, but I can tell you that the cables are very susceptible to rust and not allowing the cable to move. The second area of concern is how they routed the cable along the frame. I can't speak for the STD cab, but on my ECSB I made a modification to the final bracket before the cable turns up and meets the equalizer.

In the factory manual, you are supposed to use a drill bit to secure the pedal at a certain height(stick your head under dash and look for a hole to appear on the geared pedal bracket as you engage the pedal) and then adjust the equalizer as needed. The problem is that the self-adjusters on both drum brakes need to be set first before adjusting the equalizer.

I'm probably not doing a very good job explaining this. A picture would be better.

Here is one of my bracket mod using a Patio Door bearing and some clamps. I dont have a welder at this time, but I might have someone help me construct one better. But this does work, and my Parking brake pedal is super smooth now.



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bobmobile

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I haven't changed to a different equalizer, but I can tell you that the cables are very susceptible to rust and not allowing the cable to move. The second area of concern is how they routed the cable along the frame. I can't speak for the STD cab, but on my ECSB I made a modification to the final bracket before the cable turns up and meets the equalizer.

In the factory manual, you are supposed to use a drill bit to secure the pedal at a certain height(stick your head under dash and look for a hole to appear on the geared pedal bracket as you engage the pedal) and then adjust the equalizer as needed. The problem is that the self-adjusters on both drum brakes need to be set first before adjusting the equalizer.

I'm probably not doing a very good job explaining this. A picture would be better.

Here is one of my bracket mod using a Patio Door bearing and some clamps. I dont have a welder at this time, but I might have someone help me construct one better. But this does work, and my Parking brake pedal is super smooth now.



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That's some MacGyver level stuff there. What year is yours? I'm wondering if I can just swap the equalizer to a 97 or 98 style since the cables look to be the same.
 

Schurkey

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The parking brake isn't engaging anymore. There are no issues with the shoes, they've been inspected and adjusted

As said, the usual cause of weak park brake is that the service brakes are out-of-adjustment. You say they've been adjusted.

Next-most-common issue is stretched cables. That's why there's adjustment on the system.

I'd expect a nut that gets tightened--but I don't have a '96 to check.

As said--cram a 1/8" pin into the park brake kick pedal, ratchet the kick pedal until the pin (I'd use a 1/8 drill bit) touches the pedal housing. Then adjust for slight drag at the rear wheels.

Release kick pedal--should be no park brake drag. There'll be some service-brake drag, though.

Doesn't hurt to lube the cables; and if the cables are too "stretchy" they've probably got broken wires somewhere you can't see 'em.
 

spitanddirt

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Here is my equalizer with new brakes and new cables. The amount of screws thread exposed on the front side of the adjustment nut is1.5 inches. Sorry for the dark picture. I may take another one this afternoon. Thus should at least give you a good starting point.

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JACK34

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Actually I have a question regarding this issue. Not quite on topic so I apologize. I am working on my 1994 and when working on the frame I did away with the parking brake cable, it was rusted out. When I do the rear brakes I don't intend on replacing the whole cable assembly. In other words no parking brake. I have never used a parking brake on a automatic transmission vehicle in my life, so what do you all think about that? Eliminating the parking brake all together?
 

Schurkey

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I don't intend on replacing the whole cable assembly. In other words no parking brake. I have never used a parking brake on a automatic transmission vehicle in my life, so what do you all think about that? Eliminating the parking brake all together?

Supremely dumb. Some folks call them "Emergency brakes" for a reason.

There's no telling what situation(s) the future holds, I'd want to be prepared for the possibility of a broken park pawl, or parking on a particularly steep street.

And it's not like the park brake system is difficult or expensive to fix properly.
 

JACK34

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Yeah that does make sense. You never know. I just hope the assembly is strong enough it's made in China. The gas tank I just got was made in Taiwan. Supremely dumb I know. I'm slowly turning my Chevy into a Datsun. Thanks for the advice, I will now make sure the parking brake system is put back in working order.
 

CrustyJunker

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Silly question, are your cables releasing completely? I had a similar problem on my '95 manual truck. I hit the park brake, and I didn't notice my driver-side cable didn't release entirely because it was all gunked up. There are return springs inside each drum.

After a few cycles of that dud cable...
-I felt almost no tension on the park brake pedal until it was about 3/4 the way down (the tension felt at the end was the passenger side holding)

-It made the equalizer show slack.

-The pedal release often didn't return all the way. It would return 95% to the mechanical stop, but down enough to keep the brake light in the cluster illuminated. I had to "help," it up the last half inch or so.

The dragging drum clearanced itself pretty quickly to where it felt like it was in "good adjustment." I changed the locked up cable, didn't have to adjust the equalizer, and it behaved properly again.

Just an idea to try!
 
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