Parking brake is stuck on. Question.

[ak74]

98 Explorer XLT. SOHC.

Ok, so a friend drove my truck and used the parking brake for the first time in 10 years. He disengaged the brake with the lever near the pedal and the pedal popped back up (like normal). However, the parking brake is still slightly engaged. It's pretty subtle, but when idling in drive, you can feel the resistance.

Question: Would adjusting the little star wheel for the parking brake most likely solve this? Like I said, the effect that the stuck brake has is pretty subtle, but it's annoying. Would using this adjustment method probably free up the slightly stuck shoes?

 

[drdoom]

Very common, rusty linkage at the wheel is the most likely culprit. Go on YouTube, go to 1Aauto's channel, they have posted an excellent video on the fix. To address your question, I doubt the star wheel will help much.

 

[ak74]

Very common, rusty linkage at the wheel is the most likely culprit. Go on YouTube, go to 1Aauto's channel, they have posted an excellent video on the fix. To address your question, I doubt the star wheel will help much.

Just took a quick glance out in the dark and yeah- it looks like the spring is compressed a bit, even with the brake disengaged.

 

[drdoom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2EIx6Yujw

 

[SoNic67]

My parking brake hardware inside rear wheels, when I got the 9 year old Expl, was a block of rust...
Nothing to do, except replacement.

 

[ak74]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2EIx6Yujw

Thanks again for your help.

Got it up on jack stands today. Drivers side parking brake cable was toast... almost looked chewed through. Passenger side was functioning but wasn't releasing all the way. Soaked it and gave it a few taps to loosen it up- bingo. Started compressing and retracting like normal again.

Just went for a lengthy test drive and the problem is solved. The ever so slight resistance is gone and the uneven feel when braking from speeds above 40 is gone.

 

[drdoom]

Good to hear ak74...I may have to work mine loose again because I let a customer move my truck and she set the brake. I never use it, but I did follow the video and get them working pretty good, just for emergency if needed. Then I got in to go home and there was an unfamiliar sound. I looked down and the pedal was depressed, so it released fine, but I want to check it again. I'm getting my neighbor to help this time...having to go back & forth doing that hammer trick alone got old quick.