Parking Brake Problems

[2000co]

When I bought the truck the parking brake was working perfect and the parking brake was fully engaged when the pedal was push half way down. Several months ago my parking brake pedal suddenly was only engaging when the brake pedal was push all the way down to the floor.

When I pulled the rotor on the driver side to adjust the parking brake I had hard time pulling the rotor. It felt like the parking brake shoes were stuck to the rotor. When I finally pull the rotor the parking brake shoes and hardware fell apart. The passenger side parking brake was perfect.

I install new parking brake shoes and new hardware on both sides.

I drove the truck for 2 months and yesterday I heard noise from the same side (driver side). When I took the rotor off the parking brake shoes and hardware fell on the floor. I checked the passenger side parking brake and it was perfect. Any idea what’s wrong?

 

[Limited02]

When I bought the truck the parking brake was working perfect and the parking brake was fully engaged when the pedal was push half way down. Several months ago my parking brake pedal suddenly was only engaging when the brake pedal was push all the way down to the floor.

When I pulled the rotor on the driver side to adjust the parking brake I had hard time pulling the rotor. It felt like the parking brake shoes were stuck to the rotor. When I finally pull the rotor the parking brake shoes and hardware fell apart. The passenger side parking brake was perfect.

I install new parking brake shoes and new hardware on both sides.

I drove the truck for 2 months and yesterday I heard noise from the same side (driver side). When I took the rotor off the parking brake shoes and hardware fell on the floor. I checked the passenger side parking brake and it was perfect. Any idea what’s wrong?

While it's common for the factory ones to fall apart (mine did) I wouldn't expect new ones to do the same. Since you had them for a short period, you should be able to turn them in for new ones?

 

[2000co]

The pads didn't fall apart, the hardware fell apart and the pads were not attached to the back plate anymore. I was able to get new hardware for free and reuse my new pads yesterday. I’m just wondering what causing the hardware and pads to disconnect or fall apart only on one side?

 

[pet575]

Ghosts?

Hard to say. Maybe they weren't installed as securely as you thought they were. Maybe you hit a huge bump. Maybe there was some vibration from another part that is failing/has failed and it worked it loose. Maybe it was a freak thing and won't happen again. If it were me I wouldn't worry about it until strike 3 comes.

 

[Number4]

Locking down the shoes to the plate is tricky. Are you positive that they were locked down fully?

 

[2000co]

I agree it's a tricky job. I made sure everything was correct and secure because I didn’t want to redo it.

 

[makuloco2000]

You pulled the pins through the backing plate when pulling the rotor off that was stuck. You put new on and all was ok but the pins were not held tight since the spring was not compressed as much. Either pound it back flat or replace the backing plate. Those spring retainers should be a pain to compress and put on not easy which is what they are now.

 

[2000co]

You pulled the pins through the backing plate when pulling the rotor off that was stuck. You put new on and all was ok but the pins were not held tight since the spring was not compressed as much. Either pound it back flat or replace the backing plate. Those spring retainers should be a pain to compress and put on not easy which is what they are now.

The backing plate doesn’t look damaged. I use brand new hardware and it was a PITA to install the pins and the springs.

The only thing i can come up with is that one of the pin heads broke allowing the pad to get loose and then destroying the rest of the hardware.

I notice that parking brake levers are not being held by anything to the truck. It seems that they are just held but the pads and boot and I guess the pressure. Is that normal or I’m missing something?

 

[Number4]

With the shoes assembled with the hardware, the parking brake cable end tongs should be impossible to pull out. I've noticed that the hold down pins are aluminum now. Had one bust on me and had to reuse the old one. The old one seemed to be steel. It's possible that the pins were weakened while installing them.
What makuloco2000 was suggesting, is that the slot the pin sits in, in the backing plate may be out of round. Allowing the pin(s) to come out. All it would need is for one side of the hole to be slightly higher than the other.

 

[2000co]

I checked the pins holes and you can't pull the pins through the holes. The new pins are cheap made and I wish I kept the old metal pins.

If I'll have more problems with this side I'll buy new back plate based on some of the comments. We're can I buy the old metal pins?

 

[Bobmbx]

You say the friction pad separated from the backing plate, on two sets of pads on the same side?

Are the pads that fell apart the same color as the pads on the other side? If they've been overheated, they'll sometimes change color and get a glassy surface (very smooth and hard).

Ever notice a burning, acrid smell? Like burning brakes? It sounds like your pads are rubbing the drum all the time, causing enough heat to damage the bond.

 

[2000co]

You say the friction pad separated from the backing plate, on two sets of pads on the same side?

Are the pads that fell apart the same color as the pads on the other side? If they've been overheated, they'll sometimes change color and get a glassy surface (very smooth and hard).

Ever notice a burning, acrid smell? Like burning brakes? It sounds like your pads are rubbing the drum all the time, causing enough heat to damage the bond.

No. The hardware fell apart and didn't hold the pads in place.

 

[Bobmbx]

No. The hardware fell apart and didn't hold the pads in place.

Ah.

 

[2000co]

You pulled the pins through the backing plate when pulling the rotor off that was stuck. You put new on and all was ok but the pins were not held tight since the spring was not compressed as much. Either pound it back flat or replace the backing plate. Those spring retainers should be a pain to compress and put on not easy which is what they are now.

I'm going to replace the backing plate and redo the parking brake job just to be on the safe side. Maybe there is damage to the plate that I can’t see and I don't want my wife to get stuck on the road with the kids.

Is it hard to replace it or it just pull the old put the new? I notice they are selling rubber plugs for the backing plate but it doesn’t look like you can punch out the backing plate when I look at the picture online, can I use them to make life easier when adjusting the parking brake?
on the safe side. I don't want my wife to get stuck on the road with the kids.

 

[Number4]

You'll have to have a machine shop remove the bearing to get to the plate.

With the rear hub assembly off, you can use a hole saw to drill out the plug. Just match up the size.