Parking brake handle loose, but brake lightly engaged (1 Viewer)

[Herdershond]

I accidentally drove with the parking brake for a couple of miles. I let it down, but it seemingly stayed engaged, I could hear a creak and see light tire marks where I parked.

Now, the parking brake handle is totally loose, doesn't seem to apply any braking even at full extension, and I keep hearing creaking. I can't really tell whether the mechanisms on the wheels are moving enough to do anything with the handle or with my pushing on them. I've read that they can freeze, it was about 9 degrees F when I left the thing on, up to about 25 last time I played with it.

Any idea what I did? I want to fix the parking brake (which was weak already), but first I just want to make sure I've got it off.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

I would remove the rear tires and rotors discs and start from there. Inspect the brake shoe assembly, retaining springs, e-brake linkage, etc.

 

[Herdershond]

On second inspection, the brake was engaged and I could disengage it by yanking the driver side bell crank. The brakes still work too, but the bell crank gets stuck each time.

I’m thinking I just need to replace the springs that are supposed to disengage it.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

It's probably not the springs, it's probably the pins and cranks under the rubber boot, they're dissimilar metals, so they corrode over time.

 

[IndroCruise]

I accidentally drove with the parking brake for a couple of miles. I let it down, but it seemingly stayed engaged, I could hear a creak and see light tire marks where I parked.

Now, the parking brake handle is totally loose, doesn't seem to apply any braking even at full extension, and I keep hearing creaking. I can't really tell whether the mechanisms on the wheels are moving enough to do anything with the handle or with my pushing on them. I've read that they can freeze, it was about 9 degrees F when I left the thing on, up to about 25 last time I played with it.

Any idea what I did? I want to fix the parking brake (which was weak already), but first I just want to make sure I've got it off.

If not already seen, the two attachments found at the end of post #5 at this link may help:

E-brake rattle/slack in cables

Hey all, fixed one rattle and off to the next. I’m trying to fix an e-brake cable rattle. 04 LX, the cable rattles over any small bump and it’s annoying as hell. Ebrake works as it should. I tried to put some M1 grease at the moving parts but I don’t think that did anything. Noise still there...

forum.ih8mud.com

Bell cranks need to be in correct adjustment first, with mechanism and springs in good order, before adjusting the cable at the turn-buckle behind the rear axle.

Otherwise, a slightly dragging parking brake shoe may be the result, worsening as the brake gets hot.

It is common for the parking brake drum to become slightly out of round on older vehicles, so rotate the wheel fully when making adjustments, to make sure that clearance exists all the way around.