Parking Brake

[stonepa]

My parking brake on the 200 no longer holds the vehicle. Dealer seems to think that they need to take the interior apart to adjust something but I wanted to better understand before trusting them with that. Searched the forum but I didn’t see any good links to show me how to tighten it up. You Tube not super helpful either. Any thoughts? Links to anything I may have missed?

 

[prharper]

My parking brake on the 200 no longer holds the vehicle. Dealer seems to think that they need to take the interior apart to adjust something but I wanted to better understand before trusting them with that. Searched the forum but I didn’t see any good links to show me how to tighten it up. You Tube not super helpful either. Any thoughts? Links to anything I may have missed?

You can adjust the nut on the parking brake cable. It does require taking the center console (cupholder) out to access it. I'll see if I can find a picture of it. That would be the first thing I would try and then if that doesn't correct it, your going to need to inspect both shoes on the rear wheels.

 

[stonepa]

You can adjust the nut on the parking brake cable. It does require taking the center console (cupholder) out to access it. I'll see if I can find a picture of it. That would be the first thing I would try and then if that doesn't correct it, your going to need to inspect both shoes on the rear wheels.

I will try this. Does it matter how much you tighten up the nut? Is there a torque spec? Or just make sure it is tight?

 

[prharper]

I will try this. Does it matter how much you tighten up the nut? Is there a torque spec? Or just make sure it is tight?

1. INSPECT PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL

(a) Fully pull the parking brake lever to engage the parking brake.

(b) Release the lever to disengage the parking brake.

(c) Slowly pull the parking brake lever all the way, and count the number of clicks.

Standard Parking Brake Lever Travel when Pulled with a Force of 200 N (20 kgf, 45 lbf):

5 to 7 clicks

If the parking brake lever travel is not as specified, adjust the parking brake shoe clearance and parking brake lever travel.

2. REMOVE REAR WHEEL

3. ADJUST PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL

(a) Remove the console cup holder box sub-assembly

(b) Completely release the parking brake lever.


On my 2018, I pulled out the original cup holder (had older BH3D inserts). New BH3 model arrived today in mail so perfect timing to replace.

Below you can see adjusting nut in the center.

 

[stonepa]

1. INSPECT PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL

(a) Fully pull the parking brake lever to engage the parking brake.

(b) Release the lever to disengage the parking brake.

(c) Slowly pull the parking brake lever all the way, and count the number of clicks.

Standard Parking Brake Lever Travel when Pulled with a Force of 200 N (20 kgf, 45 lbf):

5 to 7 clicks

If the parking brake lever travel is not as specified, adjust the parking brake shoe clearance and parking brake lever travel.

2. REMOVE REAR WHEEL

3. ADJUST PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL

(a) Remove the console cup holder box sub-assembly

(b) Completely release the parking brake lever.


On my 2018, I pulled out the original cup holder (had older BH3D inserts). New BH3 model arrived today in mail so perfect timing to replace.

Below you can see adjusting nut in the center.


View attachment 3010357View attachment 3010358

My nut is really loose. I tightened it maybe 8 turns and my brake handle still goes up 8 clicks and, while better, doesn’t really hold the truck. If i pull up on the handle beyond full extension it will hold.

Should the nut be tight at the correct setting? I can turn it easy with a wrench. Any possibility of me breaking any thing?

 

[prharper]

My nut is really loose. I tightened it maybe 8 turns and my brake handle still goes up 8 clicks and, while better, doesn’t really hold the truck. If i pull up on the handle beyond full extension it will hold.

Should the nut be tight at the correct setting? I can turn it easy with a wrench. Any possibility of me breaking any thing?

I have not needed to perform this procedure yet so hoping someone else can chime in.

Adding additional steps from TIS.


3. ADJUST PARKING BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL

(a) Remove the console cup holder box sub-assembly

(b) Completely release the parking brake lever.

(c) Loosen the adjusting nut to completely release the parking brake cable.

(d) Temporarily install the hub nuts.

(e) Remove the hole plug.

(f) Insert an adjustment tool into the adjustment hole of the disc. Rotate the adjustment wheel in the "X" direction until the shoes are locked. Then rotate the adjustment wheel in the "Y" direction 8 notches.

(g) Check that the disc can be rotated lightly. If not, rotate the adjustment wheel in the "Y" direction and check again.

(h) Install the hole plug.

(i) Remove the hub nuts.

(j) Turn the adjusting nut until the parking brake lever travel becomes correct. Standard Parking Brake Lever Travel when Pulled with a Force of 200 N (20 kgf, 45 lbf): 5 to 7 clicks

(k) Operate the parking brake lever 3 to 4 times, and check the parking brake lever travel.

Standard Parking Brake Lever Travel when Pulled with a Force of 200 N (20 kgf, 45 lbf):

5 to 7 clicks

(l) Check whether the parking brake drags or not.

(m) When operating the parking brake lever, check that the brake warning light comes on.

Standard Condition:

The brake warning light always illuminates at the first click.

(n) Install the console cup holder box sub-assembly.

4. INSTALL REAR WHEEL

Torque:

131 N·m {1336 kgf·cm, 97 ft·lbf}

 

[CharlieS]

I thought the procedure was to adjust at the rear wheels first? Spin the star wheels tensioning the brake shoes until contact is made and then back off. Only small adjustments at the handbrake end?

 

[grinchy]

Mine has never worked great. And that included having the shoes replaced (and all the springs and associated hardware) when the axles were out for the rear wheel bearing replacement/ratio change. It's probably only a couple star nut turns away from success, but I haven't been bothered yet.

About to do new brake pads, will probably futz with it a bit then. . .

 

[toy671]

I have done this as the stock travel on the parking brake lever is too long for my liking. I did it in reverse order, making sure to tighten the parking brake at the rear wheels and backing them off so that the wheels do not bind when the lever is down. Then adjusted the nut under the cup holder until I was satisfied with the pull on the lever. Reverse from the TIS instructions but I prefer the pull to be shorter/stiffer than stock.

 

[bloc]

If you hit the 5-7 click at 45lb-f spec it won’t at all seem like it travels too far. Most regular use will be 3-4 clicks.

A cheap fish scale is perfect for getting this spec right.

Also I found that having it right required just a tiny bit of drag at the brake. This very quickly resolved itself with normal driving and the handle pull didn’t change. I assume it just took off the high spots on the shoes.