So I am trying to get my truck ready to pass inspection here in VA, already fixed the lack of horn, and have replacement signal lens. Reading through the VA requirements it mentions E-Brake: proper adjustment. Now I have never actually used it. I went out to check it and when I push down on it I can hear it ratchet but the pedal come back up but the brake light come on and when I pull the release handle I can hear it let go. The issue come when I put the truck in neutral to see if it hold and it the truck will roll freely in reverse, but when I put it in a forward gear I have to get on the skinny pedal a bit to get it to try and move.

I don't know how strict they are about that here in VA, so if I can adjust it a bit so it is tighter that would be awesome, but I have to get it inspected tomorrow as my Cali registration has run out even though It got extended till September due to budget talks, I really don't want to have to try and explain that to a cop out here as they don't seem to understand the whole I'm in the military thing.

 

From the 96 Service manual, page 5-44


(1) Raise vehicle.
(2) Back off cable tensioner adjusting nut to create
slack in cables.
(3) Remove rear wheel and tire assemblies. Then
remove brake drums.
(4) Check rear brakeshoe adjustment with standard
brake gauge.
(5) Replace worn brakeshoes i f necessary.
(6) Verify parking brake cables operate freely.
Replace faulty cables if necessary.
(7) Install drums and verify that drums rotate
freely without drag.
(8) Install wheel/tire assemblies.
(9) Lower vehicle enough for access to parking
brake foot pedal.
(10) Fully apply parking brakes and leave brakes
applied until adjustment is complete.
(11) Raise vehicle again.
(12) Mark tensioner rod 6.5 mm (1/4 in.) from edge
of tensioner bracket (Fig. 95).
(13) Tighten adjusting nut at equalizer until mark
on tensioner rod moves into alignment with tensioner
bracket (Fig. 95).
(14) Release parking brake and verify rear wheels
rotate freely without drag. Then lower vehicle.

 

Thanks, I have the FSM's but not on this computer, I recently moved and they are all on my desk top. Only other question, is the way my pedal works the correct way, or is there a clip or lock that is broken that was supposed to keep it in the down position, kinda like how I don't have to apply my brake to change gears.

 

On that, I don't know. (I haven't ever used mine........) But, if pushing the pedal down does indeed lock the parking brake, even though the pedal comes back up.... that is probably correct.

 

Bookmarked. Thanks.

 

The pedal should stay down until you release it.

 

I have that same problem with my parking brake. It springs back up and does not lock down. And also my rear brakes dont work at all. I am replacing the rear automatic adjusters this weekend and I am gonna try and tighten up the cable. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

 

I'd say the mechanism is not locking obviously. What happens when you push the pedal down and hold it? Does the park brake work?

 

Huh? It's supposed to stay down? Mine doesn't and Chrysler has done this on a number of it's vehicles over the years.

 

I just walked over and pressed the pedal on my 2000(to confirm). It stays down, until I release it. It was the same way on my 98. And I use it all the time.