hey all, new 2 forum. I have a 1995 ram 2500 360 5.9 4x4, engine type z(vin), regular cab, with a wheel base of 135.5".truck accually built in late 1994, oct or nov but sold as a 95". After doing the shoes on the rear, "which I need to remove the axel in order to pull the drum" full floating rearend? BS. Anyway when i completed the job something made me check the parking brake and when i pressed the pedal there was a loud bang and the pedal went straight to the floor. Underneath the left side just to the rear of the door there is an assembly that connects the front cable to the 2 rear cables. this assebly has corroded and broke, leaving my cables slack. The cables appear to be in good shape. When i look in my haynes book there is a completely different parking brake setup & both of the autoparts stores in the nieghborhood have never seen this rusted piece of sh#t that i am trying to replace nor have we been able to find it in any of the books they order from. ????????? also the same problem with the neutral safety switch , the code flashes for it but the replacement listed is not the same as whats on the truck nor does it work. have tried both 94 & 95 parts for both of my problems and still have had no luck . NE advise? thanx

 

I know the piece you are talking about cause mine rusted out too. From online choices, I decided it was the "intermediate parking brake cable" - that was wrong. Eventually I went to a local dealer and paid the price. Don't remember how much - could have been $20-30 or a bit more. Too much, but not big enough to make a permament memory.

Funny thing about that piece - it's where you adjust the relative tightness of the cables going to individual wheels, but only one side adjusts. Works OK, but sure seems clumsy. Ohter vehicles have a simple symmetrical connector with separate adjustments for the cable from the pedal and for cables going to each wheel - that makes way more sense to me. Our trucks have the adjustment for the cable from the pedal up in the pedal/ratchet mechanism. For the individual wheels, you first adjust the right side then use that piece you need to adjust the left side.

FWIW, I also had problems getting the right cable for the right rear wheel - dealer again because the cable I ordered online was too short. At least my parking brake works pretty good now, but whatta PITA.

Allen

 

thanks for the info @ least now I know it's not a homemade setup... to the DEALER!!!

 

Not wishing this on you, but here are some other critical underside bits I lost to rust - you might want to check yours if that cable connector is gone.

Carbon cannister strap. Found it hanging down, but a big worm clamp fixed that. If it falls off, there will be fueling problems.
Gas tank straps. Whole tank fell out on the highway ripping out top of fuel pump with it.
Gas lines. Replaced due to tank crash, but were on verge of failure anyway.
Gas filler tube. Rusted through so some gas went on ground when filling.
Front axle acturator. Lost 4WD and had to replace acutator, vacuum lines and vacuum switch on tranny
Brake lines. Replaced before failure.
Brake line clips. Replaced before failure.
Rear brake backikng plate. May not have failed, but looked iffy and were replaced.
Oil pan. Replaced before complete failure.

That's my sob story and I'm stickin with it. But truck runs pretty good now.

Allen