All of a sudden it seems my parking brake is not adjusted, the peddle goes almost to the floor. I find no adjustment on the cabling? Does the assy need to be replaced to repair?

 

Are your rear brakes properly adjusted? If they aren't, that can cause the problem you're describing. They're self-adjusting, but it's not uncommon for the adjusters to seize up, or somebody put them in backwards, or they don't work for some other reason.

 

Tom, This really wasn't a gradual happening. I had been laid up since April and hadn't driven my Dakota for3 months. Then when I got back on my feet I don't remember it being any different. a Couple of weeks later I ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks. I didn't drive then for almost another three weeks. That is when I noticed that the parking brake is not working properly. I had thought about the self adjusters, when I changed the rear brakes about 2 years ago I replaced everything and made sure they were lubed properly.