Busboy

My sons 2001 3500 sport truck has a 1500 park brake cable adjusting linkage. I've looked in both the paper version and a digital version of the factory manual but they only show the rear drum brake. Does anyone know if when they went to rear discs they went with a 1500 park brake cable system?

Busboy

After digging around online I found pics of a 2004.5 3500 dually that showed the park brake linage and it was the old 1500 series. When they went to rear discs they must have standardized the park brake cables and adjustment linkage. I must admit I preferred the old 2500/3500 cable system better.

jrs_dodge_diesel

There was a mid year change in 2001 when the Rams changed from front disc/rear drum brakes to all disc brakes. A small drum brake was used on the rear axle just for the parking brake only, usually referred to as a "drum in hat" in the service manual. My service manual for 2001 has both versions (rear drum and rear disc) in it.

As far as I know, the parking brake cable setup was common on all Rams from that era.

patdaly

I don't have a 2001 parts manual, but it looks like they did with the switch to rear discs.

Part numbers are completely different for the disc setup.

From the 2002 manual.

Busboy

Thanks for the comments and help, I did know about the switch to discs mid 2001 as my 2001 2500 had drums and my FIL 2001 3500 had discs, I didn't know if he had installed the wrong park brake cables and adjusting linkage along the way or if it was a "sport truck" thing, but makes sense they went with a standardized park brake system, I just wish it was the old style. The new cables and linkage is installed but the pads must be worn out as there is still no braking action, pulling it apart this afternoon.

jrs_dodge_diesel

Don't adjust the cable adjustment that is on the frame rail. My service manual has a big cautionary note about not doing that. That is there strictly to set the cable tension only.

The brakes get adjusted by the star wheel on each side, like any other drum brake.

Busboy

Thanks, that makes sense about the adjustment. Just going to take one side apart for a look inside, if it's ok I'll adjust them up as I'm running out of time.

jrs_dodge_diesel

No problem. Here is that note from the service manual, should be on page 5-40 in your manual:

The procedure for adjusting the star wheels is on page 5-35.

Busboy

My paper version of the manual is from my 2001 2500 with drum brakes and is a 2000 manual with a 2001 supplement, neither part of the manual show a rear disc setup. I also have a 2001 digital version and was able to find the reference you gave to adjusting the star wheels, however the adjustment procedure is for a brake with automatic adjusters which would be a drum brake. The picture right next to that shows the drum in hat and looks to have no auto adjusters on it, the star wheel held in place by the return spring similar to a common trailer brake. After looking at the truck yesterday both rear calipers have seized and damaged the insides of the rotors so it will be a complete tear down and we just did the oil in the rear diff to change the pinion seal and yolk as it was too badly worn. Thanks again for the reference it saved a lot of time and I've printed the whole section to have on hand for tomorrow.

jrs_dodge_diesel

Correct, the parking brake shoes are not self adjusting on the disc brake trucks, manual adjust only.

Last year I had to replace the rear calipers on both sides because they were sticking and dragging the pads. The rear pads don't wear out very quickly so the caliper bores get fouled with crud. Once the pads get replaced and the pistons pushed back in, they will generally start sticking and dragging because of the build up in the bore.

Glad I help out

Busboy

Just to update, after evaluating the tear down we didn't have enough time as we had to replace a transfer case seal which was more important than the park brake for now. We only replaced the calipers and installed a set of sacrificial pads just so it's not metal to metal, the park brake will have to wait until spring as the truck is headed East for the winter. I kept what I printed so I will have it on hand for the spring. Thank you both again for the help, the truck is starting to come back to life.