My brake is really weak and I need to tighten it up and I know that I need to do is this. The proper way is to adjsut at the starwheel is to turn the drivers side DOWN to spread the shoes. Turn the passenger side UP to spread the shoes. Now my question is do I need to take the wheels off or can I just jack the rear end up to do this? also I have disk brakes can I get to the rubber plug on the back side of the backing plates? I don't know what to call them with out having drums haha.

 

DC, on my 3rd gen I can easily get to the passenger's side with the wheels on but the driver's side doesn't look promising. It was a pill with the wheels off.

 

there is an adjuster on the cable going to the rear thats what i tightend up

 

From what I heard adjusting the cable does nothing but put a band aid on it to do it right you need to adjust it on the brakes.

 

the rear brakes should be adjusted regularly,however over time the cables do stretch,so adjust the brakes just until the shoes barely drag on the drum,and if the e-brake pedal still goes past 3/4 to the floor you might have to adjust the cable also

 

Well ok so my pedal I have to mash all the way to the floor for it to hold but it will not hold the truck in the drive way so maybe my cable has stretched over time.

 

If you have rear drum brakes, adjust them first. It may make your brake pedal engage sooner (if they are out of adjustment). I try to adjust mine whenever I change the oil. Once the rears are adjusted, adjust the parking brake if necessary.

 

DC, mine went all the way to the floor as well, from the time the truck was 6 months old.

I put new shoes in the park assembly, and adjusted them properly, pedal came right back to the top. Always start at the wheel end, unless you have a broken cable that is visible.

 

Well I got new shoes Will and the pedal was firm at the top of the travel this summer but a few back ups with the brake down hooking to trailers i think have stretched it so I think I will jack it up this weekend and do the wheels and go from there.

 

Yeah, I am pretty sure that is what killed mine as well, that little "adjustment" of the truck with the park brake still on.

stupid stupid stupid. But, when I finally got around to replacing the shoes, I think they would have gone another round, but forget it, just bought new ones, slapped them in, adjusted them, and drove away... With the park brake OFF this time. Hah