emergency brake adjust
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emergency brake adjust
???How do you adjust the emergency brakes? All I can find is the 'screw', where the left and right cables split. But, to me, this looks like it will only tighten the left side. How do I get both sides tightened up? With the standard trans., I use the em.brake constantly. I'm assuming the cables are getting stretched, but there must be a way of shortening them, as it seems ridiculous 
to have to buy new ones!
to have to buy new ones!
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Claremont, Virginia
Re:emergency brake adjust
If memory serves me right, which may not be, when you tighten the one screw, it adjusts both brakes by shortening the overall length of the cable since it pulls equally on both sides.
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Re:emergency brake adjust
J.S.: How do you set up disc's? 
<br><br>Dieseldude: I would have to agree, except I can't really explain how this set-up is. All I can say is, the main cable comes down to the split. From there, a goofy looking bracket is attached to the main cable. The left and right cables are attached to this bracket, and the screw is attatched to the left side. I know that doesn't make much sense, but unless you've crawled under, looked at this abortionistik set-up, it's hard to get a handle on what it really looks like. The older vehicles were easy, with that 'Y' type adjusting screw set-up.
<br><br>Dieseldude: I would have to agree, except I can't really explain how this set-up is. All I can say is, the main cable comes down to the split. From there, a goofy looking bracket is attached to the main cable. The left and right cables are attached to this bracket, and the screw is attatched to the left side. I know that doesn't make much sense, but unless you've crawled under, looked at this abortionistik set-up, it's hard to get a handle on what it really looks like. The older vehicles were easy, with that 'Y' type adjusting screw set-up.
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From: Claremont, Virginia
Re:emergency brake adjust
Still sounds like the basic concept is the same, by tightening the nut, you effectively shorten the overall cable length thus tightening both brakes.<br><br>Can you post a pic of the adjuster?
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Re:emergency brake adjust
No, I don't have access to a camera. :-[ All I can say is, it just looks like only the one side would get shortened. I would think your '99 would be the same, but can't be sure. At any rate, I think I'll call a few dealers, and see how many different answers I get! 
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Traer, Iowa
Re:emergency brake adjust
Well let us all know cause I need to tighten mine too, it won't hardly hold my truck empty. I think you are right one only tighting one side, I crawled under the other day to do it and looked at it and was baffeled , can't make any sense of that goofy setup.<br>Heath
, can't make any sense of that goofy setup.<br>Heath
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Kansas City & Maysville, MO
Re:emergency brake adjust
'02 FSM says:<br><br>CABLE TENSIONER<br>ADJUSTMENTS<br>ADJUSTMENT<br>NOTE: Tensioner adjustment is only necessary when the tensioner, or a cable has been replaced or disconnected for service. When adjustment is necessary, perform adjustment only as described in the following procedure. This is necessary to avoid faulty park brake operation.<br><br>They refer to it as a "drum in hat" design. There's a set of shoes inside the rotor, it looks like, with what appears to be a pretty normal looking star wheel adjuster for the parking brakes. I haven't crawled under mine to look, but from the picture it looks like you might have to take the wheels off to get access from the back to adjust it.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: outside Raleigh, NC
Re:emergency brake adjust
If it is a drum in disk design then, as the brake cable pulls one side tight, the balancing bar on the cable will then stop, pivot slightly, and continue to pull the other side until tight. Once one side is tight then it cannot be pulled farther and the cable pulls against the center attachment and the lever action pulls the other side.<br><br>All of this is subject to the EB shoes being properly adjusted inside the disk.<br><br>Or I could be mistaken.
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From: Kansas City & Maysville, MO
Re:emergency brake adjust
[quote author=redramnc link=board=5;threadid=17449;start=0#163530 date=1059049180]<br>If it is a drum in disk design then, as the brake cable pulls one side tight, the balancing bar on the cable will then stop, pivot slightly, and continue to pull the other side until tight. Once one side is tight then it cannot be pulled farther and the cable pulls against the center attachment and the lever action pulls the other side.<br><br>All of this is subject to the EB shoes being properly adjusted inside the disk.<br><br>Or I could be mistaken.<br>[/quote]<br><br>From the diagrams, that sounds about right. It looks like the only real adjustment is on the litttle parking brake shoes.
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Re:emergency brake adjust
That makes a little more sense! I've never noticed em.brake shoes when I've had the wheels off, but will have to take a better look next time I rotate. Still gonna call dealers though, just to see how many different answers I get! :
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Grass Valley, California
Re:emergency brake adjust
When you run out of adjustment for E-brake, it's time to replace the rear brake shoes. That solved my problems on my '97 when it had ~115k miles and had never had new shoes.<br><br>John
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Branchville, Alabama
Re:emergency brake adjust
My brakes did not function well from new. I finally gave in and fixed it the "half fast" method. For $1.43 I bought a cable shortener from Walmart and put it on, took at least five minutes and have not had a problem since then. That was a year and a half ago. Used to us them on the old cars and it works as well on the CTD.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Kansas City & Maysville, MO
Re:emergency brake adjust
[quote author=Haulin in Dixie link=board=5;threadid=17449;start=0#163930 date=1059108907]<br>My brakes did not function well from new. I finally gave in and fixed it the "half fast" method. For $1.43 I bought a cable shortener from Walmart and put it on, took at least five minutes and have not had a problem since then. That was a year and a half ago. Used to us them on the old cars and it works as well on the CTD.<br>[/quote]<br><br>Do you have four wheel discs? I'm sure the setup is different on trucks with rear drums.
