Ok, here's my problem. The previous owner of the truck never used the parking brake, and I do. It worked ok for the first few months was a little hard to press down but now its causing more trouble.

When I engage the parking brake it still works fine but when I go to release it, it never fully releases. I can get under the truck and manually pull the cable back towards the rear axle to release the brakes however after a few hours of driving the parking brake lever will be pulled tight again and engage the rear brakes.

I've had the rear drums off and the brakes look worn but not bad. Any ideas whats going on here?

 

likely the rear park brake cables are siezed, I had to replace both of mine when I got my truck, as the rears were sticking as well

 

I would just crawl under and lube all the potential binding points you can find.
I like aerosol white lithium grease for this sort of thing.

 

Check that the tensioning spring under the cab, drivers side, is not broken or misattached/weakened. This should pull the brake shoes free upon releasing the foot pedal.

Kurt

 

I have the opposite problem......I have a 5-speed and my brake sometimes doesn't lock. I have to push the release lever in, while pushing down on the pedal, then sometimes it won't catch, or will release tension a moment later, scary when parking on a hill!!!! Any ideas for that one?

PS> go with the lubing of everything underneath, it will cost $4 for a can of lithium and might work vs. replacing everything first...

 

your pedal mechanism is at fault (UNDER DASH)It might be fixable not sure but if you look under there while trying to engage the P-brake you might see whats not catching and be able to adjust/bend it to work