parking brake / emergency brake

MikeJP · Jan 4, 2023

I've got a 2013 2500 5.7L, automatic trans, in very good condition. About the parking brake (p-brake) system: As a routine maintenance item, according to the Shop Manual, it states to place the truck on an incline and ensure the parking brake holds the truck, with truck in neutral. My truck passed that test with no issues.

I have also noted if I forget to disengage the parking brake, and put truck in drive, it will move forward (example 5-mph until I realize I left it engaged), but the p-brake seems to provide only a small amount of resistance.

I also understand that this p-brake is also know as "auxiliary brake system", and that it can be used in an emergency. Based on what I described above, I cannot see this p-brake providing much slowing/braking action at any normal speed where I may encounter an emergency situation, i.e. 30 MPH or higher.

Am I wrong in thinking this p-brake is not going to do much in an emergency? Is what I have described the p-brake design intent?

Dean2 · Jan 4, 2023

If you can easily move forward with the P brake fully engaged it needs to be adjusted.

Rlaf75 · Jan 4, 2023

Adjust the park brake.

CanuckRam1313 · Jan 4, 2023

As others have said, do a full service (clean, lube, and adjust) on the parking brakes.
Once set, you shouldn't be able to move forward with it engaged.

GTyankee · Jan 5, 2023

In an Emergency situation, say your brakes don't work

Access the terrain ahead, to see if you should stay with the vehicle or not.
If the area ahead is OK, shift into Neutral & apply the Emergency Brake, just enough to bring it to a Stop
If urgent use full force on the E Brake

Travelin Ram · Jan 5, 2023

Properly adjusted, and brake shoes not contaminated, it will lock up the rear tires.

Daw14 · Jan 5, 2023

its probably time to visually inspect you rear shoes ,just to be sure everything is still looking good . Then adjust the shoes ,and cable .

Bigskyroadglide · Jan 5, 2023

My advice based on owning 4 rams and a durango. Use the parking brake every time you cut the ignition off.

The preferred procedure I have adopted. Park where truck will be stationary for specific period of time. Set parking brake. Shift or turn knob from drive or reverse to park.

Take note set parking brake before selecting park. You will be amazed the difference over time.

Piece of mind, muscle memory and better braking. Over 250k in 4th gen trucks. Never had a parking brake that would not hold the truck, certain vibrations disappeared and minimal parking brake maintenance

Floodload · Mar 13, 2023

I posted the same question on here last year. After I replaced every brake part. truck would move when placed in drive everytime. E-brake will hold truck on the steepest incline but roll when placed in drive. following this and hope you can solve the problem.

Jeepwalker · Mar 13, 2023

They'll certain help or add 'some' braking if you lost all other brakes (assuming the P Brakes work properly). But the majority of the braking is done by the front wheels, esp in an 'emergency' where a lot of the vehicle's weight is transferred to the front wheels (removed from the rear). So, even if the rear wheels were locked up, they'll slow you down some but surprisingly little in a panic situation.

But yeah, get them adjusted and do use the parking brake from time to time to keep the parts moving freely. What happens so many times is brakes and components get rusty (in Nothern states) and sometimes you can engage them and they don't release (or release slowly). I'm guilty of not using my parking brake very often if at all.

PaleFlyer · Mar 19, 2023

Bigskyroadglide said:
My advice based on owning 4 rams and a durango. Use the parking brake every time you cut the ignition off.

The preferred procedure I have adopted. Park where truck will be stationary for specific period of time. Set parking brake. Shift or turn knob from drive or reverse to park.

Take note set parking brake before selecting park. You will be amazed the difference over time.

Piece of mind, muscle memory and better braking. Over 250k in 4th gen trucks. Never had a parking brake that would not hold the truck, certain vibrations disappeared and minimal parking brake maintenance

Grew up on a hill, so p-brake is a requirement for me. And I set the brake then the transmission, as I don't want to hold a 6k# truck on 4 transmission teeth. (Brakes are a lot easier/cheaper to service than an 8 speed tranny...)

I'm trying to figure out if I need to service my p-brake, as the brake lever is "light", as I ram it to the floor after 5 years and 80k. Compared to the company Silverado ('17, 138k) that probably never had the p-brake used, thought it was locked the first time I set it.

Jeepwalker · Mar 19, 2023

Grew up on a hill, so p-brake is a requirement for me. And I set the brake then the transmission, as I don't want to hold a 6k# truck on 4 transmission teeth. (Brakes are a lot easier/cheaper to service than an 8 speed tranny...)

There's a threaded nut/bolt adjustment on the cable underneath the cab. You *tighten* the nut to remove slack from the cable (thereby tightening the parking brakes). But at the same token, it wouldn't hurt to inspect the parking brakes before making the adjustment so you know where they're at.

A good time to do that is if you have to rotate tires one of these days, and the tires are already off.

.

parking brake / emergency brake

MikeJP

Junior Member

Dean2

Senior Member

Rlaf75

Senior Member

CanuckRam1313

Senior Member

GTyankee

Senior Member

Travelin Ram

Senior Member

Daw14

Senior Member

Bigskyroadglide

Senior Member

Floodload

Junior Member

Jeepwalker

Senior Member

PaleFlyer

Senior Member

Jeepwalker

Senior Member

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page