Dreaded sagging E-brake cable?

[FrogInTheWell]

So I just got this truck recently and the parking brake seemed to work fine ... for a while. Now I see the e brake cable is sagging. Brake seems to hold and release but it has brought on a brake light on the dash. I hear the parking brake set up on these truck are a nightmare to change (like everything else apparently)...anyhow, any advice on how to proceed? Thanks.

 

[FrogInTheWell]

 

[jws123]

They suck to do however if you dont use your parking break much and want to put it off for as longas possible like me lol. So it wont sag go under the truck on the back side of each rear wheel tap the lever that the cable goes onto backwards so it returns and the cable will go back to normal.

 

[Wild one]

They're easier to work on if you remove the brake caliper/caliper bracket / rotor and then unbolt the rear diff cover and remove the axles.They're a royal b!atch to work on with the axles in place.Good time to service the diff and replace the axle seals while you're at it

 

[1979 300]

You could try a brake cable adjuster/shortener. Believe it or not they actually work, especially on older vehicles where the original adjuster threads are all rusted and siezed up. You can get them at most auto parts stores for $10 or so.

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

They're easier to work on if you remove the brake caliper/caliper bracket / rotor and then unbolt the rear diff cover and remove the axles.They're a royal b!atch to work on with the axles in place.Good time to service the diff and replace the axle seals while you're at it

Our family’s 2014 Ram Outdoorsman’s parking brakes corroded and froze. I had the CDJR dealer repair it.

You are correct. They had to remove a bunch of stuff, including the axles and rear differential cover. They used OEM Mopar parts and it now works great.

Expensive and time consuming repair. I’m amazed that Ram couldn’t design a manual parking brake system that didn’t need so much removed to repair it.

 

[ExpressRules]

My 14 (that I got rid of 2 weeks ago) had a big sag on the cable for a few years. Since I never used it I just zip tied it up. It did look like it would be a royal pain to actually fix it.

 

[FrogInTheWell]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to loosen every thing up and regrease it and its working fine now. I assume I will have to revisit it though.

 

[Wild one]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to loosen every thing up and regrease it and its working fine now. I assume I will have to revisit it though.

If you got it to return and the cables not sagging,you could always quit using it. I don't think i've used a e-brake on any of my vehicles that are automatics in the last 35 years

 

[FrogInTheWell]

I would like to stop using it but I tow a boat and on the boat ramp setting the parking brake is a must.

 

[stenerson]

I would like to stop using it but I tow a boat and on the boat ramp setting the parking brake is a must.

I was told by a mechanic during state safety inspection that the parking brake lever often seize up from lack of use. Mine was seized and he worked it loose but warned me it needed a more permanent fix soon. I asked him "how did that happen, I don't even use it." He told me nonuse is the most common cause of premature seizure.

 

[Daw14]

I would like to stop using it but I tow a boat and on the boat ramp setting the parking brake is a must.

I would keep lubricating the cables every few months.

It should help to rid them of the rust that has built up inside.
A penetrating oil , acetone and transmission fluid , or other thin flowing oil ,ought to work.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I'm exactly the opposite, I use the parking brake even if I'm parking in my garage.

My process is, come to a stop, set parking brake, switch from drive or reverse to park, depending on if I'm backing in or pulling in.

Cut truck off. Flip kill switch. Get out lock doors.

I'm a creature of habit, I do this every time I parking.

Started doing this when I had a manual transmission way back in the day. Old habits.

PS never had trouble with parking brake mechanism or sagging cables. Parking brake shoes, different story.

 

[seems fishy]

He told me nonuse is the most common cause of premature seizure.

I am 70 and my doctor told me to keep moving,so I don't seize up...,and it is good advice for parking brakes.I have a habit of using mine just so they stay useful

 

[hogan1945]

Twice a year I service mine with 3 M penetrant. Working fine, and I'm in Minnesota, the rust belt of the USA!!

 

[TCalYen]

If you got it to return and the cables not sagging,you could always quit using it. I don't think i've used a e-brake on any of my vehicles that are automatics in the last 35 years

That’s what I was thinking. I don’t think I’ve ever used one in an automatic. I’ll be honest… I don’t even know where the parking brake is in my Ram R/T lol.

 

[JmGuTe]

Had the same issue when I purchased my 2013. Previous owner never used it so when I went to use it surprise it sagged. I soaked it in PB blaster a couple days in a row and just used a zip tie to hold the cable up. I literally forgot about it for about a year cause its not the primary driver. I had previously bought a rear parking brake kit with new parking brake arms so the beginning of this year I decided let me take a look and if need be I'd remove the rear diff cover and just service the rear diff and remove the axles as well to get all the hardware in. Well I was pleasantly surprised as I just banged on the arms a couple times in both directions and they freed right up and work perfectly. I inspected the shoes and all the hardware and everything looked good so I got lucky but I would try that first! Soak them down religiously for 2-3 days then just drive it around don't use it and then try to free them up.

 

[stenerson]

That’s what I was thinking. I don’t think I’ve ever used one in an automatic. I’ll be honest… I don’t even know where the parking brake is in my Ram R/T lol.

I never use mine. I just find out they're seized when the state inspection comes around and some zealous young "technician" insists on testing them.
Fortunately starting next month they are doing away with the mandatory yearly safety inspections in my state.

 

[SD2020]

I use mine when backing the boat in the lake. They are a pain to do but I had a post somewhere here that mentioned it’s easy to do with the axles left alone, once you do the ear plug trick. Once I figured out to stuff an earplug in with the pins so they would not fall out, the other side took only 15 min tops. That was replacing the e brake pads and cleaning and greasing.

 

[Pokealong 42]

Sagging cable happened to me also 112,021 miles, I used lots WD40 kept pounding lever back on rear of cable lever would put on
brake and do it all over again on both wheels until free. Bought all E brake parts, cable back hanging so I ponded levers back which tightened cable got some zip ties out and zip E brake pedal so I wont engage anymore. Still have all parts and some day will replace and that includes the rusted lever, it's possible to do without pulling axels several videos on u tube...