Odd park brake problem

[Floodload]

Hello. I changed all the parts n shoes on my 2010 Ram 1500 parking brake. Made adjustments so the hub had rub. Put on wheels and tested park brake. Didn’t hold so adjusted again and held fine on a slope. Pedal hard to push and only went halfway. That part is important cause when I put it in gear (and not pushing on gas pedal) truck will roll freely then I can easily push park pedal to floor but it will not hold truck. After 6 more adjustments same outcome. Has anyone had this problem I have watched a dozen YouTube videos but none experience this. Thanks in advance for any help

 

[crazykid1994]

You are supposed to tighten the adjuster till the wheel has friction to where it doesn’t turn then back it off otherwise there may be slack in the pad. It’s very odd that you can push the pedal and it’s tight then when you release and push again the park pedal goes to the floor

 

[grizzstang]

Your cable might be too stretched, broken or partially seized somewhere so it won't engage the E-brake as it should.

If your 2010 is the same as my 2017 there is a cable adjuster on the drivers side along the frame rail where the cable runs. If you stand back and can see your E-brake cable hanging down that would be a good place to start since you already dealt with the pads.

 

[Floodload]

yes I tighten up the cable adjuster and tighten the park brake all the way and backed off. The park brake will hold the truck on a slope till I place it in gear then just rolls away. That after I could only push the park pedal halfway down. But after the truck moves the pedal can be pushed easily to the floor but will not hold/stop the truck. I've had dozens of old vehicles with drum brakes but never this problem

 

[grizzstang]

I would bet your problem is in the cable or the actuators on one or both wheels.

When you say you changed all the parts did you change the actuators (I mean the device the cable connects to on the back side of your drums and spreads the shoes on the inside). Those things are the first to rust and seize so they either don't work at all or only move a little.

Have someone push the E-brake on and off while you are under there to make sure it is actuating the levers to move the pads. I believe you are only engaging one side which would be enough to hold it until you put it in drive.

 

[Floodload]

Hello yes I changed the actuators and checked both sides to see if they apply. What is different about this is when I apply the e brake the pedal will only go down halfway and brake seems good but when I place it n drive and truck rolls I can easily push the pedal to the floor. But there is no brake effort then. Also before I put everything back together I made sure the cables were moving freely.

 

[grizzstang]

Well I am not sure what to tell you. It is a very basic cable system. You must have missed something or it would be working.

I am leaning towards the cables since they seem to be the only thing you didn't replace.

They don't last forever. I had to replace all of them on my last truck as they were partially seized.

I would have a buddy applying the E-brake while you are under there trying to find the failure point.