E-Brake cable loose
 

Hello;

Just a little bit about myself, (my jeep) I bought my jeep two years ago, it has 70 thousand k on it and it's pretty much all stock. It's blue and I like to drive it up stuff, to my wifes dismay. Anyhoo...

I'm VERY ignorant when it comes to vehicle maintanence and have always left that kind of work to the shops, however I thought in this scenario it could be something pretty simple that I could manage on my own.

The E-Brake used to take about 3 'clicks' upwards for it to be secure, how it's something like 6-7, which is almost to the top and seems unsafe. How do I tighten the cable to fix this problem? Appreciate any assistance. :banana:

Re: E-Brake cable loose
 

When you pull the hand brake is it very loose now? Cud be the cable has broken somewhere from where u pull it inside ur truck to the rear wheels. A favorite place is where the line comes thur the floor to the splicer it looks somewhat like a T b/4 it goes to each wheel. Crawl underneath ur jeep and look up checking from where it comes thur the floor thur this T to the rear wheels. If its all okay then it could be needing adjusting. But I have a good hunch its broken. You can buy the cable from Cdn Tire or ur dealer

Re: E-Brake cable loose
 

If it was broken, it wouldn't work at all though, it does work.... although I have to pull the Ebrake up to like, and sorry for the ignorance, '7 clicks' opposed to 3 when it was working better. I read this can be caused from the cable stretching and from your break pads wearing down. I need to know how to tighten the cable and preferably how to tighten it from the e-brake/console side and not the bottom side as well, it's very snowy out and I don't wanna crawl out in my driveway full of snow. Halp! Thanks.

Re: E-Brake cable loose
 

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I don't think the cable or tensioner is your problem,. If you have drums in the back, you need to check and adjust those first. If you have discs in the back OR have already verified and adjusted your drums, then maybe try adjusting the tensioner, but if I'm not mistaken, you need to do this from under the Jeep. I don't know if this will help, it's from the FSM for my '98:

NOTE: Parking brake adjustment is controlled by a
cable tensioner. Once the tensioner is adjusted at
the factory, it should not require further attention.
However, there are two instances when adjustment
will be required. The first is when a new tensioner,
or cables have been installed. And the second, is
when the tensioner and cables are disconnected for
access to other brake components...............

..........In most cases, the actual cause of an improperly
functioning parking brake (too loose/too tight/won’t
hold), can be traced to a parking brake component.
The leading cause of improper parking brake operation,
is excessive clearance between the parking
brake shoes and the shoe braking surface. Excessive
clearance is a result of lining and/or drum wear,
drum surface machined oversize, or inoperative
adjuster components.
Excessive parking brake lever travel (sometimes
described as a loose lever or too loose condition), is
the result of worn brake shoes, improper brake shoe
adjustment, or improperly assembled brake parts.
A condition where the parking brakes do not hold,
will most probably be due to a wheel brake component.
Items to look for when diagnosing a parking brake
problem, are:
† Rear brake shoe wear.
† Drum surface machined oversize.
† Front cable not secured to lever.
† Rear cable not attached to lever.
† Rear cable seized.
† Brake shoes reversed.
† Parking brake strut not seated in shoes.
† Parking brake lever not seated.
† Parking brake lever bind.
† Adjuster screws seized.
† Adjuster screws reversed.
Parking brake adjustment and parts replacement
procedures are described in the Parking Brake section.