E-Brake is not holding...All around brand new brakes. Got drums in rear, disks up front. Is there a cable that I can tighten up under the truck? If so, where and what tools would I use to tighten it up? Thanks in advance.

 

I'm almost positive it's adjustable but I've never done it. Someone will tell you (and me) how.

 

If it just started doing this after you put new drums in the rear, I'd say you need to adjust the drums in the back with the screw adjuster. Or just keep pumping it until it firms up (which, if you installed the brakes correctly, will adjust that screw device to where it needs to be). If that doesn't work, there is a cable by the rear drive shaft towards the tcase end and you can tighten it up there by moving the nuts.

 

Hopefully! Parked on a hill with it in gear and we rolled a mile down the hill. Of course with friends taping every second. Haha. It was comic relief going down at a snails pace. Gave everyone a good laugh, (and myself). Just want to fix it thats all.

 

Thanks!!! Will be trying last method first. Again, thank you!!!

 

The emergency brake cable goes to a divider under the body, drivers side/rear door. The divider pulls both brake cables. You'll need a box end wrench (14mm?) to tighten the main emergency brake cable.

As one poster noted, be sure you adjust the drums with the star wheel first, then adjust the emergency brake cable.

 

I would definitely recommend doing it the correct way, starting with the drum adjustment, then the cable. Doing it the other way around can cause seizing if you tighten the cable first and the drums auto-adjust with use... and they do auto-adjust with use.

 

Make sure you have the cable thats inside the drum the small one that sits on the pivot. Make sure its in the pivot flush. Cable can go behind it if its not right. Your drum should fit pretty snug over the brakes when your wheel adjuster is right, but still be able to rotate by hand. You want to feel some rubbing when you rotate the drum. It will self-adjust from there

 

If you have a Haynes manual, it goes into detail on fixing the e brake. I'd suggest some pb blaster. Mine were rusted pretty bad.

 

the best way to do it for a correct adjustment is to do it with both rear wheels in the air. place the car in nuetual and block the front wheels
adjust the rear drum till you can feel a slight resistance on one wheel, then back it off 3 times.
go to the next wheel and adjust it till you have that slight resistance again (the wheel should make no more then 1 full rotation with your best effort). do not set this wheel back 3 turns like you did the other one.
now go back to the other side and put the 3 turns back in that you took off to get that right adjustment again.
now set the rear down, start the jeep and pump the brakes a few times
now pull the brake lever, it should not go up more then 4-6 clicks. if it does, you need to get under the jeep and adjust the e-brake cables. the cable adjuster is in the middle right above your transfercase where the rear drive shaft comes out.

 

less hassle way is to set the brake about half way, back up at speed and stop harshly. If you hear a clicking noise from the wheel when this is done the brake is resetting may have to do this more than once. If this does not work go to the manual method. And remember E-brakes hold you from going forward not backward.

 

I know this is an old thread but I have a question. I'm having trouble with my e-brake after replacing all rear brake parts and the e-brake cables. Before my brakes let go I would use the e-brake to hold my Cherokee and my 4000 lb. boat on a steep ramp backwards. My question is why shouldn't the e-brake hold in reverse? Thanks

 

I saw your other post. I think your issue is brake adjustment. The post above has a great explanation of the adjustment. Do you have a Haynes manual or FSM you can look at? After putting new parts in the rear drums they have to be adjusted for tension since the new parts are not worn like the old. I see a lot of drum brake issues/e brake issues that end up being related to the adjusters.

 

Thanks Cheddarnut, my question on this thread was why shouldn't the e-brake hold in reverse? Mine used to...

 

I'm not sure why this would be. Holding on a hill to prevent rolling backwards is one of the main purposes of an e-brake.