I am still puzzled by this. Skipping all the brake shoe adjustment stuff, since I now have mine properly adjusted from a fresh rear brake replacement (both sides run at close to same temperature, usually under 200F, front brakes in same range too).

Here is the 1997 XJ instruction from the manual (mine is 1996 XJ and looks the same and I should have highlighted step 7 too)


Question about parking brake adjustment.

How does tightening the nut at the equalizer bracket make the rod in the picture move forward 1/4"?

Also note, a few days ago before I got the brake shoes adjusted right, the passenger side cable was a lot tighter than the driver's side whenever I had the equalizer tightened up much at all. However, when slack they both seem to move free, no binding.

 

The u-shaped rod should be loose around that pin, and the instructions are how to set the slack. In reality that's always corroded and stuck in position.

 

Maybe I'm off point here... don't want to give misinformation but here's my 2 cents from a different angle...
1. what's the reason that you're adjusting from the cable end there? and not at the wheel?

as to your posted question... I'm taking a stab at it for ya... maybe it it works similar to the belt tensioner pulley assembly. As in it moves along that threaded bolt to increase or decrease the tension or desired position.

 

1. Because the service manual says to do it this way, and there is no parking brake adjustment at the wheel anyway.
2. Not exactly sure what you are describing there. The Tensioner Rod is a hooked shaped rod that connects to the parking brake handle. The nut for adjusting tension is off this diagram to the left.

 

So it might be prudent for me to get that pulled apart and cleaned up. Still not clear how pulling left on the pin/rod combination makes just the rod move left. Unless it is a deflection of that rod (up in this diagram) that makes it go below the bracket? Or does it straighten out by 1/4"?

 

Holy Moly guys!!
Tighten the nut to pull the cables toward the front.
When the park brake lever only takes 3 or 4 clicks to hold the vehicle still, you're done.

 

Everybody can't be a Jeep wizard you know. That is why you are here.

 

If you change the cables to new, they will stretch, the adjustment rod will droop and swing side to side, and may chew up your oxygen sensor connection wires.... So it's good to check the tension of the rod when you find yourself down there. It should have some movement but not too much.