The parking brake function on my '99 XJ 5speed manual was not holding at all. I bought and installed a new adjuster (the original was so rusted and just not able to be adjusted). With the new adjuster installed (vehicle gearing in neutral) I can get the vehicle to hold on a fairly steep hill if the front end is facing down the hill. However with the rear end facing down the hill (gearing in neutral) the vehicle does not hold. I tightened up the adjuster and still won't hold. Furthermore, and prior to the new adjuster install, when I pulled up on the brake handle it would pull pretty much all the way up. Now with new adjuster installed after about 4 clicks the brake handle feels seated. If I try to pull it up more there are no more clicks and it just doesn't hold, resetting to the 4 click position.
Any insights why it doesn't hold with rear facing downhill and/or why after pulling brake handle up after 4 clicks it won't hold (lock in place)?

Thank you for any help/suggestions.

 

That doesn't make sense. From what you described, seems like you should take both rear drums off and inspect the brake mechanism for the hand brake. You can adjsut the brake shoe clearance through the oblong hole on the back side of the hub plate. You can get the clearance really clsoe by taking the drum off and adjusting the mechanism. Once the drum won't fit back on, you know you are a little too far and can back it off. Each time you go in reverse and use the brakes, it will adjust if needed. It can take awhile to self adjust but it will get there eventually.

 

Handbrake cable adjustment aside, drum brakes generally work better forward than in reverse, as the rear drum brakes are "self-energizing." That means the shoes get some of their braking pressure from the hydraulic cylinder but also some from the way the primary shoe pushes on the secondary shoe using the friction force of the drum on the primary shoe. IIRC, this only works when the drum is turning forward and not in reverse.

 

Had an old Ford Ranger with rear drums. I'd forget to release the parking brake and the back out of the spot like normal. Go to pull forward and it would stall.

My XJ parking brake works both directions.. at the moment anyways. Its all been replaced recently.