Just replaced the hardware kit for the parking brake on the rear brakes of my 1996 XJ. I adjusted the star adjusters pretty far and I also tightened the bolts up closer to the front of the car. It still won't hold. When I put the car in drive with the brake up it idles a bit slower than if the brake is down but not by much. I've tried tightening the bolts further but I don't notice any improvement. Also, the driver's side star adjuster is stuck in place now and I'm not sure why. What should I do? Is there something I am missing? I attached some photos. Thanks in advance, I need this to pass inspection.



Passenger's side brake after I installed the new hardware kit.

bolt adjuster


This is the driver's side star adjuster from the back of the backing plate. It won't budge.

 

At first inspection, I could not figure out what was wrong with your pictures...your brakes look nothing like the D35 on my 01, nor do they look like I remember on my Chry 8.25 on my old 92. Then it hit me...those are a disc brake rear axle...must have come off a Grand or possibly a modified Ford axle. I hope you took a set of disc brake calipers and rotors to get those pictures. SadlyI have never seen a disc rear so I can't really help

 

Yeah, what Bluejeep said. I too was confused for a moment trying to reconcile reading 1996XJ and looking at that axle.

What axle is it? If you're not sure, post a few pics including the differential cover.

 

It's inviting to see others were as put off as I was by this...
If its a disc brake swap its not going matter what axle he currently has back there - this would be hinging on the disc brake setup itself. Unless on the other hand someone swapped in a disc d35 from a grand? But who does that?? Or what if its a d35 with an explorer disc setup 😮. This could get confusing...

Without any mentioned or acknowlement of the "other than factory setup" in the rear - whos to say maybe you just have the wrong hardware kit?

We need more info and potentially pictures.

 

I apologize, I realize now I really should've included more context. Basically, (and I'm not 100% sure about this) I believe the previous owner bought and installed this: Teraflex 4354420 Rear Disc Brake Kit for 91-06 Jeep Cherokee XJ, Grand Cherokee ZJ, Wrangler YJ & TJ. I've only had the car for a year and when I first bought it I didn't know that XJs didn't have rear disc brakes.

I only recently found out that it had been converted to disc brakes when I replaced the rotors; I bought ZJ rotors and those fit fine so at that point I had thought the PO had done a zj brake swap, which I had read about as being very common because it improves stopping power and stuff like that.

Then, when I went to adjust the parking brake since it was doing absolutely nothing to stop the car the whole star adjuster thing was one big piece of rust and corrosion. So I ordered a hardware kit. I ordered the ZJ hardware kit first.

When I took off the rotors and saw that the setup was different from the ZJ and had different top springs (two of them actually) as well as different pin shapes, I thought maybe I had been mistaken and that it was actually a WJ swap. So I ordered WJ parts.

THEN, upon even further inspection, I realized that no, WJs do not have two upper springs like the ones on my car, so I did a lot more hunting on the internet, and that's when I found the Teraflex conversion kit.

The problem then was that there wasn't any option to buy just the hardware kit for the parking brake without purchasing a whole new $900 disc brake conversion set. So I called Quadratec customer support, the website I had found it on, asking if there was a way I could buy only the hardware. The nice lady there said no. She told me I should reach out to Teraflex directly. So I did.

This was the response: "Hey Kate! Those parking brake shoes, clips and springs are from a 1998 Ford Explorer."

At first this was confusing but then I googled "1998 ford explorer parking brake hardware kit". And the pictures showed the exact same pieces as the pieces I had already taken off my brakes.

So I ordered that and installed it! Problem fixed! Or so I thought. Now one of the star adjusters is stuck and the parking brake still does not hold the car. So much for that safety inspection.

Sorry to write a book, but I didn't want to risk leaving anything out.

Thanks for all the help!

 

Is it possible that I just need new shoes? I'm not sure how thick the pads need to be. If someone could look at the pictures I sent and let me know if they are in good condition or not I would really appreciate it.

 

Are the cables rusted up inside and stuck?

 

Without any knowledge of whatever system you have...those shoes do not look worn...or even touched by a brake drum.problem for you is that you need to know what system is installed so you can get the correct rotor/and parking brake drum. The shoes ...if worn(doubtful) might be only worn 1/16 inch...the adjusters should properly compensate...if not then something else is amiss. As prev stated...have someone pull on parking brake handle with rotor/ drum off.....make sure shoes extend...then make sure you have correct rear rotor ( difficult with a modified axle)

 

The cables were initially what was wrong with it. The lever had been completely stuck down, like I would try and pull it up as hard as I could and it wouldn't budge. That was when I took out the cables and used tons of WD-40 to free them. Then I took to the parking drum brake with a mallet because those pieces wouldn't move at all. Now it moves as it should although there's a chance one of the shoes is bent so I might as well replace them anyways.

I probably do need to figure out the correct system I just don't know how to and will do some more research on common swaps. I've tried reaching out to the previous owner and he just doesn't respond.

 

take some pictures of the differential cover, and someone will probably be able to identify. Also on one of the cover bolts might be a stamped metal tag that will give us the info we need.

 

 

8.25" axle with an aftermarket cover.

 

After finally finding the time to get out and work on it, the parking brake works well now. I replaced the shoes (I ordered ones for a 1998 Ford Explorer) and redid the hardware setup too. I adjusted the star adjusted pretty far and now it holds on a hill and prevents the car from idling when the lever is up. It doesn't work as well when I give it some gas, but I think it should be good enough. Thanks for all the advice!

 

Yeah Ford brakes, I have same on my jeep, but I have a Ford 9 inch axle, you dont.
at anyrate good you got things fixed. you see them two L shaped brackets that are spot welded to the floor pan, one for each cable? On mine the spot welds tore, so the L shaped brackets moved when the cable was pulled. I had to re weld them to the pan. prior to that could not apply enough brake handle pressure to the brakes as the L brackets flexed from the floor pan get under your jeep and have a helped apply hard then release the brake lever, observe if those brackets flex on the pan. , it so reweld. if welding you need to lift the interior carpet and padding off the floor, else welding will start it burning !!!!! late model xj's eliminated them L brackets with a different design.

 

Then it hit me...those are a disc brake rear axle...must have come off a Grand or possibly a modified Ford axle. I hope you took a set of disc brake calipers and rotors to get those pictures. SadlyI have never seen a disc rear so I can't really help