Rear break adjuster

Hope I can explain this well enough to understand me: The rear break adjusters don't seem to adjust the rear breaks when I engage the parking break. The cable that runs between the two adjusters is very tight with the parking break off. Could it be that because the cables are so tight that when I release the parking break the adjustment arms do not go fully back to their resting position. With the parking break off, crawling under the truck, pulling on that cable, there is no clicking coming from the break area adjusting wheel. I pull, let go, pull, let go and no click from either rear break. I've done this test 3 or 4 times over a several day period and it's always the same. The adjuster arms move, but maybe not releasing fully to catch the star on the adjustment wheel because of the really tight cable?

Just seems to me I have too much pedal play when I apply the breaks. Maybe that's normal?

 

There is also a small cable that is inside of the rear drum brakes. It is adjusted by the bolt on the inside of the backing plate. If there is any play in this cable, your rears may not adjust. I would suggest removing your rear drums and adjusting this bolt to eliminate any slack in this cable. This will likely introduce some slack in the rear brake cable that runs parallel to the rear axle. This slack can be taken up by adjusting the turnbuckle located on the inside of the frame just below the driver's door.

Hope this helps

 

Thank you both very much. I just learned way more than I knew!

 

Report back on things.

 

Will do. It will be a few days, very few, before I can get to it.

HOWEVER, what would make the cable that runs parallel to the axle so dang tight with the parking break off? I mean, it's vert tight!

 

The turnbuckle on the inside of the frame will allow you to adjust the tension in the cable.

 

Correct. The turnbuckle is located under the driver seat by the frame/fuel filter. I’d correct everything starting at the drums remove/inspect/adjust working towards the center of the rear diff cable, then move forward up to the turnbuckle (driver seat area) adjustment as the last item.

 

Found the turnbuckle with no problems. Won't be able to work on it for a couple of days. I'll get back. Thanks for the help, people!

 

I still haven't had time to mess with the rear break adjustment. Have had to do other things for the wife - when I can. It's difficult for me to do things because after two days of doing what would be considered normal activity I'm really burned out by the third day. My heart doesn't work too well to keep me going. Sooner or later I'll get to it.