The ZJ Parking Brake Post...

[BrokenLimits]

I just moved to Texas from Ohio and found out that I have to have an inspection here to get Texas plates. Well my Jeep failed inspection for lack of a parking brake. To be honest I dont CARE but the state of Texas does.

So I got on here and searched some threads and found a lot of helpful information and decided to organize it and pass it on to some of you.

So here it is. For those of you like me that have a winter car you will most likely encounter this problem. The reason is, Jeep designed the parking brake system pretty crappily causing two parts to become one.

Some of you on here managed to free up the two parts and get them moving alone again but I COULD NOT.

Tools you need:

3/4" ratchet (or lug wrench) to remove tires.
13mm socket to remove brake caliper.

Here is a pic of the tools and the parts I purchased:



Now the parts I bought were:

Left and Right side metal hook,
Left and right side metal sway
(2) adjusting screws
(2) adjusting nuts
(2) adjusting shafts

I also bought all new brake shoes as you will see why when you see mine.









Step 1: Loosen lugs while car is on the ground



Step 2: Remove tire to expose brake disc and caliper (mine are brand new as I literally just replaced them)



Now you can get a good look of the hook part that is attached to the cable that actually moves your parking brake. Have a friend pull on it and make sure the cable still moves. If it does you dont need to replace the cableing (I did not have to)

[BrokenLimits]

Step 3: Remove the upper and lower caliper bolts and make sure you dont hang the caliper by the brake hose (if you have ever changed brake pads you know how to do this obviously)







Now you can see the rusty parts that are supposed to actuate the parking brake. I had already removed the shoes because I was trying to fix this problem earlier and didnt want to put my rusty shoes back on so I zip tied it for now so I could drive it.





Now the parts I have zip tied are actually TWO PARTS that are supposed to move independently. This is where the design flaw is. They FUSE together.



I used:



and absolutely COULD NOT free them up.

So I needed:



It made short work of them:



So I was able to remove them to replace them.

[BrokenLimits]

Now here is a funny side story. Here are the parts for both sides. What is different about them?



They are just the opposite right? Well for some reason one of them is in the Jeep parts database for $19.99 and the other is $55!!!!

I made a big stink about this and they made them both $19.99 for me. I dont know if its just in the system wrong or what but if you are going to order all these replacement parts beware.

Old Rusty Compared to new:



Here is the adjuster bolt, slide, and nut I replaced as well:



Put it all back together, make some adjustments with the adjuster screw you just replaced and then make some adjustments at the cabling and you should have a working parking brake

Hope this helps with some detailed pictures and whatnot...

[BLACKzj52]

good write up! and thank you!
iv been needing to fix mine too but just never got around to it/never knew what to do..
now i do

[BrokenLimits]

I wanted to go more in to detail but it was hot out hahaha.

[KJsharpNH]

Awesome write-up... I've been needing to fix that for awhile. Thanks!

[NoreasterPlus2]

BrokenLimits..you rock

Okay, so in the Parking Brakes for Dummies category.
Where did you get your parts, and did you just tell them..give me the stuff for my GC parking brake?

I think I may need to do some work on mine.

[Yardman Harry]

Nice write up dude! Maybe ill do this one day...

[TJeeper]

Great write up, went through this a couple years ago. It makes it a whole lot easier to show the pictures than explain it.

[QuadraTokn]

if its similar to the WJ ill have to try it.

[Mooman]

Thats funny, I am doing that same job on my mothers 5.2 this weekend. All the parts from napa cost me $54. Not a big deal at all unless they are froze up like yours were. Great write-up though.

[Omahastro]

Coat the areas where both parts touch each other and the shaft with high temp antiseez. This will help keep the rusting down in the future.

[kjopen]

great write up! you now are the owner of a parking brake that works! mine still does since I was lucky and managed to free it up.

[nashmd454]

tt was a great job of you to do helping out and writing that up...I have never had parking brakes either. Maybe now I will do them myself...my problem is that I refuse to ever go into the stealership to buy parts.