[Evil_Trolloc]

Ok, So my E-brake is pretty much useless now. I've looked underneath:
Both cables coming from the rear calipers enter the tub,

I've taken apart the center console expecting to find an adjusting rod/nut where 1 cable from the E-brake handle runs into a bracket where the other 2 cables attach.

this wasn't the case. What I found was:
2 cables coming from the caliper, connecting to a bracket with no adjustment.
1 cable from that bracket heading to a cam at the handle. It mounts like a throttle cable on a motorcycle.

It seems I need to loosen the cam, rotate it to take up the "slack" and tighten it back to the handle.

** Has anyone done this? Any tips/pointers before I try messing with it without fully understanding it?

DAMN YOU CHILTON + HAYNES !!! Get the damn manuals out already!

[BrettDez]

I wish I could help. All I can say is that I have the SAME problem as you. The bad news? LOTS of people do. ANd I haven't heard of a successful fix yet.

Only thing I've heard and experienced myself is the dealership saying, "Not a warranty issue, we'll charge you the labor to adjust it." Then the e-brake works for a few weeks before the problems returns again. There's several threads about this. Let me know if you find anything new!

[BiGEN]

i have the same problem.. dealer was gonna charge me $160 to rebuild and adjust it.. i laughed at them.. should be a warranty... i know people that have had the dealer fix them and only works for a month and doesnt work again.. so i hope there is a TSB that comes out.. bc this is not cool... i cant park on any hills.. and my driveway is a hill.. GRRRRR

[Evil_Trolloc]

If worse comes to worse, I'll cut the cable (Although the run from the handle cam to the Y bracket is short, so I'm really not sure where) and put in a threaded rod that can easily be adjusted. I'm not sure yet. I doubt I'll haveto be this creative. Maybe I can bend the bracket at the caliper where the cable stops..

key:
======= : insulated cable
|| : bracket
--- : exposed cable
([] Caliper

befor:
==insulated cable=====||---([]

after:
================||------([]

might only be a temp fix. and shouldnt need to be done. but since it got lose after wheeling, I think something "bent"


this should all be crazyness though, crazy talk. There must be a simple adjustment. Must be the cam at the E-brake. Just need to find out how.

[NE Wrangling]

the adjuster is in the rear brake. You need to pull the tire and then somewhere in the rear is an adjustment that can be made in the rear drum. I'll try to find the detailed description, I saw on JKOWNERS and Jk-forum

[Evil_Trolloc]

Originally Posted by NE Wrangling

the adjuster is in the rear brake. You need to pull the tire and then somewhere in the rear is an adjustment that can be made in the rear drum. I'll try to find the detailed description, I saw on JKOWNERS and Jk-forum

Perfect, so now I know the correct place to start. I'd like to check that out before I pull it apart and scratch my head =)
but I'll be pulling it apart before the end of the weekend anyways.

* I'll post about the experience and how it works out for me.

[BrettDez]

I'm still learning as I go, but I was under the impression that JKs don't have rear drum brakes? We have 4 disc brakes...

TJs have drum brakes...but not JKs. I believe the "adjuster description" is for TJs, not JKs as I've seen some mistakenly suggest.

[Evil_Trolloc]

I know I have disc brakes in the rear. I thought the X comes with drum in the rear.

I've seen disk brakes where the rotor looks like a small drum that goes over the hub with the disc surface around the outer edge, like a top hat, for the pads to rub.

||
||
||||\
|||||
||||| <- E-brake is a "drum style brake" under that part
|||||
||||/
||
||

I guess I like drawing bad pictures with the keyboard tonight =)

[BrettDez]

I don't know. I haven't heard of any JK'ers successful in this fix. I have seen a VERY detailed write-up that is EXACTLY how NE Wranglin described, but it is for TJs and not JKs.

If there is something for the JKs, then I await any information!! I need a fix too!!!

[JohnRodriguez]

You dont have to remove the tire to get to the adjuster. It's just like adjusting drum brakes. there is a slot in the back of the brake.

[BrettDez]

Has anyone done this successfully? I haven't heard anything on any forum of anyone actually succeeding.

Here is the detailed instructions, but again, has anyone actually DONE this? And if anyone does, take some pics and do a good write-up! I don't want to try it myself until someone more mechanically inclined than I gives it a shot.

1. Be sure parking brake lever is fully released.

2. Raise vehicle so rear wheels can be rotated freely.

3. Remove plug from each access hole in brake support plates.

4. Loosen parking brake cable adjustment nut until there is slack in front cable.

5. Insert adjusting tool through support plate access hole and engage tool in teeth of adjusting screw star wheel .

6. Rotate adjuster screw star wheel (move tool handle upward) until slight drag can be felt when wheel is rotated.

7. Push and hold adjuster lever away from star wheel with thin screwdriver.

8. Back off adjuster screw star wheel until brake drag is eliminated.

9. Repeat adjustment at opposite wheel. Be sure adjustment is equal at both wheels.

10. Install support plate access hole plugs.

11. Adjust parking brake cable and lower vehicle.

12. Depress park brake lever and make sure park brakes hold the vehicle stationary.

13. Release park brake lever.

[Prot]

The JK has four wheel disk brakes but the emergency brakes are small drum brakes located inside the rear disk. I had to pull my rear off one time because the stupid tire shop snapped one of my studs off and didn't bother to tell me. I replaced the stud myself.