E- brake cable slack

how much should there be? Brake works fine and it’s not what I’d call dropping, just seems a bit more slack than I think it ought to have. Here’s what I’m working with:

 

I don’t have drum brakes on my first GEN sequoia but that doesn’t look right. I wonder if there’s a bracket that is missing. What does it look like when the E brake is applied?

 

With the brake applied it’s taut, but returns to slack once released.

 

@BestGen @Darkness @Professional Hand Model just calling a couple of first GEN guys for you.

 

Looks exactly like mine. I've been wondering if there is a way to adjust that side separately as, the drivers side is tight. I've just been tucking mine over the base of the brake proportioning lever as that holds it up out of the way and almost looks like it was designed that way.

 

I'd suggest to adjust it, if still slack then zip tie it up and out of the way of potential snags.

 

I’m trying to figure out by looking at that linkage how it pulls on the driver side.

 

I think you should try adjusting it. Jack the truck up off the ground put it in neutral. Adjust it but make sure the wheels still roll without dragging on the emergency brake.

 

Thank guys, will have to wait til the weekend, it's been like that forever but I just noticed it again today and figured I'd ask.

 

Like this?

 

There is a turnbuckle under the drivers seat under the chasis next to the fuel filter. Adjust the slack there.

 

Just saw this. Now I gotta go outside n crawl under the truck. On second thought I'll have son #2 go outside and crawl under the truck.

 

Dang we have the same rear shocks too!

Mine isn't saggy like that.

 

Exactly.

Wouldn't that just tighten the brake system in general? My drivers side cable is tight, the passenger side is loose.

 

Looking at the picture again it looks like the driver side doesn’t get pulled on until the passenger side is tight.

 

Pull the wheels and check that your bell crank is actually moving. Mine did the same and the bell crank on that side was completely stuck.

 

Update: Flexing my google-fu led me to check the bellcrank stops that the cables attach to, turns out my left side isn't hitting the stop and appears to be (at least partially) frozen, but right one is free. I can't do anything about it til this weekend, but it tells me what I need to do to fix it.

Edit to state that @Festerw is a faster typer than I am.

 

Fwiw this is the kit I bought. Have it on hand before you start doing anything, because the bolts will break. To hopefully prevent it again I packed the boots with disc brake grease and try to use it on a regular basis.

Dorman 924-752 Parking Brake Bell Crank

$40 Dorman 924-752 Parking Brake Bell Crank Compatible with Select Toyota Models

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0UAABW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B5CGCbBMBG4YJ

 

Everything I’ve ever tried with my parking brake has never allowed it to work properly. All my cables look good. Stops look good. Cranks work. Butt, p-brake will not activate when the pedal goes down.

 

That is odd, if the cranks are moving and resetting properly, it's got to be something in the drum. Honestly I never have bothered with an ebrake in an automatic, so I never noticed till tonight that when I engaged it it went all the way to the floor easily. I'll deal with it over the weekend, it's waited this long a couple days wont kill it (I hope).
In all fairness I was able to get that drivers side to move a little, enough to where it seemed to cause the slack to come out a little on the other cable. But we are gonna play some roulette and see.

 

Are the short cables inside the drums still intact? Mine had the end loops but the cables were rotted off.

 

Not sure. I’ll be pulling the drums off soon to clean everything up. Had 2 different mechanics look and ‘adjust’ over the years on separate occasions with no success.

 

Yea I adjusted mine a few times then when I pulled it apart to do the bell cranks I'm like WTF are these doodles lol.

 

I guess the saying fits. Use it or loose it!

 

Mine has a lot of slack too and my ebrake still doesnt work after finishing my rear brakes.

 

For reference here's the service manual procedure for the rear brakes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zh-bA9jFd-T5XxbKRhGXfSf29dRT2fS/view?usp=drivesdk

 

Just fixed this on mine a few months ago...the turnbuckle under the door was not enough so I kept looking. it was that little arm on the back of the drum plate thingy...(terminology?) behind the driver side rear wheel. It was seized and not springing back. I couldn't even budge it with my hands. the passenger side was free but the driver's side was not. you should be able to push the arm and have free movement and it should spring back. i sprayed inside of that rubber boot from both the outside and the inside (after removing the wheel and drum) in order to free it up. had to tap it with a hammer too. I got it freed up and it took all the slack out. Then the turnbuckle under the driver's side door had to be let out, it was too tight.

maybe that was the answer you already found on google, but I don't know what bellcranks are.

 

Thanks for the update! I need to have my brakes redone anyway so while I am off the next few days will get this and my windshield taken care of (that 15* day we had last week did it in)

 

Mine works great, but is loose like that.