E-brake adjustment

Do our e-brakes need periodic adjustment or do they auto-adjust with use? Pretty certain when I had my Tacomas, they were supposed to auto-adjust by use.

I've had two Tundras now, and the e-brake has just seemed weak on them both, right from the start. On my current Tundra I can push the pedal to the floor and it doesn't always fully hold the truck on a hill on its own.

 

Same problem on mine when new. Seems to me the procedure calls for 9? clicks @60# foot pressure to hold the truck. Mine wasn't even close. There's a slack adjuster under there somewhere. I think it's near the Cats. Easy to find regardless. Hell, I can't even remember what wrench size. Thinking 13? 14? mm x 2 to hold one side and adjust the other. Take some antisieze compound when you go under. Be careful you dont get it too tight. There's a second adjustment at each wheel but I didn't get that far. After taking slack out of the cable mine holds the truck and a 1,500# boat on the ramp just fine with a few more clicks before it hits the floor.

 

I'm glad this came up, I was just thinking the same thing this weekend at the boat launch, the e-brake doesn't hold the truck/trailer/boat even on a subtle ramp. My wifes Yukon locks in and barely moves even on a steep ramp.

My e-brake pedal goes to the floor pretty easy, so I will take a look for that cable adjustment mentioned by @Retired...finally does anyone have some pictures of what to look for?

 

I found instructions online. Probably here. I believe it's just inside the frame rails on the drivers side. I can access it easily without jacking up a stock truck truck laying on cardboard. Follow the parking brake cables forward from each rear wheel and you'll see it.

 

Perfect, thank you! And you said to not get the cable too tight correct? Any advice on how to set the proper amount of pressure?

 

Seems bizarre to me that they were letting these trucks out from the start with the e-brake poorly adjusted.

I think it's a stupid system in general. My favorite e-brake setup was on my manual transmission Tacoma, it had a t-handle on the lower dash right of the steering wheel that you pulled. This toggling brake is too easy to bump. I don't do it all the time, but there have been a couple cases over the years where I've bumped the depressed pedal on the way out of the truck, inadvertently releasing it.

 

It was just a trial and error with me. I have a flat concrete shop floor and I can move my truck by pushing it. I also pulled on each cable going to the rear to check slack and lastly took no more slack than what I needed.

 

Thank you