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Old 04-22-2015, 03:51 PM   #1
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Parking Safety/Chocks

I am one of those who is not in the good habit of using a parking brake. So for all those of my type a word of caution. If your just in Park, and the transfer case range lever happens to get knocked in neutral, you will be in N not Park. SO, use chocks and the parking brake. If this event happens on a slope when camped it could wake you in a hurry.

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Old 04-22-2015, 03:53 PM   #2
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

Isn't it easier to use the parking brake than to carry and use chocks?

Mike
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Old 04-24-2015, 01:37 PM   #3
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

patrick Thanks for the heads-up. The shoe/drum parking brake on my 2003 E350 will not hold. In the past I have seen posts from other E350 owners about the incompetence of their parking brakes. If anyone has found a fix other than chocks, I would like to hear about it.
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Old 04-24-2015, 04:40 PM   #4
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

Rear drum conversion! It's the latest craze, chevy even jumped on the bandwagon a few years back after a short run using those inferior rear discs... ya ya, that's the reason.
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Old 04-25-2015, 09:51 AM   #5
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

Quote:
Originally Posted by SierraHawk
patrick Thanks for the heads-up. The shoe/drum parking brake on my 2003 E350 will not hold. In the past I have seen posts from other E350 owners about the incompetence of their parking brakes. If anyone has found a fix other than chocks, I would like to hear about it.
I've had the same problem. However, it can be fixed by a compentent mechanic. You just need to ask the service manager to have them adjusted and when I remembered to do that, the result was that the parking brake was full on at half pedal.

I'll be doing that again at the next service.
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Old 04-26-2015, 08:53 AM   #6
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

I'm pretty sure they adjust when you back up, like most other drum brakes. With big vehicles like this, and "Class A" driving, backing up is not something that is practiced except when in dire need. In addition I've found it takes a pretty hard brake to get any results, specifically the empty parking lot kind of stopping at speeds I would never do in reverse normally.

There should also be a pretty easy adjustment with a flatblade screwdriver if you're very far out. Keep in mind I can't get under my van at the moment to double check this, but there should be a flattened oval with a little rubber boot in it, behind which is a spur gear perpendicular to the opening. If you remove the boot you can roll the spur gear with a flatblade- it will only go one way (tighter) because there is a plate opposite that ratchets the teeth in only one direction. Adjusting this will tighten your parking brake. Removing the wheel and drum is also an option, especially to inspect if the adjustment kit is corroded, stuck, or damaged. The advantage of removing the drum for adjustment is you can adjust it redneck style, i.e. until the pads just touch the drum as you reinstall.

And a competent mechanic or brake place can do all this, but understand it's probably a fairly easy problem that might be solved by some hard reverse stops in a clear area.

Now all we need is some genius to realize we could apply superior drum brake technology to the front wheels as well...
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Old 04-26-2015, 10:07 PM   #7
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Re: Parking Safety/Chocks

The "drum-in-hat" parking brake is not self adjusting. There is a slot, but it's kinda hard to get in there, and then it's a 50/50 chance to spin it the right way. It's easier just to pull the rotor and tighten it until you can just barely get the rotor back on. When it's adjusted right, and the shoes haven't been glazed, they work great. But it only takes one 15-mile drive with the brakes on to make them useless gain
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