The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1940 1/2 ton parking brake

Good afternoon
Anyone have any input on getting my stock original parking brake to lock. Im still using all the original style brake drums along with emergency braking system. I did however purchase new emergency brake cables because the old ones were locked up in the casing they run thru due to sitting to long. I purchaesd the new cables from chevs of the fortys. After i installed the new cables i can pull the brake handle to where it seems to get tight but the brakes wont lock .. any suggestions where i should start. I did pull the drum cover off to see if i can see the brake pads getting pulled when the brake handle is applied but it seems like i cant get them to move . Thanks in advance

[img]https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...D912BD26-C8E4-4C00-AF7D-49D8FB9D41B3.JPG[/img]

If the system is the same as the 41 - then there might be two threaded rods just before the cable tension pulleys. You can remove the cable slack by adjusting the nuts to tension the cables.

New cables may stretch as you apply pressure - once they are stretched you may find the adjustments to be more responsive.

After re-reading your post, I am assuming that the brakes are functioning and the problem is isolated to the parking brake lever and cable system. The brakes, return springs, etc function fine?

Thank you yes ive tried adjusting the nuts and im not having any luck im starting to think maybe they sold me the wrong lenth of cables ..

A lot of slack?? Loose?

Have you checked the ratchet and pawl mechanism on the bottom of the lever handle. I had the same problem on my '41, not sure if the '40 has the same handle. I fixed it by re-filing the teeth on the pawl gear. It is hard steel, I used up a file in the process.

I'm assuming that when you say the brakes won't lock, you mean the brake shoes on the drums. If the cables are tight, I'd start at the brake shoes & make sure that they are actually moving. With the drums off, this should be easy to check.

Yes all the brakes system is functioning corectly except the hand brake .. truck still rolls when hand brake is applied

Tom moore so the cables seem to be very tight once the hand brake is applied but truck still rolls .. harold 41 ill check the teeth aswell but seems like the rachet part of the hand brake is doing its job as far as pulling the cables tight ..Riggles i have removed the drum and do see the brake shoe moving with the hand brake applied i just cant get the truck to stop rolling with hand brake applied.. so i guess with all your guys advice im goung to give it another shot to see if anything jumps out at me .. sometimes the second time around makes the diffrence thanks to all of u again

So the shoes move when you pull the lever on, but have you tried to pull the drum off while the brakes are pulled full on? Perhaps the shoes aren't contacting the drum firmly enough, and have you had the shoes radiused to the drum (assuming you may have replaced the shoes)? If you can pull them on & the truck still rolls, I'd be looking at the contact between the shoes & drum. You can bet it will be something simple. Good luck.

Figured it out .. after all day messing with it trying to figure out the mechanics of how the emergency cable moves the brake shoes. So the E brake is connected to the E lever then you have the Link extension . Which is like a bar that lies across the brake hub .. sits right behind the spring that holds the shoes togather . Any how it is the wrong one . Who ever had the truck originally must of installed it not knowing it was the incorrect lenth . I put a piece of metal in the fork end of the link to give it extra lenth and boom got brakes to open up enough to stop drum from spinning when brake handle was applied. The link thats in there now is about 6 1/2 inches long im guessing i need maybe 6 5/8 or 6 11/16 . Not sure i guess i got to look around for one thats just a bit longer .. thanks for all your help

Good work! PM me. I may have a spare link, and will check my brake parts box. If not, others here may help you. I’ll check for you tomorrow.