The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Jammed parking brake

Just saw Fran and Gord having a similar problem. My problem is that the crossbar that rotates and pull the rear wires is completely jammed. I can't even move it with a hammer or my largest wrench. (nothing else is rusty underneath the truck) Any ideas how to get it loose? Does it just run in the frame with no bearings?
Has anybody installed a completely different system without the crossbar? However I want to keep the pedal system so it looks original.

There are trianglar support brackets bolted to the outside of the frame on each side, then spacers, then levers. There are no bearings. Here's a photo of all the crossbar parts laid out.

Parking Brake Crossbar Assembly

I had the same problem on my 51.....
figured out that what was sticking everything tigher than heck was a combination of my parking brake cables and the crossbar being stuck.
A few rapps with on the crossbar made it want to move, a powerfull stomp to the e-brake snaped the cable to the left rear ! !

SOOO...
disconnect the cables to the drum and then work on the crossbar.
good luck.

Have you lubed all the friction points from the front of the cab to the pivot points on the crossbar? Are the E-brake cables frozen or rusted in the sheaths? Is there anything in the brake hubs rubbing or interefering with the mechanisms? If all else fails try separating the front and back components from the crossbar to see if you can isolate where the problem lies or if the crossbar is frozen in the frame supports as mentioned above. There is also a return spring that could have broken.

I have a clunk from that area on bumps and after checking it all out I think it is that cross shaft banging in the triangular brackets, as if there is wear. I tried to slide a piece of plasticship between but it is too tight. Tried to get the bolts off but there are on forever. Have no air to help.