Parking brake simultaneously too loose and too tight - Infamous Nissan

rbourgeo · 05-16-2020, 06:28 PM

1996 4x4 vg30E auto

Parking brake won’t function properly

I shortened the cable by cutting it and putting a new end on it near the midway slack adjuster. It now gets very tight when pulled

I’ve expanded the wheel inside the drum, and now it somehow drags and gets hot when I drive, but can’t actually hold the vehicle on any some incline whatsoever. What the hell. Nothing seems to be corroded and frozen in the drum mechanism.

Any ideas? I’ve wasted a ton of time on this stupid brake.

The shoes don’t look that worn but maybe I should replace them anyways?

jp2code · 05-17-2020, 12:36 AM

I'm no good with brakes, but it is possible that you put the shoes on backwards. They will wear a certain way, and you should reinstall them the way they came off.

cadillacdude1975 · 05-17-2020, 01:07 AM

How thick is the shoe material?

rbourgeo · 05-17-2020, 02:07 AM

Reversed shoes is a possibility I hadn’t thought of.
Is there a way of checking?

Didn’t measure thickness but they look pretty new.

MacGyver · 05-17-2020, 02:22 AM

Master cylinder not returning far enough to relieve pressure? If it’s too long it may just build pressure with every press of the pedal and not come far enough back to relieve it: try shortening it and see what happens?

jp2code · 05-17-2020, 02:35 AM

> Is there a way of checking?

I have no idea. I'm no good with brakes. LOL

cadillacdude1975 · 05-17-2020, 02:45 AM

The shoes are kinda foolproof. The top of the shoe is “C” notched.

cadillacdude1975 · 05-17-2020, 02:51 AM

Those pics are what sitting 5 years will do to drum brakes. That was the mess i found on my pathfinder.

MacGyver · 05-17-2020, 02:52 AM

Back off the master cylinder pushrod so there is free play and see if it works any better. I think they are adjustable?

rbourgeo · 05-17-2020, 03:16 AM

I’ll take a look tomorrow and see if I can get this fixed

05-16-2020, 06:28 PM	#1
rbourgeo Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 171 Vehicle: 1996 D21 Thanks: 55 Thanked 37 Times in 27 Posts	Parking brake simultaneously too loose and too tight 1996 4x4 vg30E auto Parking brake won’t function properly I shortened the cable by cutting it and putting a new end on it near the midway slack adjuster. It now gets very tight when pulled I’ve expanded the wheel inside the drum, and now it somehow drags and gets hot when I drive, but can’t actually hold the vehicle on any some incline whatsoever. What the hell. Nothing seems to be corroded and frozen in the drum mechanism. Any ideas? I’ve wasted a ton of time on this stupid brake. The shoes don’t look that worn but maybe I should replace them anyways?

05-17-2020, 12:36 AM	#2
jp2code Software Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Longview, TX [USA] Age: 52 Posts: 11,135 Vehicle: 94 LB 2x4 Manual VG33e Thanks: 1,825 Thanked 1,786 Times in 1,558 Posts	I'm no good with brakes, but it is possible that you put the shoes on backwards. They will wear a certain way, and you should reinstall them the way they came off. __________________ Joe (not a mechanic!) • Don't have an account? EMAIL ME Factory Service Manuals: https://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Hardbody/ Walk-through: Checking Nissan Trouble Codes 1994 VG30E to VG33E with H256 Cams

05-17-2020, 02:35 AM	#6
jp2code Software Developer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Longview, TX [USA] Age: 52 Posts: 11,135 Vehicle: 94 LB 2x4 Manual VG33e Thanks: 1,825 Thanked 1,786 Times in 1,558 Posts	> Is there a way of checking? I have no idea. I'm no good with brakes. LOL __________________ Joe (not a mechanic!) • Don't have an account? EMAIL ME Factory Service Manuals: https://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Hardbody/ Walk-through: Checking Nissan Trouble Codes 1994 VG30E to VG33E with H256 Cams

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05-17-2020, 01:07 AM	#3
cadillacdude1975 The Gear Jammer Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Chattanooga, TN Age: 50 Posts: 10,688 Vehicle: 87 VG33 Pathfinder SE 4x4 & 87 D21 SE Thanks: 459 Thanked 1,403 Times in 1,268 Posts	How thick is the shoe material?

05-17-2020, 02:07 AM	#4
rbourgeo Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 171 Vehicle: 1996 D21 Thanks: 55 Thanked 37 Times in 27 Posts	Reversed shoes is a possibility I hadn’t thought of. Is there a way of checking? Didn’t measure thickness but they look pretty new.

05-17-2020, 02:22 AM	#5
MacGyver Join Date: May 2020 Location: New Zealand Posts: 29 Vehicle: Nissan Navara 2000 TD27 Turbo, 5 Speed manual 2WD double cab. Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Master cylinder not returning far enough to relieve pressure? If it’s too long it may just build pressure with every press of the pedal and not come far enough back to relieve it: try shortening it and see what happens?

05-17-2020, 02:45 AM	#7
cadillacdude1975 The Gear Jammer Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Chattanooga, TN Age: 50 Posts: 10,688 Vehicle: 87 VG33 Pathfinder SE 4x4 & 87 D21 SE Thanks: 459 Thanked 1,403 Times in 1,268 Posts	The shoes are kinda foolproof. The top of the shoe is “C” notched.

05-17-2020, 02:51 AM	#8
cadillacdude1975 The Gear Jammer Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Chattanooga, TN Age: 50 Posts: 10,688 Vehicle: 87 VG33 Pathfinder SE 4x4 & 87 D21 SE Thanks: 459 Thanked 1,403 Times in 1,268 Posts	Those pics are what sitting 5 years will do to drum brakes. That was the mess i found on my pathfinder.

05-17-2020, 02:52 AM	#9
MacGyver Join Date: May 2020 Location: New Zealand Posts: 29 Vehicle: Nissan Navara 2000 TD27 Turbo, 5 Speed manual 2WD double cab. Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Back off the master cylinder pushrod so there is free play and see if it works any better. I think they are adjustable?

05-17-2020, 03:16 AM	#10
rbourgeo Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 171 Vehicle: 1996 D21 Thanks: 55 Thanked 37 Times in 27 Posts	I’ll take a look tomorrow and see if I can get this fixed