E brake not holding

Not sure if this is the right forum, but it seemed the most appropriate on the list. Guy from work asked me about his e brake not holding on hills. 2003 xterra, didn't find out anything else about it, but I'm assuming it's the base model. Oh yeah, he said to make sure I knew it was yellow (thought you might get a chuckle out of that). He says when he parks on a hill, it doesn't just take off, but it's not gripping enough to keep it from rolling and he has to park on a hill at home. My first guess is the cable linkage, but having never been under an xterra, I'm not even sure where the cable is run. Anyone else run into this problem before? OR maybe have a link to some info on common issues to check? Thanks for your time, and hopefully your assistance.

Jerod

There is a "pulley" of sorts that connects two portions of cable behind the drum. It's known to seize up on the pin it pivots on and not allow the tension you feel at the handle/pedal to make it to the pads. That would be my guess, barring the obvious need to re-tension the cable if that hasn't been checked. There's an adjuster along the frame rail to take up slack in the cable, just follow the cable back until you find it, it will be obvious how to adjust it.

inspect the brake linings as well... worn rear linings on my car did the same thing as you have described...

Cable adjuster is on the passenger side near the front leaf hanger. At least on the "yellow" ones. :D

On the foot-operated ones, it's on the driver's side.

Perhaps the ebrake just wasn't prepared for the added weight of yellow.

Thanks guys for all the help, goin to take a look at it right now, will let you know what it was.

I just replaced the rear brakes on my 2000 xterra. But when I did I forgot to adjust the little gears that affect the shoe to drum clearance inside the drums. That caused the same thing your talking about, as well as brakes that didn't work well. Just my 2 cents.

On the foot-operated ones, it's on the driver's side.

Oh, god. I had forgotten about those rediculous foot e-brakes.
:screwy:

Ok, took a look at it today. Checked the pin on the rectangular pulley. It's turning just fine. Followed the cable from the pedal back to both drums, didn't find any sort of adjustment linkage on there at all... I'm dumbfounded. Short of taking the drums apart, I don't know where else to check..

...Short of taking the drums apart, I don't know where else to check..

Like I said, if all the external cables/equipment are all ok, you'll haveta take a look @ the brake linings...

either the shoes are thinning out,
or the starwheel adjusters are rusty/need a cleaning-relubing,
wheel cyl are leaking some fluid, contaminating the linings

good luck & keep us posted :smile:

Oops, I just checked, the 02-04 have the slack adjustment at the pedal, there's a nut to turn to adjust it.
However, if you're getting tension before the pedal bottoms out, the problem isn't with slack.