Could my parking break be locked?

[vincedia]

1998 Ranger ex-cab 4x4 5spd 3.0

Got in the truck tonight for a run to the depot. It started great but it was cold! I sat in it for about 10 mins waiting for it to warm up, put it in 1st and released the p-break.

It would not go anywhere. It would rock a bit but just not move. I tried reverse and forward and got nothing. I pumped the breaks, engaged and released the parking break a few times and still could not move.

A few other quick facts...it has been freezing here for the last two days. Not Northern Canada kind of cold but in the low 20's to teens. I did poke my head under the truck to look at the parking break cable and it looks good at first glance. Two problems are it was really dark and cold and it's parked in the street so no go on climbing under it to play.

Thoughts please!

Vince

 

[wahlstrom1]

Yup, the cable or linkage can freeze up and cause the parking brake not to release. You can try lubing the cable and linkage with dry lube (graphite) if you are able, or not use it when it gets cold....


-andrew

 

[cocoasranger]

Why not go over it with a heat gun, hair dryer, or propane torch from front to back in addition to lubing it? I found my emergency brake problems were greatly reduced after I started using the parking brake every time it was parked.

 

[Beast4x4]

i get the same thing usually after driving through snow, will park it, set the brake and depending on how cold it is, can be minutes to hours and the brakes freeze right up. Because of this i wont set it for a couple days and just leave it in gear when i shut it off. sometimes i'll forget and will set it. to free it i'll either dump hot water over the rear axle/brakes or just force it till it pops after releasing the brake

 

[vincedia]

I can't really do much now till after the holiday cause it's in the street and we live on a busy street.

I tried forcing the truck to go and it would not go anywhere! I mean I could not even get it to break by dumping the clutch.

I do use the break every time I park.

Thanks all!
Vince

 

[SammyP]

That sounds like it could be the slave cylinder because of the cold weather the hydraulic fluid doesn't warm up. I have a similar problem with my ranger when I first start it up it doesn't want to get going and it acts almost like the e-break is on at first.

 

[ghost_rader]

That sounds like it could be the slave cylinder because of the cold weather the hydraulic fluid doesn't warm up. I have a similar problem with my ranger when I first start it up it doesn't want to get going and it acts almost like the e-break is on at first.

that makes no sence.


You could try to wiggle the cables with the parking brake off, if they are sticking from ice, they might free up. the ither thing you could do is try to hit the drum with a hammer from the outside(through the wheel) also with the parking brake off. might want to use a long punch.. just hard enough to poss. jar the brake shoes loose, but don't go ape crazy on it, you could cause damage.