E Brake adjustment/repair

The PO of my '74 installed a hand brake between the seats that seems to work. The mechanism and cable setup seems sturdy . I can pull the brake all the way up, with resistance at the top (like its holding), but the brake doesn't hold at all. My brakes are stock drums on 44's that work well even without power.
What steps should I take to, first, diagnose the problem, and then fix it?? Thanks for ANY help!!

 

sounds like something with the rear cables or inside the rear drums

 

Are the shoes adjusted correctly? If not the parking brake cannot work properly.


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I think it's in the drum. Are there any "quick'" adjustments I can try before I tear down the whole drum?? Thanks

 

Trace the cable under the Jeep to any bolts, tensioners, or brackets that are installed. Tighten up any loose fittings...then take the drums off for a visual inspection to see if the cable are attached to the shoes.

If everything is good then you probably just need to adjust the tension.

 

If everything is functioning properly, the brakes should adjust automatically when you back up and apply. Try backing up at 5-10 mph and stopping abruptly - a few times. This may tighten up the brakes.

There is an adjustment nut on the cable from the pedal or handle to the yoke under the middle of the car. This is the only adjustment that I recall. Look under the Jeep right in the middle. If you are at the end of adjustment, the cable will stop like it's tight, but it's not really. You can put a bushing under the end of the adjuster nut to give you more adjustment range - take a look and you'll see what I mean.

Since this was done by the PO, you can't assume that it was done right. If the handle was installed with too much slack (ie you run out of adjustment range before the brakes tighten up), then it'll never work right. The factory setup is designed to have the right amount of range for cable stretch etc. if the brakes are adjusted. There's nothing about the parking brake under the drum to adjust except the self-adjusters, and they should automatically tighten.

 

Does anyone have a 74 CJ that has a good , solid ,working parking brake?

I've replaced everything from front to back and I could mash the parking brake pedal till it bent and I could only get a smidgen of braking action.
I've stretched and re-adjusted the cables, manually adjusted then self adjusted the star wheels. I even replaced the pedal assembly with one from a YJ that mounted more rigidly and has more leverage.
Still have worthless parking brake action.

The four drums stop great and apply evenly. It just seems that someone didn't engineer the internals to have enough leverage in the 11" drums.

 

Does a '75 qualify?

Mine works fine.

 

Maybe the front cable needs more tension on it by tightening the nut at the equalizer?