1997 Jeep Wrangler Parking Brake Adjuster

JEEP WRANGLER
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SGTTSAI13
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I HAVE A 97 JEEP WRANGLER AND I WAS SERVICING THE REAR BRAKES. OF COURSE THE REAR BRAKES ARE DRUMS. THE PROBLEM I COMING ACROSS IS THAT THE ADJUSTING LEVER IS NOT COMING IN TO CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL. NOW I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A HOBBY SHOP WHERE THERE WERE SOME MECH. AND BEING A FORMER MECH MYSELF. WE CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW BEING IMPATIENT AS I AM, I WENT OUT AND GOT A HARDWARE KIT FOR THE PARKING BRAKES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE LEFT SIDE TO FINE
Mar 28, 2006 at 7:08 AM
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PEPPERMRJ
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The best advice I can give is to pull both drums and compare. Something is not where it should be. Remember big shoe to the back.
Good hunting and let us know. :)
Mar 28, 2006 at 10:18 AM
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SGTTSAI13
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I'VE LOOKED AT BOTH SIDES AND THEY ARE THE SAME, FOR SOME REASON IT SEEMS THAT THE CABLE APPLYING THE TENSION TO THE ADJUSTER LEVER IS TO LONG BUT IT IS THE SAME LENGTH WITH THE OTHER SIDE. JUST TO REMIND YOU I HAD JUST REPLACE THE HARDWARE. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE SHOE BE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.

SOMTHING SO SIMPLE, YET SO HARD TO FIGURE OUT
Mar 28, 2006 at 11:38 AM
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PEPPERMRJ
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,158 POSTS
Yes. If the mounting holes are different for the front shoe than the rear.

Are you sure that you did not mix up the right and left adjusting levers or the right and left adjusting screw mechanisms? The adjusting screw mechanisms are made up of three parts. The round pivot nut (female), The adjusting screw (male) and the socket cap. All are either rights or lefts.
Mar 28, 2006 at 2:28 PM
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Suggested Repair

Remove both rear drums and compare the assemblies. Fit the larger shoe toward the rear and confirm the front and rear shoe mounting holes are correct. Verify the right-side adjusting lever and the three-piece star-wheel adjuster (pivot nut, adjusting screw, and socket) are the proper right-hand parts and were not swapped with the left side.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1997 Jeep Wrangler serviced the rear drum brakes and found the self-adjusting lever on the right side does not contact the star wheel, while the left side works normally. Replacing the parking-brake hardware did not help, and the cable length matches the other side. The expert advised comparing both sides, placing the larger shoe to the rear, checking shoe mounting holes, and confirming the side-specific adjusting levers and adjuster screw assemblies were not mixed up.

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