E-brake clarification needed

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:39 pm

I've had my '04 KJ at the dealer 3 times now for e-brake problems. The first time they just adjusted it; the second time they said the axle seals were leaking and causing the adjusters to not work correctly (indicating that the adjusters are AUTOMATIC); the most recent time they changed their story and said that the e-brake adjusters are NOT automatic, and they charged my wife $50 to adjust the e-brake.

I haven't had the back rotors off myself, but I've seen the adjuster mechanism on microfiche, and the adjuster and the spring loaded lever that prevents the adjuster wheel from turning the wrong way look EXACTLY like conventional drum brake auto adjusters.

My question is: are the emergency brakes on a 4 wheel disk KJ supposed to be auto adjusting, or are they manual adjustment only??

I don't mind adjusting them myself, since it's just a 10 minute job, but if they're SUPPOSED to be auto adjusting (as I believe) then my dealer needs to cough up 50 bucks, and fix the brakes correctly. Just for the record, they've worked poorly since day one, and it only has 38,000 miles on it now...

Thanks -

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:34 pm

My dealer, b4 letting me take delivery of my brand new (yet demo) KJ, said they had to fix the E-brake...they had me check it b4 they had even taken it to the back and it was quite finicky, in the sense that it took almost a full extension of the handle to get it to engage at all. From what I heard they did is they cleaned the lines to the brakes of any loose sedinment or dirt that the KJ might have gotten caked on it when the dealer took it off-road, but that is all i know. Maybe the wiring has gotten some debris on it causing it to act weird. I've tried it sinmce the fix a couple of times and it seems to work fine. Not near as much pull is needed since I tried it that one time at the dealer. Best of luck at the dealer, and i'd still try to get the $50 back anyhow...you took it to get fixed, and they still haven't, so why pay for the same problem to keep happening when they said they fixed it?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:11 pm

Im fairly sure they are not auto.. Ive adjusted mine before. The dealer is clueless.. Gotta do stuff yourself to do it right..

moose · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:21 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Im fairly sure they are not auto.. Ive adjusted mine before. The dealer is clueless.. Gotta do stuff yourself to do it right..

i'll need to look into that. it'll make some of those large steps a lot easier if i have to spot half way up :wink:

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:49 pm

We have something very weird! Our 4 wheel disk brakes have rear drum parkingbrakes :roll:

I went through the manual and didn't fully understand it because it has drum and disk both in the rear :!:

I went out and looked at my 06 crd and verified it.

Gentleman · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:40 pm

The service manual states that the parking brake is self adjusting when the lever is pulled

Bob

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:03 pm

Gentleman wrote:

The service manual states that the parking brake is self adjusting when the lever is pulled

Bob

Gentleman, is that the Owner's Manual, or the FSM? Can you tell me what section says it? (yes, under "Brakes"....I know... :wink:

)

Gentleman · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:14 pm

FSM Brakes Base 5-32 -33 Parking Brake Operation, last paragraph before Adjustments

Bob

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:20 pm

Thank you, Gentleman. You do credit to your handle!

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:22 pm

Actually, one other question....can I find a copy of that FSM available online?

Thanks again!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:43 pm

Joe Romas wrote:

We have something very weird! Our 4 wheel disk brakes have rear drum parkingbrakes :roll:

I went through the manual and didn't fully understand it because it has drum and disk both in the rear :!:

I went out and looked at my 06 crd and verified it.

yes, that is correct.. Most vehicles are like that.

If I get some extra time while Im off for thanks giving, Ill do a write up for the parking brake..

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:16 pm

Mine were recently pulled off and yes there are indeed little tiny (almost cute) brakes shoes INSIDE the center of the disk brake rotors. Mine were rusted/worn so bad that the pad material fell off the shoes and they had to be replaced. For $60 for the little pads!! However, my rotors are shot enough inside that they need to be replaced and the only way I can get my e brake to work is to crank the lever all the way to the stop while still rolling forward a little otherwise they don't hold at all. I had it done at Strauss and they gave me a rect that says they will replace the rotors for no labor charge when I bring in the new ones since they charged me to replace the E-brake pads already. So it's sort of a win lose situation. New rotors needed but the labor charge will be zero.

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:52 pm

Anyone know if I can find downloadable factory FSMs online?

Not to be pushy about this, but I'd like to go back to the dealer and get this straightened out ASAP...

Thanks -

venturaII · **Posted:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:21 pm

Anyone? Bueller?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:15 pm

venturaII wrote:

Anyone? Bueller?

You usually cannot do that. :wink:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:24 pm

I didnt really do a write-up, but you get the idea..

Its best to take the tire off so you can get to the plug and adjust it easily..

Make sure the rotor turns easily to begin with..

Take this little plug out to get to the star wheel:

On BOTH sides, the wheel needs to be turned up..

Pull the E-brake handle up 3 clicks.

Turn the star wheel until you feel some drag on the rotor but do not tighten it until the rotor will not turn..

Release the handle an check for drag.. Put the plug back in and put the wheel back on. Again, check for drag by turning the wheel.. There should be some drag which is normal.. Just not enough to stop the wheel as soon as you stop turning it.. repeat on the other side.. Be sure to click the Ebrake handle again 3 clicks for the other side..

New Impact wrench.. I wanted the dewalt but sears didnt carry it anymore..

I bought those impact sockets for $20 at autozone.. They seem to work great!!

venturaII · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:38 am

Well, I went back to the dealer today, armed with Gentleman's FSM info, and they still tried to weasel out of fixing the e-brakes under warranty. They also still insisted that the e-brake for disk brake KJs was manually adjusted ONLY, despite showing them that the manual indicates that they are auto-adjust. They then came up with some crap about brakes only being covered under warranty for 12,000 miles...WTF??

Any suggestions?

Gentleman · **Posted:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:51 am

venturaII wrote:

They then came up with some crap about brakes only being covered under warranty for 12,000 miles...WTF??

When I was having an issue with the rear brake moan I had a service manager tell me that at 12,000 miles I could stop complaining because the warranty would be over on brakes, well Jeep came out with a tsb to solve the moan and I made sure to visit the service manager personally and bring him a copy of the tsb which he claimed he did not have, I asked him since I had over 12,000 miles was he going to ignore the tsb, from that point he has become the nicest person I have ever met, all dealers are jerks

Bob

saxdogg · **Joined:** Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:26 pm **Posts:** 199

good post Jeepjeep

E-brake clarification needed

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