does your parking brake work on a steep hill?

[eventhorizon66]

I always use my parking brake on an incline specifically so it doesn't place the load on the parking PAWL.  But that's wrong, huh?  I hate it when it "bangs" out of park.

[vince311]

success! i believe i've solved it. i was able to tighten the equalizer nut, to within an inch of the end.  Now, when on an incline, the parking brake holds the truck and even better, allows me to shift into gear without the clunk or the resistance from the shifter.

thanks for the feedback/suggestions.

[Fordeatinz71]

i would think ideally you'd need to find the "sweet spot", where it's just BARELY on the pawl, but mostly held by the e-brake so you don't get the clunk...

[VileZambonie]

Vince311 you need to check your base brake adjustment 1st! If all you did was crank up on the brake cable and your shoes are out of adjustment you will pull the shoes off of the anchor pin holdint them closer to the drum by the strut bar. Make sure you check and adjust the brakes 1st. Then adjust your brake cable.

The park lock mechanism is designed to hold the vehicle. the parking brake is a safety precaution if a failure were to occur and yes failures occur so you should use the parking brake on any grade if you value your truck.

[Dragon]

So.....is parking on an incline without using the emergency brake harmful to the transmission?  i never use the emergency brake and never have.

It's not the best to put that much of a strain on the pawl if you can steer clear of it....  A Heavy enough force(even just shifting into gear on a steep enough incline) can shear or snap the pawl, especially with continous use that way....   My Ex-Cruiser has never had an E-brake since I got it(Rear over the Axle Cable was melted, but I replaced it and the E still doesnt work), so I always try to steer clear of too much of an incline for parking...  If I do, I always try to Park with my wheels towards the curb(State Law requires it too), or I will block a tire if I'm not sure enough....   

I used to have to block my Old '89 till I got the E-Brake repaired, but I'm very Lucky that the Majority of my '77's Brake were repaired before I got it(Need to replace the Rear Over the axle line eventually), so it's E holds like a Dream

[Fordeatinz71]

my grandpa's old '78 C10 with a Th350 had a worn-out pawl and on a steep enough hill, if you put it in park it would just start grinding loudly and rolling down the hill...lol.  i just don't trust the park pawl by its lonesome...