E brake issues on JK's anyone!?
 

Hey! Almost at the 1 year anniversary of my first jeep purchase. You learn quick these vehicles aren't for everyone but I love it even more than I did the first day I took it home. I bought it used, still wasn't cheap, and I've done some minor repairs and replacements since I got it. One issue that I wish I would have spotted before buying is the e brake doesn't hold for SHIT. Have to park in gear. On a steep enough hill, like hill in Pittsburgh steep, jeep would creep down a pinch, then catch. With e brake and parked in gear. Took it to my local mechanic cuz the dealerships pressure you to change any part that's under 75% of its life and bend you over for it. He could not figure out a clean way to get it to fully grab. W/ new parts he ordered. Came up with his own way to make it better, but said the e brake system on the newer jeeps is a joke. Sounds like the manufacturers wanna make it hard on the local guys so you have to overpay back at the car store! Anyone having similar issues??

This issue is well known. The e brake system barely works on stock tires. Your lucky if it will actually stop the Jeep on flat ground.

it got to the point where it would still roll on the slightest grade. Do bigger tires hold it better? I'm slim on mechanical knowledge

I took mine to the dealership about a year ago and it has worked great ever since. I'm not sure if they replaced something on top of tightening it or what, but it works crazy good now. It used to not work at all.

The brakes have less power on bigger tires.

Regarding the parking brake...

Mine holds well on the 4th click; 5th click if it's on a steep grade.
The last time I adjusted it was 4½ years ago when I replaced the rear brake pads and rotors.

It's the same design as everyone else's, so it can't be a design problem. I do wish it were a simpler system, though.

Is yours working now, after your mechanic fixed it?
Which parts did he change? Also, what did he come up with for a custom fix?

did they charge you an arm and a leg?

It took him hours to figure something out.
Better part of a day. He was pissed cuz he's been working on cars for 40 something years. He explained how these e brake systems work and it sounds complex. Apparently when my brake handle was all the way down, the system at some point just disconnected with the wheel? Thus rendering it useless. Up or down. He rigged a piece of rubber hose at the bottom of the e brake handle slot so I can't push it down completely, just enough that the light doesn't come on. He adjusted the system "up," but still couldn't get it to hold the wheel tight enough to hold the vehicle by itself. Said maybe a bent brake line? He put in new e brake levers, actuators, rear disk brakes. So the handle is tight again. Holds way better, when parked in gear with the brake, however i haven't tried it on a steep hill yet. I suppose that will be the true test.

He didn't really fix your problem if there's a piece of hose hanging out under your handle. With it being an 09 (profile not filled out, so I'm guessing) you may have stretched cables. There has been a couple of part number revisions between then and now. Potentially replacing those cables and ensuring the equalizer under the center console is adjusted properly should fix you up.

Yes the system sucks, no it's not impossible to get right.

Reading material for you about the topic....


https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stoc...-study-135255/

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/stoc...usting-122492/

I haven't done this myself, yet. But I plan to as soon as I can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ag5OO4d_B0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHf6Eyxn2ok

Nope. They only charged me parts because they were working on my brakes. My dealership is pretty great though. The other ones I have went to suck.

What's an e brake!?! Lol

Signed EVERY JK OWNER ON THE PLANET!

Northridge 4x4

How far up do you pull the Ebrake before you have tension ? From my experience when sevicing the rear brakes you have to retract the E brake adjuster to get the rotor off. The E brake pads need to adjusted as tight as posible to the drum that's on the inside of the rear rotor before you reinstall the caliper and pads. Most likely this step was overlooked.

I gave up on mine years ago. I keep a wheel chock in the Jeep for boat ramps and steep hills. The manual tranny won't hold on a steep grade. Really, this should be a recall on manual models, at least. I don't trust it, especially with my kids around it.

I adjusted mine today. By tightening the star wheel behind the rotor. Honestly should have given it a few more clicks but it's definitely a lot better.

It took me a couple of brake jobs before I figure out agustment on the rear. When ajusting the e brake pads you need to spread them with the adjuster till you can bairly get the rotor drum over them and still be able spin the hub . Some times it can take a few times removing adjusting before you get the tension right. This is why some peoples e brakes suck from the factory or after new brake job they were never set up right from the start. You should be able to tighten the adjuster through the access port if you have an adjuster tool or a bent flat head screw driver.