Parking Brake Redesign
08-10-2017, 11:09 AM
#1
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Parking Brake Redesign
Like many, I've had issues with a weak parking brake on my 2012 Rubicon (37,000 miles) with a manual transmission. I've replaced/adjusted the parking brake pads and still find it weak. Today I discovered that my 2012 parking brake has been redesigned according to the dealer. The new part number is 5154235AF and requires the cables to be replaces at the same time.
Does anyone know when this replacement part came about?
Will it fix the parking brake problems people have been having?
Does anyone know when this replacement part came about?
Will it fix the parking brake problems people have been having?
08-10-2017, 12:14 PM
#2
JK Jedi Master
That number came about in 2011 parts books, except that in 2011, it ended in AB rather than AF. The last character could mean anything from a change in vendors, to a small design change.
Looking at a picture of it, it looks the same as the one in the earlier models.
I wouldn't count on it making much of a difference in the parking brake's performance. If it's not expensive, give it a try.
Mine has been working fine for 9.5 years, with only an initial adjustment at the beginning.
Looking at a picture of it, it looks the same as the one in the earlier models.
I wouldn't count on it making much of a difference in the parking brake's performance. If it's not expensive, give it a try.
Mine has been working fine for 9.5 years, with only an initial adjustment at the beginning.
08-11-2017, 03:36 AM
#5
The parking brake can be made to work.
When i I bought my 2012 earlier this year the PB barely worked.
Then it got worse.
I came out out of a gas station to find the Wrangler 20 yards away from the pump.
That was enough
I removed the rear wheels, calipers, and discs. I found plenty of dirt/mud and shoes that had a glaze on them. I cleaned the PB components and lubed the star adjuster. I then sanded the shoes with 80 grit paper to remove the glaze. I then turned my attention to the drum. To be able to correctly adjust the shoes the drum needs to be clean and smooth. I used a die grinder with a 3" flap wheel to sand the drum and remove the inner rust ridge. This allows the disc/drum to be slid over correctly adjusted shoes. This is vital. I used the star adjuster to move the shoes until there was the slightest clearance. Repeated all steps on the other side.
I hopped in and took of down the street at about 10 per. I pulled up on the handle and while firm there was almost no result. Went a little further and at 15 mph I gave it another pull. Better. Up to 20mph and another pull, slowed down quite well. Another pull at 20 and it locked up both back tires.
Before the work the handle would run out run out of travel. Now if you pull slowly it will go solid with just four clicks. Holds on steep hills no problem.
The parking brake brake can be made to work, it just takes some elbow grease.
When i I bought my 2012 earlier this year the PB barely worked.
Then it got worse.
I came out out of a gas station to find the Wrangler 20 yards away from the pump.
That was enough
I removed the rear wheels, calipers, and discs. I found plenty of dirt/mud and shoes that had a glaze on them. I cleaned the PB components and lubed the star adjuster. I then sanded the shoes with 80 grit paper to remove the glaze. I then turned my attention to the drum. To be able to correctly adjust the shoes the drum needs to be clean and smooth. I used a die grinder with a 3" flap wheel to sand the drum and remove the inner rust ridge. This allows the disc/drum to be slid over correctly adjusted shoes. This is vital. I used the star adjuster to move the shoes until there was the slightest clearance. Repeated all steps on the other side.
I hopped in and took of down the street at about 10 per. I pulled up on the handle and while firm there was almost no result. Went a little further and at 15 mph I gave it another pull. Better. Up to 20mph and another pull, slowed down quite well. Another pull at 20 and it locked up both back tires.
Before the work the handle would run out run out of travel. Now if you pull slowly it will go solid with just four clicks. Holds on steep hills no problem.
The parking brake brake can be made to work, it just takes some elbow grease.
10-20-2017, 08:18 AM
#7
Found this thread searching to see if there was an adjustment at the handle before I tore it apart and came up with a simple fix for too much slop in the system.
Before going in to the console, you have to adjust the shoes at the wheel with the star adjuster. Adjust them out until they start to have noticeable drag on the drum and then back off a bit. They are not self adjusting. Mine still took the full handle extension so I got into the console and discovered a weak clockspring that takes up the slack. Instead of replacing the entire unit:
Grab spring end and pull about an inch and bend up, test tension, repeat until it pulls the cable slack on its own like it did when new, bend tab back over, cut off, just like new.
Before going in to the console, you have to adjust the shoes at the wheel with the star adjuster. Adjust them out until they start to have noticeable drag on the drum and then back off a bit. They are not self adjusting. Mine still took the full handle extension so I got into the console and discovered a weak clockspring that takes up the slack. Instead of replacing the entire unit:
Grab spring end and pull about an inch and bend up, test tension, repeat until it pulls the cable slack on its own like it did when new, bend tab back over, cut off, just like new.
Last edited by fredrok; 01-23-2020 at 09:58 AM.
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10-21-2017, 03:28 AM
#8
It is supposed to self adjust. You just have to apply it while going in reverse, slowly obviously. Worked for mine. I park on a steep driveway every night. From new the PB was barely able to hold on the driveway. After the self adjust it holds perfectly. FYI. Worth a try before cracking it open.
10-21-2017, 06:31 AM
#9
JK Super Freak
It is supposed to self adjust. You just have to apply it while going in reverse, slowly obviously. Worked for mine. I park on a steep driveway every night. From new the PB was barely able to hold on the driveway. After the self adjust it holds perfectly. FYI. Worth a try before cracking it open.
10-21-2017, 06:52 AM
#10
I'm sorry, but that's incorrect. The confusion comes from the age when drum style brakes would self-adjust and this was done as you described with a spring loaded lever that would ride against the star wheel, get pulled away when applied in reverse and then catch the star and turn it on its way back down. Even then, it wasn't a great system.
There is no such mechanism on this setup. Only a spring that lays against the starwheel, pulling the shoes together and acting as interference on the starwheel to keep it from spinning freely. There is no mechanism to actuate it. Google self adjusting drum brakes and then take a look at the JK system and you'll see the difference.
There is no such mechanism on this setup. Only a spring that lays against the starwheel, pulling the shoes together and acting as interference on the starwheel to keep it from spinning freely. There is no mechanism to actuate it. Google self adjusting drum brakes and then take a look at the JK system and you'll see the difference.