I've purchased this truck a few months ago and its been sitting waiting for some love. It stops really poorly and the parking brake does almost nothing. When I pull the lever inside the cab for the parking break I get 10 or 11 clicks which is within the 7 to 15 clicks Toyota recommends, so it apprears adjusted correctly. Upon inspection of the underside of the truck it looks like the rear bellcranks are resting on the leaf springs



Could this be the cause of my parking break sucking? Does it also look like there was a leaf added to these leaf springs. Could this add-a-leaf be the reason my parking break issues

 

 

you need e brake extensions. 4 Crawler has them. That might solve your e brake suck.

 

Looks like those will do perfect for what I'm looking for. Thanks Spearo

 

Pretty common issue when you throw in either an AAL or thicker spring pack.
That being said, it would not hurt to pull the drums and inspect your brakes. When I bought my '84 in Alaska 20 years ago I had similar issues but my e brake pivots at the drums were toast.

Edit: 4crawlers extensions are cheap-way down at the bottom:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Shims.shtml

 

how do you solve this problem??? I am running in to the same problems on my '83???

 

I had the same problem prior to installing a rear disc conversion. I just made a couple of brackets to extend the lever for the e-brake so it would clear the top of the springs. Nothing against 4crawler, but you can easily make the extensions yourself with a couple bolts, a piece of 3/16" steel, a cutting wheel and 12mm drill bit.

Who needs a parking brake anyway?? I like to live life on the edge:

 

Haha yeah. Just get some steel and extend it over the leaf. Seems simple enough. Thanks for the tip!

 

Extensions are exactly what I used. But I swapped to discs I. The rear, I may still have the brackets if ya want