I've been searching these threads and having a hard time finding a good write up on how to troubleshoot this parking brake issue properly.

THE TRUCK: 1985 Toyota Pickup (Base model)

THE PROBLEM: The parking brake "Pull & Turn" handle is having a harder time holding the truck. I have to try a few times and it will roll slowly down driveway until I get it right. I went to pull it today and the handle slid all the way back without even ratcheting. I then pushed it back in and tried pulling it again and it ratcheted like normal but it rolled slowly down driveway. I then pushed it back in and tried pulling it again and pulled it hard and it holds the brake strong.

I've seen quite a few good videos on how to remove and replace the brake cable, however, I was still curious to understand how to troubleshoot this properly.

Is it possibly related to the pull mechanism (not grabbing the cable correctly?)
How to determine if I need a new cable?

Any input, suggestions, or direction is sincerely appreciated.

 

Sounds like rear drum brakes are in need of adjustment or replacement, or the arm under midship or on the rear axle are not moving freely.
Parked on level ground, in gear but e-brake released, follow the cable back and check that the 2 swingarms are moving freely. If they are working correctly, then it's the rear drums.
Plenty of better descriptions out there than I can write on how to check and adjust your drum brakes.

 

You may just have some cable stretch. There should be a double nut (nut with locknut) on the equalizer bar or arm that you can adjust to take up any slack in the cable, with the parking brake disengaged. The equalizer bar is the part where the two cables from the rear brakes attach to, and the front cable from the parking brake control rod attaches to. Here's a link to a parts diagram:

https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-c...7/chassis/4601

The nuts I mentioned (both) are shown in the diagram as "46441".

Loosen the locknut then adjust the other nut to take up cable slack. You don't want the cable tight, just not drooping down. There should be very light tension on the cable & the cable should be parallel to the floor of the vehicle. Once adjusted, run the locknut back up to the adjuster nut to lock the position in place.
Then check your parking brake control rod (handle inside the cab). You got it right is you have good parking brake action (truck does not roll when pushed) and it took between 8 to 12 "clicks" of the parking brake ratchet pawl.

If you need something more visual check this out:
It's on a '93 Tacoma but the parts & how they work are very similar if not the same.

 

Thanks for the tips. Just tackled the problem right now. I tightened the nut on the equalizer bar just a little bit and it fixed it. There was some slack on the two lines leading to the brakes.

 

I appreciate the write up, advice, and the video. I just got around to working on it today. My equalizer bar looked a little different than the 4 runner one (attached picture). I didn't find a second locking nut, just the single one. I tightened it and it appears to have tightened the slack on the two lines leading to the brakes, which so far is grabbing the brakes tight first pull. I didn't have to tighten it much.