About a month ago I swapped a 2001 rear end with E-locker into my '96 Tacoma. The 2001 rear end came without brakes, so I swapped my old brakes into the new axle. I only bought the truck 2 months ago, and had not wheeled with it until after the swap, so I don't know whether the parking brake has always been weak, or not. Any ways, the brake works okay on slight to mild hills, but wouldn't stop the truck on steep hills. I have made numerous adjustments, checked the brakes, made more adjustments, checked the brakes again, but it doesn't help. All the specs are okay as per my FSM, including the number of clicks on the handle, etc. The cable is tight as well. The shoes are about 50% worn. The self adjusting wheel turns well when the drum is removed, but there is not enough play for it to adjust while the drum is on, which tells me that it is properly adjusted. I've wheeled for many years, and my parking brake has always managed to stop the truck on a steep hill, i.e. lock the wheels, but with this truck, it goes downhill very fast when I let go of the brakes, even with the parking brake pulled to the hilt. The drums are perfectly smooth and do not need resurfacing. Are the shoes just dirty? Is there something I can clean them with? Anything else wrong? Please help. Thanks. Gary

its a natorious fault of toys. Put the vehical into 4wd low if your on really steep hill and leave it in first gear. If you have an Automatic it shouldnt be sliding.

It's a 5 speed. The problem isn't with parking - it is when I an 4wheeling and have to stop for whatever reason on a very steep hill, or spin out, and want to get going again. My truck goes back so much that it is difficult to overcome the backwards momentum, etc. I use my parking brake extensively while I am 4wheeling, and surely there must be way to get it to work properly. Is my last resort to take it to a repair shop?

are your pads rubbing on your brake drumb? make sure they just touch. Also your brake pads might be to hard and not grip well enough. You might wanna try getting a softer pad.

3-31-04 1931 EST Regarding getting started after stopping on a hill. Review the use of the clutch cancel switch and you should be in business. Ed

Your shoes might be glazed. Someone or yourself could have driven your truck with the e=brake slightly on, heating them up and putting a glaze on them. Which in turn would make stopping, like trying to stop on ice.
My suggestion, since shoes are so cheap are to put in a new set, and sand down the drums the best you can to score them up and get better traction.
I would bet that will solve your problem.

The only other suggestion I have is that if you truck is a little older, I didn't read the year), the cable could be strechting and not applying full force to the rear brakes.

Just my .02 cents on what I would definetely do, instead of trying to figure out other ways. This way you know what has been done, and where you stand.
Chezman

PS Post back if it works.

Thanks for the replies and advice. I bought a set of certified premium quality brake shoes, but unfortunately, it made no difference. Not even a slight improvement. Not a complete waste, though, because, I'll save the old ones for later. Any ways, I'm thinking about either taking it to a brake repair shop to see what they think, or else crank up the adjusting wheel to the point where there is some serious resistance when turning the wheel by hand, because, maybe there is just too much freeplay.