This is on my 64 barracuda with 9" drum brakes. When I bought the car the guy told me he had a problem with the left rear drum brake adjusting tight to the point where the brake would be applied until he reversed to get it undone. Well I pulled the rear drum and found missing hardware for the self adjuster. Someone must have removed hardware to keep the problem from happening. I installed all new hardware (springs, adjuster, shoes, cables) on both sides and adjusted the brakes and everything was good. Yesterday in the local parkinglot I could tell the back left brake had gotten tight so I had to reverse to free it up. Made 1 more stop before home and same thing was happening. What will cause the left rear self adjuster to slowly tighten up the brake? Shoes were put on correctly (according to sevice manual) same with all hardware. Any ideas?

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

I wonder if it has something to do with the parking brake cables?

The '68-and-earlier self adjusters are a damnuisance. The '69-up ones work much more reliably and generally without random problems like this. The later self-adjustors can be installed on the earlier cars as long as you get the whole setup, all the pieces, and don't try to mix and match. Watch out for low-quality garbage from China; inspect the parts carefully.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

What's the difference between the 68 and the 69 that makes them so different?

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Cables were way too tight when I bought the car but after getting them adjusted they shouldn't be the cause of this problem.

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Rusted parking brake cables can "ratchet" on just by applying the brakes, and eventually they cause lockup.

This happened on my first date (March 16, 1990) with my wife Christine! After dinner, we went to go for a drive and the car wouldn't move ('68 Dart, still have it). I knew we would spend the rest of our lives together when she crawled under the car with me and asked to see what I was doing and held the flashlight. We were 18, been together 21 years now... I cut the p-brake cables the next day with a hacksaw and that fixed it.

I would disconnect that one cable at the brake shoe and see if it stops. If not the cable(s), then remove all self adjuster stuff and just manually adjust them every 10k or so. 69-up hardware would be the orthodox way to fix it.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Up to 69, the adjuster "lever" hooks onto the shoe and uses a stiff spring and cable, to pull the lever up, upon rearward braking, then the spring force pulls the lever back down, advancing the star wheel from the top.

The 69 and later system is opposite, the lever mounts to a small pin, pressed into the brake shoe and the lever sits below the star wheel. Upon rear braking, that cable pulls the lever up, advancing the star wheel and a small spring returns it to "rest". This system has the "positive action" and harder "pull force" of the cable, instead of depending on a spring's force, to advance the star wheel.

As for your locking situation, look closely at the PB cables to be sure they are not sticking... look to be sure both shoes return and rest solidly on the main anchor pin.
DD

Would the parking brake ratchet even though the parking brakes is not being used?

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Absolutely. I never used the PB in my '68 Dart before that, and still don't.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

OK thanks I'm going to check out the parking brake cable and post what I find. Hoping to take it to Mason Dixon.

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Took apart left rear drum and found parking brake cable didn't want to move very much. Removed cable and proceeded to spray down and oil up until it slid a bit better. Reinstalled and readjusted the brakes. Looks like a temp fix for now. Do not want to remove "emergency" brake until it's converted over to dual reservoir master cyl. Looks like I know what I'm doing this weekend. Thanks for all the advice.

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota

Cool. Let us know what you find.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

This brings back memories. Back in the sixties Maine required six month vehicle safety inspections. Due to winter road salt, most cars just rotted away in six years, my Dart was no exception. I recall fighting with stuck corroded emergency brake cables every six months to get them to work so to pass inspection.

The other bugger-boo was stuck eccentric cams used to adjust front end alignment. I would start with penetrating oil & long wrench extensions about a week before arriving at the front end alignment shop to make sure they could make the adjustments.

Yup… they sure don’t make’em like they used to, and that works for me.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC