I have a really weak P-brake and I can hardly hold myself on a tiny slope. I was wondering what that could be.....something that needs to be replaced like....(the pad?)
I'm not very mechanically inclined yet...so i don't even know how they work. Any suggestions
See sig for more info....also my truck has 53K

 

Usually you can 'just' adjust the parking brake.
As I recall, it works off one of the rear
brakes, believe it is the left one.

The cable has an adjuster on it.

But check your rear shoes, they could be
going. HTH.

Doc

 

It is on the left side. I think you may be able to adjust it just by hitting the brakes "hard" while going in reverse.

The cable may have stretched though.

 

rear brakes..get the rear in the air take it out of gear and spin the tires..go under and on the back of the dust plate is a small gromett at the bottom..pull it out and take a adjustment tool and count the number of times you crank the star wheel(start with five) do the same to the other side...now go start the truck and apply the brakes a couple of times..now spin the whells if you don't hear a scratching sound adjust the star gear some more until you do..if you over adjust you can lift the lever inside that rests on the star gear and back the gear off..my dad actually used to do this with the tranny in drive and the tires spinning but getting pancaked by the spare is not my idea of saturday afternoon relaxation,so I would'nt recommend it

 

I have a 97 with only 23,000 miles on it and a few weeks ago while I was installing traction bars I had adjusted the rear drums for the first time. They were in dire need of adjustment! After doing so the brakes were noticeably firmer, still sloppy but improved nonetheless.

Good luck.

 

you might want to remove the rear drums and check for wear to the brake shoes or any grease leaks, broken harware? if all looks good adjust rear brakes on both sides