99 La Palma handbrake

[Keri]

Hello everyone. New to this site and to my motor home.
Have a 1999 Monaco La Palma with gas engine. Ford F35 chassis. When I have the  the Hand/Emergency brake engaged, if I start engine and put it in drive, the brake doesn't seem to hold.
I heard from someone that because the brake grabs around the drive train that it auto releases to protect the drive train and the only way to test the e brake is on a bit of a slope and put it in neutral. Any one know if that is correct?

Thanks for your help :-*

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Not that I'm aware of, but the single brake shoe on the drive shaft isn't going to hold it against any major force, even when new.  And yours is 20 years old and maybe dirty or greasy as well.  It's possible it's not working at all - will it hold on a slight grade by itself?    f it holds ok on the loevel but not with any force applied, I'd get it serviced, i.e. clean it up or replace the brake shoe portion.

If you want to learn more of DIY, you can get a Ford F53 Service Manual online, or Chilton's will sell you one through most auto parts stores.  Here are some sources:

https://manuals.co/workshop/ford/f53-motorhome

http://repair.chiltondiy.com/Ford/F53/Repair-Manual-Online