My '51 F4 has no cables running from the floor lever to the rear wheels. I'm wondering how the parking brake works on an F4, since I can't find cables for this model in my searches.
Am I missing something? Does the parking brake operate the rear drums?

And take it easy on me... I'm new at this.

 

Quite a few old rigs had the parking brake at the back of the transmission, it's just a big drum between the tranny and drive shaft.

Don't feel bad, I once asked where the negative battery cable went! (as if I couldn't trace it out...) So your not nearly that bad!

Sam

 

Thanks Sam. I need to crawl under there in daylight and look at it again.

Joe

 

this should be a mechanical set-up to back of trans. when all is adjusted as needed, shoes should not be dragging on drum when in release position. if trans is leaking, shoes will become soaked, won't work that well. clean them up with brakleen. if they are REAL soaked, would be wise to remove them and either, sand clean or replace. these shoes tend to crystalise from age and heat.

 

Thanks Petey. I'll have to check that out. Now that you mention it, I have heard of these parking brakes before which "clamp" down on the tranny or drive shaft instead of working the rear brakes. I just didn't know that was what Ford used on this truck.

I have lots and lots to learn.

 

I have the same e-brake set up on my 37 Airflow. When I first got it, I left the e-brake engaged and drove less than a mile. The car wouldn't go as fast and started to smoke a lot. I thought it was on fire. When I pulled over and looked, I figured out that the brake was engaged. What a dummy!

 

OK, I just crawled under and checked out the parking brake. The cable operates the clamp just fine, but the condition of the pad material is questionable. I bet they're original.

Anyone know where I might find new ones?

 

Earl's World is a good resource for a rebuild.
Here is what he did with his emergency brake like yours.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Page11.html

Edit: Here is the line about the brake material:
"On the subject of the e-brake, I haven�t been able to find a shop that will reline the steel band that goes around the drum. I�ve looked for a source of the woven asbestos lining material so I can do the job myself, and found a similar material at McMaster-Carr."

 

you can take old shoes to most any good brake reline shop and get this done.

 

I read the entire build thread on Earl's World. What a remarkable job he is (or was) doing with Earl. My fabrication skills are nowhere near his. He remanufactured the e-brake. I would like to contact him for information about the material he got from McMaster-Carr, but I didn't see any way to do it. Any suggestions?

Better yet, does anyone have any idea how to find the e-brake material for a '51 F4? I can't find it, but probably just don't know where to look.

 

Are you referring to rear drum brakes? My truck has an e-brake on the back of the tranny. That's the material I'm looking for. It's not really a brake shoe. It's more of a brake clamp.

 

Joe - you're gonna have to find a local brake exchange company to do it. I did a Google search and see there are several listed in Riverside that do shoe bonding and exchanges. One of them should be able to reline it for you or refer you to somebody that will. Stu

 

what stu said. it does not matter what lining you need to replace, it is still brake material. 9 out of 10 times, unless these linings are crystallized, they can be cleaned up with brakleen and coarse sandpaper, and re-used.

 

Most big truck parts houses can get your brake band relined. Also heavy equipment and farm machinery dealers can fix you up. I think there are places like McMaster-Carr that sell lining and the rivits. I deal with Caterpillar a lot and they relined the last one for me , it was from a 59 F 600 dump.

Have A Great Day ------ Hotwrench

 

So I don't have my shop manual yet. Is this brake hard to remove with the tranny still in the truck?