How do I adjust the parking brake in my 1996 F250. It goes all the way to the floor and hardly holds the truck. It is a manual so I use the parking brake all the time. Is there an adjustment or something.

 

I have the same problem, same truck.

 

Bump....ditto here!

 

pull the brake drums and see if the shoes are beat.

 

under the driver side of the truck, in the area of the driver seat is the parking break adjuster.
but i would first inspect the rear brakes to make sure everything in ok there before trying to adjust the cables.

 

Ditto... on the rear brakes

 

Can I pull just the drums? Thought I had to pull the axle and remove the whole hub. My rear brakes are squealing and I need to replace the shoes.

1996 F250 4x4 PSD

 

You dont have to pull axles like the older ones. (pre 84?) Just adjusting your rear brakes will probably fix the parking brake and give you a better pedal. Never a bad idea to check them though.

 

Your Parking brake uses a self adjusting mechanism. The only adjustments you can make are in the rear brake.
-Mike

 

Your rear shoes are out of adjustment. You mentioned that they are worn down, that would cause the problem. Pull the drums and see what's going on, make sure the adjusters aren't frozen and the shoes arent contaminated from a leaking wheel cylinder.

 

Tore into my 96 F350 extra-cab rear brakes hoping to adjust shoes and resolve parking brake issue.
Upon drums removal found both rears of shoes cracked in half yet still like new linings.
Drums good with no lip. Put new shoes on hoping it would resolve the issue with some adjusting, no luck. Adjusted them all the way to rubbing (very difficult to get right with large tires). Got to the job and stink in the air as soon as I stepped out of the truck. Adjusted a tad too tight so backed them (pass side) off till the truck rolled a little. Happened 3 more times, again only right side, where I had noticed upon installation the adjuster wheel wasn't really engaging arm. Initially thought it was for the wrong side but upon closer inspection the "R" was stamped on it so left it. Couldn't see any reason it wouldn't engage as I double, triple checked all springs & cables ensuring unobstructed assembly. Still almost no parking brake! Searched all cables front to back for adjuster but none to be found??? Could my cables be stretched? Side-note my old shoes as well as new shoes are identical (primary & secondary) in size. I always thought the primary linings were shorter?










strange pattern on front lining