emergency brakes
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Chicago
emergency brakes
So I finally got around to installing new emergency brake system on my '99 E150. all new cables. Does anyone know the proper way to adjust them. I tightened them up until I felt a slight drag on the drums (without the brakes activated). but when I try them out they are not stopping the vehicle very fast. I'm sure they need more adjustment but don't know how far to take them. Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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first of all, the rear drum brakes should be properly adjusted, then the parking brake cables should be adjusted so that the shoes start to move toward the drums as soon as you start moving the pedal down. in many cases, our parking brakes don't work too well, no matter what we do to them.
awhile back i read a thread on here about someone having a bent arm inside the drum, i think its the one that the cable connects to, and pushes the shoes out, i think his was bent in a way that made it much less effective than normal. maybe try a search along those lines - i don't remember the details
awhile back i read a thread on here about someone having a bent arm inside the drum, i think its the one that the cable connects to, and pushes the shoes out, i think his was bent in a way that made it much less effective than normal. maybe try a search along those lines - i don't remember the details
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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FYI, the FORD Econoline cable operated rear braking system was designed as parking brakes. It was not intended to "stop" a moving van.
During normal braking the vast & overwhelming majority of stopping power is delivered by the front brakes.
Even under ideal circumstances rear brakes alone might only provide 20-30% of total braking effect. By themselves rear brakes could never "stop too well".
Even under ideal circumstances rear brakes alone might only provide 20-30% of total braking effect. By themselves rear brakes could never "stop too well".
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,351
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Of course the rear brakes alone "will stop the car" eventually, IF they're functioning properly. It's just on these antiquated 5000lb light duty trucks FORD engineer's "thinking" produced a system that does not "stop too well".
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