bad brakes
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: fallbrook ca
bad brakes
hello everyone! here is my situation. Took my 89 e250 in for smog and decided to have the brakes done while in the shop (they where making some terrible noises) The mech said my left rear was a mess broken parts etc....
a couple of days after the fix i could smell brakes burning... got out of the van to feel the wheels and the left rear was super hot. took the van back in and was told that the e-brake arm was bent and that they need to replace cables as well. its now to months later and im metal to metal on left side rear. take back in and they say that the cable they ordered was too short????? the problem seems to be the self adjuster malfunctioning. will this shorter cable affect the adjuster adversely???
a couple of days after the fix i could smell brakes burning... got out of the van to feel the wheels and the left rear was super hot. took the van back in and was told that the e-brake arm was bent and that they need to replace cables as well. its now to months later and im metal to metal on left side rear. take back in and they say that the cable they ordered was too short????? the problem seems to be the self adjuster malfunctioning. will this shorter cable affect the adjuster adversely???
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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the root of the problem could be something as simple as an error of leaving the brake on that side over-tightened, causing the self-adjuster to tighten further every time you back up at all, amplifying the problem until it got as far as it did. its an easy mistake to make, but running around in circles like your shop seems to be doing, that tells me you're at the wrong mechanic.
its generally best to use an independent shop, staffed by older people, which has stayed in business on its own reputation for a good number of years. a shop with a big corporate name doesn't need to be good to stay open, the big name keeps new customers walking in the door. i shouldn't ask for the name of the shop in question, but would i be right to guess that they are a chain store?
its generally best to use an independent shop, staffed by older people, which has stayed in business on its own reputation for a good number of years. a shop with a big corporate name doesn't need to be good to stay open, the big name keeps new customers walking in the door. i shouldn't ask for the name of the shop in question, but would i be right to guess that they are a chain store?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Yup, the venerable FORD Econoline rear drum brakes were essentially the same for very many years. Far long enough for even the average mechanic to have figured out. Sure, FORD's design wasn't perfect, but it wasn't Rocket Science either.
If it were me the shop would be in the 'Three strikes & you're out' category. Of course I've been a DIY Ford Truck Enthusiast since the early 70's & restoring brakes is EZPZ for me.
On the other hand an "89 e250" is 25 YO, essentially an antique & who knows what else might have happened to the braking system over that time span?
Your symptoms also smell like stuck/binding wheel cylinder.
If it were me the shop would be in the 'Three strikes & you're out' category. Of course I've been a DIY Ford Truck Enthusiast since the early 70's & restoring brakes is EZPZ for me.
On the other hand an "89 e250" is 25 YO, essentially an antique & who knows what else might have happened to the braking system over that time span?
Your symptoms also smell like stuck/binding wheel cylinder.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
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From: fallbrook ca
so its official... the guys at that particular shop are clowns!!. My brakes still aren't right 
I've got the next few days open and I'm gonna take a shot at resolving this problem myself. I'm going to the wrecking yard to get a new E brake arm, all of the springs and clips have been replaced...
My question to you guys is, is there anything else that I should get at the wrecking yard just in case??? I honest ly believe that the brakes self adjust out every time i back up???
I'm not much of a mechanic but I want to learn self sufficiency on the basics so any and all tips or advice would be more than welcome
I've got the next few days open and I'm gonna take a shot at resolving this problem myself. I'm going to the wrecking yard to get a new E brake arm, all of the springs and clips have been replaced...My question to you guys is, is there anything else that I should get at the wrecking yard just in case??? I honest ly believe that the brakes self adjust out every time i back up???
I'm not much of a mechanic but I want to learn self sufficiency on the basics so any and all tips or advice would be more than welcome
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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If your diagnosis is correct that it's adjusting backwards, then maybe they put the self adjuster units on the opposite sides of the truck. With the brake drums off, pull on the self adjuster cable repeatedly and see if it tightens or loosens, if it's right it'll tighten.
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