79 f150, original rear end had e brakes that were rusty and non functioning. I swapped in a 3.55 rear off a frame I bought that had been redone by the previous owner as far as brakes and hardware a few years and then sat a while.
I hooked up the e brakes and one cable seemed short (passenger side by the way) and the equalizer wouldn't come out equal. Whatever. I haven't ever tried them. Until last week. They worked great to hold the truck. I released them and they didn't release all the way, but after setting and releasing them when I went forward a few feet they released.

Fast forward to today, drove a few miles and smelled burny smell. Drivers brake is dragging.

Not real sure what could cause it to drag. Cable hanging up? Spring not springing?

I've not used the factory drum brakes in a dent long enough to be super familiar with them. Always swapped for discs as soon as possible. Lol

And guidance before I pull spray lube into the cable and try pulling the drum?

Thanks!

 

It could be about any segment/section of the e-brakes. Generally cables get rusty inside the cable housing or the actual mechanism in the drum needs a good freeing up as in cleaning & lubing. I would pull both wheels and drums,eyeball where the cable enters the backing plate on both,look over the lever(s) that the cable pulls and check all the pivot points. If real crappy ,rusty; take stuff apart and clean. If all hardware seems good then you have a cable hanging up. Spray repeatedly and work the cable in and out.If it IS a cable and won't free up then replace that one particular cable. A little time consuming but worth it. Good luck! gary (oh,be careful pushing e-brake peddle or brake peddle when drum is off as you don't want to let the plungers (possibly pistons also) come out of the wheel cylinders completely)