Hey everyone!

So.. started to feel some dragging in the brakes after my parking brake spring fell off about a month ago. I put adjuster spring back on but it's not been the same since.

Today I pulled off the drums and started inspecting the hardware.

I discovered the cable inside the passenger side drum was cut which suggests that my parking brake is the culprit.. pictured below is the broken cable..

Could someone give me the bad news? Is this a short cable that attaches to the spring where the longer external cable attaches to? Is is perhaps a job where I should replace all of the brake cables?

Thank you inadvance!




Busted!

 

The piece that is just above your finger that is holding the broken cable, I believe that is where that(broken) cable pivots around. That piece looks too rusty and deteriorated to hold that cable on place.

The other end of the broken cable should hook near the bottom of the assembly and holds the other end of a brake spring via another piece.

How much you will need to replace right now depends on the general condition of other things.

 

i would not call that cut, it looks like it rotted out from old age.
i would just replace all the hardware, because you are going to have to buy a hardware kit to get the parts you need.

 

That is a self-adjuster cable and not a "parking brake" cable. Your "parking brake" is not a parking brake it is an emergency brake. Everybody calls it a parking brake sometimes.

Buy hardware kits and adjuster kits and replace everything except the shoes for very little money. They are so cheap I keep the kits at home for spare parts. Do both sides.

Your "parking brake" faded because the adjuster wasn't working. Your brakes were probably pulling too the side a little to if you tested them. Testing them is a good habit. Every so often hit the brake hard and give the steering wheel a little leeway to see if the truck veers to the side.

I have gotten them stupid cheap from rockauto on clearance.

 

Did you spray the brake components down with something? They look awful wet like your wheel cylinder or axle seal might be leaking.

Red

 

FYI when i bought my brake hardware kits, i am pretty sure it did NOT come with the adjuster cables ... they may do things differently where you do business.

 

That's because it IS a parking brake. The manufacturers specifically call it a parking brake because they don't want people to get the impression that it's an emergency brake. A true emergency brake would (1) operate on all four wheels, and (2) not hold position like the parking brake (i.e. it would release when the user releases pressure). The fact that the parking brake locks in position, along with the fact that it's mechanical and not hydraulic, is what makes it a parking brake.

Back to the OP - why is everything wet? Did you just lube it with something? If not, you may have a hydraulic leak back there. As said, would be best just to get a complete rear drum hardware kit and replace it all. Some kits come with that cable and some don't. You'll need to see a pic of the kit you're ordering to be sure. Do ONE side at a time, so you have the other for visual reference.

And as said above, look into a possible wheel cylinder leak.

 

This is not a parking brake cable, it's the self adjuster cable. I'd give you the Ford part number, but there isn't one. FoMoCo only furnished the cable with the R & L brake shoe adjusting lever kits.

This cable, in fact every self adjuster cable...installed beginning in 1961 is notorious for snapping.
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Hardscrabble: FoMoCo = parking brake cable, not emergency brake cable.

Ford car & truck parts catalogs have Parking Brake Application Charts, not emergency brake application charts.

 

I know. I said they all call it that. Take a performance driving class and see what they call it.

Maintain that "PARKING BRAKE" like your life depends on it. It might. In an EMERGENCY.

DUH. My transmission has a park position. I don't need no stinkin' parkin' brake.

 

I looked at a Lincoln from the late 20s in a museum. It had a placard saying it was one of the first cars that could maintain 70mph over a distance, like all day. In the late 20s many roads were still dirt. That car had no front brakes as delivered new. Rear brakes only and probably cable operated or rod operated. Can you imagine stopping something like that with those skinny tires from 70mph? On a dirt road? Parking brake my A$$.

 

You gotta buy "drum brake hardware kits" and "drum brake self-adjuster repair kits".

I got those words from rockauto. If you don't like my words, tell them if you don't like it.

 

the early fords had mechanical brakes, and were actuated by metal rods, not cables.

 

Did those brakes have bands that clamped from the outside or expanding shoes on the inside of the drum? I have seen the bands on some cars and they were exposed to the weather, water, mud and road grime etc. Driving was a skill and a privilege then. Now people act like it is an entitlement and a bloodsport.

 

1939 was the first year that FoMoCo vehicles came with hydraulic aka 'juice' brakes.

First car with 4 wheel brakes: 1924 Rickenbacker, but some cars weren't available with 4 wheel brakes until 1929.

 

they were shoe brakes, just mechanically operated .
if i remember correctly the model "T" had band brake, it was on the output shaft of the transmission, and not very effective at higher speeds.
below 25-30 mph they were not that bad if you remembered what you had, up around 50-55 mph, they would slow you down.......eventually.