'74 F250, 9" rear end with drum brakes...

I have rebuile the drum brakes. Springs, shoes, drums, etc. I am going back and trying to get the emergency brake working correctly. I just replaced the emergency brake cables and still no go.

I think the problem is the old mechanism that pulls the shoes out when the cable is pulled. The old rusty parts just won't slide and release properly. The brake worked the first time I set it and after I popped the brake I lost tension on the cables.

I am not sure if I can find replacement parts or if I have to go junkyard diving. Is there a drum to disk conversion that will work for my rear end? Any tips? I really need to get this fixed so I can pass inspection.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Did you replace all the cable's or just the rear cable's to the axle? It sound's like the cable is stuck in the casing, probably on the cable from pedal to rear. You can try to squirt some WD40 down the cable and pull on the end with a pair of plier's and then reset the pedal, it should free up you just have to keep working it.

 

That whole system isn't at all complicated, all thats going on is the cable pulls a lever on the rear shoe once it contacts the drum the parking brake strut (the metal bar in the middle) pushes the front shoe against the front of the drum. The return springs on the shoes return the shoes once the brake release is pulled. Take the drum off and watch to see if this is basically working. It won't work properly when the drum is off but it will give you an idea. If it isn't holding the wheels at all but everything is working ok you should just have to adjust the star wheel. If you havent done so when you replaced the shoes clean all the parts you are reusing with a wire wheel in a drill or Dremel, and use a can of brake cleaner to clean the backing plate. On the backing plate there are 6 raised areas that the shoes ride against, 3 per side, add a dab of caliper grease or silicone grease to each one, also clean the star wheel and add grease to the threads. Put it all back together. Take 200 grit or a green scothchbrite pad and scuff up the inside of the drums. Now adjust the star wheel to spread out the shoes until you can just fit the drum on. If you have a hole on the backing plate with a rubber plug pull (behind the star wheel) it out, put the drum on and using an adjusting tool or a screwdriver turn the wheel until the shoes have a moderate drag. This will help burnish your new shoes, it should require a bit of force to turn the drums, just as long as they turn you'll be ok. At this point test you parking brake, it should work ok if everything was assembled correctly.

 

Make sure the teeth on the star wheel are not worn. Also check the pawl that operates it for wear. You can get new brake hardware kits at the parts store.

 

All three cables are new. I replaced them all at the same time (3 days ago). I rebuilt the brakes about a year ago. New drums, shoes and hardware kit. I have not replaced the star wheel/self adjuster but will do that next.

The brakes work great but the parking brake mechanism has trouble. I would like to replace the parking brake metal strut if I can find replacements.

Thanks for the input,
Dave