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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Emergency Brake....HELP!

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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 07:44 PM
  #1  
gearshift101's Avatar
gearshift101
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From: new jersey
Emergency Brake....HELP!

I have a f350 and the emergency brake feels like it is locked, I pull the brake release and nothing happens, the pedal is all the way up and I cant press it down. when I put it in gear it feels like it's holding back. How can I unlock it.

Thanks
AL
 
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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 07:50 PM
  #2  
christaylor's Avatar
christaylor
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From: Forest Hill MD
I wouldpull the wheels off and look at the assembly to see if it locked and trace back from there. Did you use the E brake then it would not release or did it come out of nowhere?

Chris
 
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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 08:24 PM
  #3  
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trentmh
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I don't know if this is relavent or not, but I had a similiar problem about 3 weeks ago. My e-brake cable had rusted shut and I needed some new rear brakes. After my shop replaced the cables and brakes everything 'seemed' fine until I applied the e-brake the first time. It did release, but it still felt like they were dragging. My rims were hot when I got out so I took it back to my shop. It was obvious they were still dragging, but it stumped them for a few minutes. This is how they explained it to me: The e-brake is self adjusting and works kinda like a cable tie. The cable pulls and locks forward and adjusts the slack as the rear brakes wear. It's a one way thing. In my case, the e-brake had reached the end of it's adjustment since my rear brakes were non-existant. When the put the new brakes on, the e-brake cable had no slack so it was constantly engaged. I don't know exactly how he did it, but he was able to release the cable tension on the bottom side of the e-brake assembly by loosining a nut. I heard it pop when he did it. He then tightened it back down and everything has been fine since. Before my brakes were changed and cables replaced, I was only able to press down on my e-brake about 3 inches. After it was corrected, It goes down about 7-8 inches without near as much pressure.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2004 | 10:09 PM
  #4  
gearshift101's Avatar
gearshift101
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From: new jersey
E-Brake

Thanks for the reply

Here's the deal, the truck has been sitting for about years. the e-brake pedal is up all the way can't step on it, it's real tight. the release handle pulls out all the way with no tention on it. so when I put it in drive I have to really step on it to get it rolling, as soon as i take my foot off the gas it stops rolling. It don't even coast? I thought that if I was to drive it back and forth in drive and reverse it would free it self. maybe the brake cable is so rusted I cant move the pedal. But my main thought is, maybe something wrong with the rear-end?? I don't know?

THANKS
AL
 
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Old Oct 23, 2004 | 05:31 AM
  #5  
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MATT1971
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From: SURREY,BC,CANADA
I'd say it's one of the cables.To check this get under the truck and try pulling on the individual cable that goes to each rear wheel you should be able to move them if you can then try the one that is connected to the pedal the one that you can't budge is the one that's seized.
 
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