Resistance moving forward, not reverse

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Dec 21, 2004 | 01:23 AM

bryan_johnson

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 213

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From: Kernersville, NC

Resistance moving forward, not reverse

Okay,

I'm putting this in the brakes section b/c I think the problem is brake related. I replaced the rear drums/shoes/wheel cyl. and parking brake cables on my 94' F250 back in July. All seemed well.

At first it seemed like the parking brake was sticking, but I backed off the self adjusters and that helped alot. But lately, I am having a problem where when I first try to drive the truck forward it has ALOT of resistance. After a bit it goes away, but it's like the brakes are sticking for the first few stops.

Tonight as I left the store after having driven about 10 miles, stopped for 20min, and hopped back in the truck....the truck really did NOT want to go forward, but it had NO problem moving backwards. It felt as if there was some massive drag on the truck moving forward. After a mile or two it goes away and seems to behave normally.

I'm wondering if the parking brake is sticking (pedal only clicks once of twice ever since I replaced the cables, clicked 5-6 times before) and the rear shoe is self energizing as I try to move forward? How many times should it click? And on that note, it seems to have some sort of self-adjuster...can this thing wear out and leave a constant pull on the e-brake cables?

Thanks,

Bryan

Dec 21, 2004 | 05:12 PM

Lee Lichterman

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 506

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From: Edwards Air Force Base

Definitely sounds like rear brake drag.

I have never heard of self adjustors on the brakes going too far unles you somehow put it all together wrong.

More than likely, your Parking brake cables are too tight. There should be NO tension on them when released. Mine sag slightly yet when I engage it, it won't go all the way to the floor.

Back those babies off and see how it does. If that doesn't help, might want to double check how you put the springs and routed the cables in the drums.

Lee

Dec 22, 2004 | 10:13 PM

whalerron

Elder User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 828

Likes: 3

From: Baltimore

Make sure you put the self adjusters on the correct sides of the truck. I think I recall that one is marked with an "R" and the other with a "L". If you have them backwards, they will try to tighten the brakes as you drive forward normally.

Dec 26, 2004 | 09:04 PM

oldfordtrucksrule

Elder User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 550

Likes: 1

From: Effingham,IL USA

had the same thing happen to my 83 f100. i had replaced the rear cables from auto zone. in the winter they froze,stuck on. truck would not move forward, but moved fine in reverse. i would check your cables.

Dec 28, 2004 | 02:33 PM

fasthauler

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 1,398

Likes: 17

From: Hesperia, CA

Definitely loosen the emergency bake cable adjustment nut at the "Y" under the vehicle. I'll bet some body tightened it up with out adjusting the rear brakes first. Always manually adjust the rear drums. Do not count on the self adjusters to do it for you. Good luck, Gary

Dec 28, 2004 | 04:10 PM

bryan_johnson

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 213

Likes: 0

From: Kernersville, NC

I just have one adjustment, that is a turnbuckle in front of the equalizer. I didn't touch that. I replaced the cables and the spring kit in the brakes and it seems like the cables may be holding some tension. Is it odd for new cables to behave like this? Did I buy crappy cables or something?

Bryan

Dec 28, 2004 | 10:27 PM

whalerron

Elder User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 828

Likes: 3

From: Baltimore

No, that sounds normal. I have replaced emergency brake cables on 4 trucks and I had to make the adjustment at the "equalizer" on all of the trucks. I guess the old cables stretch over time and somewhere along the line, somebody made an adjustment at the equalizer to accomodate the stretch.