89 E350 front brakes doing all the work
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89 E350 front brakes doing all the work
My 89 E350 Utility Service Van is having a brake problem. I've noticed that it seems as though the front brakes are doing all the work. This is especially noticable when I'm trying to brake on a dirt or grass surface. The front wheels lock up, but the rears don't seem to be doing anything. Fluid is fine. Looking for the basic flowpath for troubleshooting. Don't want to just start easter egg hunting. Thanks!
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Junior User
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VikingBabe, The rear shoes were checked a couple years ago (about 12,000 miles) ago, and had plenty of meat. It has dual wheels, so it's a bit of a pain to check. Are you suggesting tightening the rear shoes a bit and re trying it? I thought these things were "self adjusting"????
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Thanks again for the reply. Yes, the shoes were changed a couple years ago, not checked as I had said. I've tried the reverse and hit 'em hard thing a few times, but no avail. I can jack the thing up and hit them with a spoon....
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Sweden
The self adjusters don't always work, the moving parts don't have a lubrication system and aren't really sealed from the environment.
There's a notch cut out of the inside of the brake housing that allows you to ratchet down the adjuster with a flatblade screwdriver. You do it with the wheel still on. Just move the little toothed gear thing the only direction it will turn until it tightens up. Then the pads are right up against the drum.
There's a notch cut out of the inside of the brake housing that allows you to ratchet down the adjuster with a flatblade screwdriver. You do it with the wheel still on. Just move the little toothed gear thing the only direction it will turn until it tightens up. Then the pads are right up against the drum.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: SW Arizona
It's like the later posters said, they do have to be checked after so many thousands of miles. Especially if this is a working van. I found this out with my 82 E100/300 Econoline former delivery van that I was converting. The front disc brakes were fine but the rear ones were not so good.
The pads needed replacing on one side and the adjusting ratchet would not work on the other. That and, in both, found some components missing or not working right. The side with the ratchet problem had a stuck plunger so the the pads could not press tightly against the drum right. How the rear brakes ever worked while he drove it beats the heck out of me. Had both rear brakes fixed with new cables/components.
Fortunately my disc brakes were fine. Just had to replace brake hoses there (worn fiber/rotten rubber) and the outer bearings were completely shot. Replaced the inner ones too just to be on the safe side.
The pads needed replacing on one side and the adjusting ratchet would not work on the other. That and, in both, found some components missing or not working right. The side with the ratchet problem had a stuck plunger so the the pads could not press tightly against the drum right. How the rear brakes ever worked while he drove it beats the heck out of me. Had both rear brakes fixed with new cables/components.
Fortunately my disc brakes were fine. Just had to replace brake hoses there (worn fiber/rotten rubber) and the outer bearings were completely shot. Replaced the inner ones too just to be on the safe side.
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Thanks folks, I'll check out ht e rear shoes for tightness. I've never found a way to check shoe "meat" without taking the drums off. Any tricks?
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Sweden
Oh come on, all you have to do is jack it up and take off the lug nuts. How much easier do you want?
Go ahead and "rebuild" the rear wheel cylinders while you're at it. All it takes is a <$5 kit and you just pop out a couple of rubber pieces and put new ones in. Then you bleed the brakes but you probably need to do that anyways.
Go ahead and "rebuild" the rear wheel cylinders while you're at it. All it takes is a <$5 kit and you just pop out a couple of rubber pieces and put new ones in. Then you bleed the brakes but you probably need to do that anyways.
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