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I'm digging deeper into my 86 F250 4x4 (6.9) and now working on the rear brakes - 2nd to last repair before I can get it inspected.
I replaced both wheel cylinders and the adjustment kit (cable/spring, guide, and adjusting lever). The brakes are a little soft at the moment, probably need some additional bleeding and adjustment. My big issue is that the parking brake (e-brake, emergency brake) does not work at all. Of course, in all fairness, it hasn't since I bought the truck.
Everything seems to be intact, cables are not frozen and do not appear to be quite stretched to the limit.
When I have the e-brake engaged, it does nothing to stop the truck if I put it in reverse (which is what I'll have to do at the inspection station). But, in drive (forward) it seems to drag a bit.
The brakes appeared to be installed correctly, and I didn't see anyway that they might be installed in reverse.
You might make sure the shoes are adjusted out as far as you can without causing to much drag, and there is an adjustment you can make to tighten the p-brake cable. Just follow the cable under the truck, and usually right about where it is under the begining of the bed, the single cable splits into 2. There is a nut there you should be able to tighten the cables with.
The emergency brake works independently from the cylinders so I believe there are only two things to check. a. take out all the play in the wheel with the adjuster, b. make sure the front and rear cables are truly not frozen and have not stretched to the point they will no longer allow the shoes to make proper contact with the drum.
I cleaned my rear system and had to adjust the shoes twice. If you drive the vehicle after the first adjustment then recheck the play you MIGHT find they seated themselves a little more thus requiring the readjustment. IMHO