brakes seem to work fine. but when i pull up to my parking spot (which is on a 4% grade) and apply my e-brake, the truck rolls backward for a couple feet (somtimes several) before the e-brake engages. this is not repeatable when i park with the nose pointing downhill.

normal?

 

Have you tried adjusting it?

 

check your cables bro they might be worn down and frayed to the point where they give a little, (just a thought)

 

Take the rear wheels and drums off. It sounds to me like you have broken hardware on one side. If that's not it, they probably just need to be adjusted. There is also a parking brake cable adjuster about halfway back if you follow the cables. You can tighten up the pedal that way as well, but don't touch it until the brakes are adjusted.

 

It's not uncommon for the parking brake to work better going forward then backward. This is a function of how the rear drums and parking brake work. That said it should work better 4% grade isn't much. Does the pedal go all the way to the floor? If so the cables need adjusting, or the brackets that hold the cables under the truck are flexing.

 

Like I said... adjust the shoes FIRST. Then if the e-brake pedal doesn't feel right adjust the tension in the cable.

Where are these brackets that flex?

 

Under the truck of course.

I was thinking of the mechanism that takes the one cable from the parking brake pedal, and connects it to the two cables that go to each wheel. Just thought I'd throw something out there that most people don't think to check.

 

after six visits to the shop and all new parts except the parking brake pedal assembly, the truck still rolls backwards (and now forwards) after setting brake.

new shoes/linings today... felt really really tight as i drove home. tons of drag and they heated up to the point that they smelled bad and were too hot to touch even the wheels.

i'll be taking it in... again... to have them look at the drag issue. is that normal for new shoes/linings? do they just need to seat in? is that heat bad for them?

any ideas?

 

that heat is bad, it will make the drums out of round, and it will also cause small heat cracks in the drum surface.

 

No it certainly is not normal. You will have to get that corrected, hopefully before any lasting damage.
You say everything is new except the pedal assembly? Does that include the brake cables?
Also given the year of your truck it should have the infamous self-adjusting parking brake cable mechanism. It is possible that has failed.

 

yes brake cables are new as well. it does have the self adjusting system, but i am not sure- does that live in the pedal mechanism?

 

Yes it does. From what I have read on here Ford supply a "wedge" piece to lock the mechanism in case of failure. Perhaps you could check the TSB list under a tab right at the top of the forum.
Had you not already replaced the cables I would have said that was your problem and I would have been wrong again.
All I can do is wish you good luck with it.

 

all signs are pointing to the pedal assembly. the hot drums yesterday were from the p-brake levers pushing the rear shoes into the drums. they freed those up today and put a heavier return spring on so they wouldn't stick on when i drive.

how annoying is that? they stick on when i drive and won't set when i park! they are locating a new pedal assy and will install it asap. i really can't wait for this to be over!

i'll mention the wedge idea to them- thanks!