I read a thread today that talks about the backing plate on the rear brakes where the contact between the shoes and the plate is being potentially grooved. Each rear wheel backing plate has I think about six contact points where the sides of the shoes contact it. The two lower ones on my backing plates (both right and left) are grooved. I'm wondering if this is serious in that I might need to get new backing plates or possible sand or grind down the areas that aren't smooth. I always grease the points on the backing plates that contact the shoes, but when these areas are grooved (never had this happen before, ever), it MIGHT just keep the shoes from moving in and out well??

 

D4TZ2211C .. Right Rear Backing Plate / Obsolete

D4TZ2212C .. Left Rear Backing Plate / Obsolete

No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has either one.

Fits: 1973/77 F100/150 2WD & 4WD / 1975/77 E150 (Econoline).

Also fits some 1978's (same applications).

Caveat Emptor: Some 1978's and all 1979's use different backing plates, because Ford changed the backing plates bolt sizes midyear 1978.

You cannot use these later plates on earlier models because they will not bolt on.

 

Here's a symptom that's making me think the backing plate-shoe contact points (the lower ones) might be 'binding' the ability of the shoes to expand and contract properly.

Every time I brake medium or hard and then right almost when the truck comes to a stop, I hear a sort of clunk from the rear end. Just started when I did an entire brake job and did the WHOLE thing. Rears are definitely working though - my emergency brake has never felt so tight?

One thing I did have to do (they don't sell these aftermarket) is pound out my emergency brake 'lever' on the right side. It's the thick half moon piece of steel that connects the parking brake cable that comes thru the lower side of then backing plate to the secondary shoe. That lever had literally gotten bent some way. I pounded it back to where it looked nearly spot on the one on the left side.

Any ideas on the clunk? Rear backing plate probable cause? Any aftermarket options?

 

C8TZ2A176F .. Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever Kit / Available from Ford.

Kit consists of right & left levers, one cable and one cable guide.

Fits: 1968/96 F100/150 & Bronco.

MSRP: $12.70 // FTEpartsguy.com price: $9.14.

NAPA should have a similar kit.

 

Bill,
Thanks. Yes, I changed over the adjusting kits (new) and the combi kits (springs, pins, washers, etc.) all new. Everything is new inside there, except the backing plate, which you confirmed wasn't available from Ford. I guess it's to the bone yards this weekend?

 

You sure that clunk isn't coming from the 3rd member?

Could be bad axle or spider gears.

 

Not sure. The only thing I did that MIGHT have damaged something on the drive train is I threw the truck in park going about 5-10mph when I had the major brake failure several weeks ago. Usually that will damage a tranny or U-joint and not a rear end. Still, will check it this weekend. It's not a loud clunk, but noticeable. Also, noticed just a little pulsing last nite, even with the new brakes, and I was figuring that might be from the backing plate being grooved and not letting the lower portions of each of the shoes from pushing out. Not sure.

 

Have trouble getting the truck out of Park after making that mistake?

Does Park still work OK? Usually what happens when this occurs is...the Parking Pawl inside the trans locks up tight, sometimes it snaps into two pieces.

When the parking pawl locks up...one has to yank the lever out of Park, and that will cause another problem.

Bolted to the bottom of the upper steering column flange is a half moon shaped detent aka shift gate: \ I I I I I /

The shift lever has a tab on it that fits between the individual gates. When the lever is yanked out of Park, it won't be too long before the individual gate betweeen Park and Reverse snaps off.

Now...there's no way that Park can be safely used...because when you think you have put the lever into Park, you're actually in Reverse.

Sometimes...there may be a portion of the individual gate left so Park can be used...but usually...it won't hold...meaning the lever can slip into Reverse.

The major reason why the individual gate in the detent between P & R snaps off:

When people put the lever into Park BEFORE setting the hand brake when the truck is parked on an incline, the truck will roll just enough that the parking pawl locks up.

Rule of thumb: Always set the hand brake first.