I've got a 01' Ranger 4x4 Off Road Package with a five speed, and was wondering if there was any sort of adjustment for the emergency brake. The cable has all sorts of slack and isn't pulling on the brakes enough and don't want to change the whole cable. Thanks in advance.

 

I looked through ALLDATAdiy.com to see if Ford gives an adjustment procedure. There are several mounting points, springs, and attachments that could be the problem with the cable in your Ranger. Have you checked the parking cable bracket?

 

First, you should pull a brake drum to see how much lining you have on the rear brake shoes. They may be due for replacement. That could cause the slack you are experiencing.

Next, you should make sure the rear brakes are adjusted as tight as possible. Back up a few times and make a firm application of the brakes. The slack may be due to poorly adjusted brakes.

Unless Ford has changed the type or location of the cables, look under the frame on the driver's side about even with the back of the cab. There you will find a single cable coming from the cab. This cable goes into a connector (the equalizer) from which cables go out to each of the rear brake drums. At the end of that single cable coming from the cab there is an adjusting nut at the equalizer. That nut is the one you want to use to take out the slack. Give it a try.

 

I'm not sure if this has been asked in any other forum topics but this looked like a good place to keep this thread.

96 Ranger. Spent 13 years in Chicago area. Lots of RUST.

I recently did a complete rear brake overhaul. (Drums/Shoes/Springs/Cylinders). Things were great for a month and one of the rear lines opened / rusted threw. Had the lines replaced.

Almost immediately afterwards the left rear brake would hang up.. It seemed like it would release at some point.. I drove it longer than I should have... Took it apart again and examined what could be wrong. I followed the emergency brake cables to find that there was a SPRING on the brake cable that held it up to something. That spring rusted from where it was connected.

I suspect the spring would keep the cable taunt so that the emergency cable did not active the rear brake.

Does this make sense? Does anyone know where this spring on the cable was suppose to be connected to? The rubbing of the cables together have caused the the insulation to come off one and exposed the metal caseing. I attempted to tie wrap the cable up but it worked initially then vibrated to a postion that had the brake engageing again.

 

No, the spring did not keep the cable taut, as that would apply the brake shoes. When you step on the emergency brake, you pull the cable towards the cab, which pulls directly on one side of the equalizer bar, and indirectly on the other side. Both sides are pulling on the cable. The only thing that retracts the cables is the spring at the end of the cable inside the brake drum, pushing against the lever that applies the brake shoes. It is the spring you have to push out of the way to remove the lever to replace the shoes, held on by the 'horseshoe' clip you have to bend around the groove in the lever pivot. If that spring has rusted away, or lost tension due to overheating, time for a boneyard run to get a functional replacement.
tom

 

To cotoole

You wrote: "I'm not sure if this has been asked in any other forum topics but this looked like a good place to keep this thread."

In the future, you should start a new thread rather than attaching it to someone else's thread. Your issue won't show up in the topic list so other that may be able to help you won't know about your problem. In addition, adding it to another thread can get replies mixed up.

That being said, I'd suggest you get to an auto parts store and get new brake hardware to replace the cables for your rear brakes. While the front brakes do most of the stopping, you don't want the rear brakes failing you when you need them the most.