parking brake
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 185
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From: Central Florida, USA
parking brake
They adjust just like any drum brake. Remember that it does not have auto adjusters like standard rear drum brake vehicles. The rear disks do, but the park brake does not. I used a screw driver to hold the dust cover open and a brake adjuster to move the star wheel. Most third-party repair manuals outline the procedure pretty well, with pictures so even I can do the job.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 65
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parking brake
Thanks for the info!!!! It worked as advertised and I didn't have to take it to FORD. The adjustment was just as you said and it now is back to normal operation. Appreciation to you...thanks..Russ
New User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6
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Parking brake adjustment 2002 Explorer
Does anyone know how to adjust the rear parking brake on a 2002 Ford Explorer with rear disc brakes? Do both sides have adjusters? My peddle goes to the floor but does not hold the brake tight enough.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 133
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Which way do I turn this wheel to tighten the Ebrake? Maybe mine is just worn-out because I tried both directions and it does not seem to make a difference. I had a buddy drive for a while with the Ebrake on which could not have helped matters...
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
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You kind of have to figure that out yourself. If you are turning the star wheel, it should get tighter as your brake squeezes the rotor. I would turn it alot in one direction, then drive the vehicle a couple of feet. Once you hear/feel the brakes dragging on the rotor, you're going the right way. If you go all the way in both directions and you don't feel/hear the brakes dragging, then you probably need new parking brake shoes...which are different from the rear disc pads.
I hope this helps.
I hope this helps.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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I should tell you from experience on these.. if the parking brake goes to the floor and doesn't hold the vehicle, it's almost always because the parking brake shoes have deteriorated and come apart on it.
If you force the adjustment way up, the metal will grind up against and detroy the brake rotor assembly.
You need to remove the rear brakes, remove the rear rotors, and inspect the parking brake shoes. If you see cracks or missing shoe material they need to be replaced. If it all looks good then reassemble everything and THEN adjust the parking brake.
Good luck
If you force the adjustment way up, the metal will grind up against and detroy the brake rotor assembly.
You need to remove the rear brakes, remove the rear rotors, and inspect the parking brake shoes. If you see cracks or missing shoe material they need to be replaced. If it all looks good then reassemble everything and THEN adjust the parking brake.
Good luck
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 139
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From: Warrenton, VA
I'll second MazdaRangerGuys suggestion - pull off one or both disks and take a look-see. If the 02's are anything like the 99 I have, it is and easy job.
Replaced my rear rotors recently and when I pulled them off, the parking brake surfaces were so badly rusted and pitted that the shoes were only contacting about half the area they should have. Plus, the shoes looked glazed over - probably from the wife driving with them on.
If your shoes are shot or your drums are trashed, replace them. Brembo rotors are good alternatives to OEM - Tire Rack has them. For me it was cheaper to buy new rotors than have the old ones resurfaced.
When you replace the rotor, you can easily adjust the shoes then. With the rotor off, adjust them out until they drag then back off till they are free. The rotor will spin some on the hub so you can feel the shoes drag if you are careful. The parking brake does not have to be exact - just so long as they don't drag and make contact with parking brake pedal to spare is good.
Replaced my rear rotors recently and when I pulled them off, the parking brake surfaces were so badly rusted and pitted that the shoes were only contacting about half the area they should have. Plus, the shoes looked glazed over - probably from the wife driving with them on.
If your shoes are shot or your drums are trashed, replace them. Brembo rotors are good alternatives to OEM - Tire Rack has them. For me it was cheaper to buy new rotors than have the old ones resurfaced.
When you replace the rotor, you can easily adjust the shoes then. With the rotor off, adjust them out until they drag then back off till they are free. The rotor will spin some on the hub so you can feel the shoes drag if you are careful. The parking brake does not have to be exact - just so long as they don't drag and make contact with parking brake pedal to spare is good.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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On my '99 Expy I had the same symptom but the problem was that the driver's side cable had broke. I ordered a new one from rockauto and was able to route it in such a way that now it had no sharp bends or kinks. Problem solved.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
Finally got my rear rotors off and found my adjusters were both frozen. I was able to use pliers to move them a little bit but will get the hardware kit to replace the adjusters (shoes are OK). Need rotors but I'll wait on those...
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