Weak Parking Brake
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
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From: Texas
Weak Parking Brake
I swapped a 91 10.25 into my 93 F150, so far everything has worked well.
Heres my problem.
Iv got all the E-brake cables hooked up, and it holds, but just barely. I'v adjusted the shoes until they were tight in the drums, and it still just barely holds the truck. As far as i know, all the adjustment for the cables is done automatically in the pedal assembly.
The front cable in to the pedal is about a year old, the middle cable is original, and the rear pass. side is new, but the driverside is one that came of the axle, and when i ordered a new one from bronco grave yard it was 4in longer. But when i get it worked out it will get replaced.
any ideas as to what is causing it to be loose? Was there a different E-brake assembly between the f-150 and f250? Did the middle cable stretch? It worked good(not great) before.
Thanks
Heres my problem.
Iv got all the E-brake cables hooked up, and it holds, but just barely. I'v adjusted the shoes until they were tight in the drums, and it still just barely holds the truck. As far as i know, all the adjustment for the cables is done automatically in the pedal assembly.
The front cable in to the pedal is about a year old, the middle cable is original, and the rear pass. side is new, but the driverside is one that came of the axle, and when i ordered a new one from bronco grave yard it was 4in longer. But when i get it worked out it will get replaced.
any ideas as to what is causing it to be loose? Was there a different E-brake assembly between the f-150 and f250? Did the middle cable stretch? It worked good(not great) before.
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
There is a bracket about halfway back where the cable from the cab connects to both cables to both drums. You can take the slack out of it by tightening that bracket up. There is a nut & bolt on it that you tighten and it will make your e-brake feel like new.
Obviously you should only adjust it *after* you adjust the shoes - I know you said you did so this is for future thread-miners.
Obviously you should only adjust it *after* you adjust the shoes - I know you said you did so this is for future thread-miners.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Texas
thanks andym, but my 93, nor the 91, or a 95 that i looked at in the junk yard had the adjustment bracket at the equalizer bar. Its just the bar that splits connects the cables and that's it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
thats the one it has a single cable coming from the front into the middle of it and it has threads that run threw the equalizar bar and u have 1 line on the bottom and 1 on top running back to the drums
u should be able to adjust the equalizar bar out pulling the shoes closer to the drums
when the pedal is pressed
u didnt say i dont think but when was the brakes changed last
u should be able to adjust the equalizar bar out pulling the shoes closer to the drums
when the pedal is pressed
u didnt say i dont think but when was the brakes changed last
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
You do not have the threaded adjuster that these guys are talking about. You have the auto adjuster in the pedal assembly.
My first guess would be that the cable you are using that came with the axle is wrong. My second guess would be that the shoes may be fitted wrong.
When connecting the cables at the equalizer the cable coming from the pedal should have been about 3in short and you should have had to pull on it with a lot of force to get it to extend those 3in.
If you didn`t have to do that then chances are there is something wrong inside the drums or the cables are wrong or the auto adjuster is bad.
My first guess would be that the cable you are using that came with the axle is wrong. My second guess would be that the shoes may be fitted wrong.
When connecting the cables at the equalizer the cable coming from the pedal should have been about 3in short and you should have had to pull on it with a lot of force to get it to extend those 3in.
If you didn`t have to do that then chances are there is something wrong inside the drums or the cables are wrong or the auto adjuster is bad.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Texas
Ya, i dont have the adjuster at the equalizer bar that everyone seems to have.
When i hooked up the cables it was extremly difficult to do, but if you pull on the cable going to the pedal, it pulls out the auto adjuster, and you can stick a screw driver in there to hold it, and it gives you some slack to make it easier.
The cables are all taught when the brake is off, and get tight when its applied, it just feels like its missing about 2-3 in or pedal travel, cause it holds ok, just not enough for me to trust it.
The cables i got with it, came off the same truck. I pulled it all at the same time.
as for the brake shoes, which one goes in front? Long or Short one? I remember not remembering which way it went when i put them on, but now i can remember which way i decided to put them on.
When i hooked up the cables it was extremly difficult to do, but if you pull on the cable going to the pedal, it pulls out the auto adjuster, and you can stick a screw driver in there to hold it, and it gives you some slack to make it easier.
The cables are all taught when the brake is off, and get tight when its applied, it just feels like its missing about 2-3 in or pedal travel, cause it holds ok, just not enough for me to trust it.
The cables i got with it, came off the same truck. I pulled it all at the same time.
as for the brake shoes, which one goes in front? Long or Short one? I remember not remembering which way it went when i put them on, but now i can remember which way i decided to put them on.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,123
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From: Baltimore
Short shoes on the front, long on the rear. Adjusted out till they just drag the drum. Lube the adjusters with hi-temp lithium grease. Check the lock arm for contact with the adjuster tooth wheel.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Well, i finally had a chance to get the drums back off, and the shoes are in the right position. Everything is working and turning freely. The stop really well while driving and towing.
Im gonna check the pedal assembly and see if there is anything that can be adjusted or nothing that looks like it might be causing it not to tighten all the way.
Any other ideas?
Im gonna check the pedal assembly and see if there is anything that can be adjusted or nothing that looks like it might be causing it not to tighten all the way.
Any other ideas?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
According to my Haynes manual, trucks up to and including 91 had a tension limiter system that had to be adjusted manually. 92 and later trucks had an auto tensioner system. Perhaps because your axle and drivers side cable came out of a 91 truck, they are different and aren't adjusting automatically like the truck is set up for.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Texas
I had actually thought about that. When i pulled the axle the truck was still complete. And i checked to make sure that it didn't have it. It was the same equalizer bar as mine. Nothing else
I might go and pick up the pedal assembly from that truck here pretty soon as the one in my truck doesn't always catch on the teeth and need to be replaced. Maybe the is a difference in the pedals.
Im still looking for ideas
Thanks
I might go and pick up the pedal assembly from that truck here pretty soon as the one in my truck doesn't always catch on the teeth and need to be replaced. Maybe the is a difference in the pedals.
Im still looking for ideas
Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
I'm trying to understand which cables you tried replacing. When you replaced the axle end parking brake cables, did you get cables for a 91 truck or for a 93? If you bought cables for a 91, then may I suggest you try a set for an 93 f250? The axle might be out of a 91, but the actuating system is the newer style. Unless of course the shoe assemblies are different under the drums 91 and 93.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Texas
The whole cable thing was a little confusing.
The pass. side cable is a new cable from broncograveyard.com is a cable for a 80-91 F250. Originally i bought the driver side cable from a 86-91 F250 on broncograveyard.com, but it was 4 inches to long. So i went to the local junk yard and got the drivers side is a cable off a 95 F250. They now both fit perfectly and seem to be the right length. But even just an inch could make a difference.
Make any sense? It took me a while to figure out what cables would work. I can always go to the junkyard and pull a newer 93+ pass. side cable and try it. It may be an inch shorter and make all the difference.
The pass. side cable is a new cable from broncograveyard.com is a cable for a 80-91 F250. Originally i bought the driver side cable from a 86-91 F250 on broncograveyard.com, but it was 4 inches to long. So i went to the local junk yard and got the drivers side is a cable off a 95 F250. They now both fit perfectly and seem to be the right length. But even just an inch could make a difference.
Make any sense? It took me a while to figure out what cables would work. I can always go to the junkyard and pull a newer 93+ pass. side cable and try it. It may be an inch shorter and make all the difference.
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