[dirtyb15]

Hello all... About 2 years ago, i replaced all of the parking brake cables on my 96 f250. (old ones were rusted out.) Also replaced the rear brakes. Worked well for about a month, then the parking brake quit working again. Didnt worry about it for a while, but launching a boat is a little harry without the parking brake. So today pulled off the driver side drum. The parking brake lever was hitting the hub and cutting into it. It looks like the top of the lever popped up over the one shoe instead of being in between them. Also looks like my cables are in pretty bad shape again (only 2 years old.) At any rate, would like to fix this, but Im not an expert with drum brakes and don't want this to happen again. Any ideas on what would cause the parking brake lever to do that?

 

[madpogue]

Can you post a pic of the damage? Drum brake hardware has several moving parts, and just about anything out of place could do something like this. Where I would start, in this situation, I'd remove the passenger side drum, take several close up pics, then do a horizontal flip on the pics so they would give you visual clues as to what the driver's side should look like. Compare the pics with what you actually see on the driver's side; that should tell you what's out of place. You could do the same using a diagram in the FSM, but TBH I think several good pics will show you more than the diagrams do.

 

[Steve83]

NEED PICS!
How do I post pictures, sounds, and or videos? | SuperMotors.net Forums | SuperMotors.net

Click this & compare your brakes to each diagram:

 

[dirtyb15]

Thanks guys for the replies. (I also just noticed in the sticky that brake topics don't go in this section...sorry Mods please move if needed.)

Here is a picture of the damage. I seem to remember that when i replaced the brakes a couple years ago, that the lever had done the same thing. This morning i was able to get the anchor plate i think its called? back into the correct spot, but when i pressed on the emergency brake it jumped over the shoe again, as seen in this picture. Any ideas?
Thanks!

Can you post a pic of the damage? Drum brake hardware has several moving parts, and just about anything out of place could do something like this. Where I would start, in this situation, I'd remove the passenger side drum, take several close up pics, then do a horizontal flip on the pics so they would give you visual clues as to what the driver's side should look like. Compare the pics with what you actually see on the driver's side; that should tell you what's out of place. You could do the same using a diagram in the FSM, but TBH I think several good pics will show you more than the diagrams do.

 

[Steve83]

That pic is too close-up for us to see what's going on. Start with a pic that shows the whole assembly, then add some for details. And it would help if you'd clean the top layer of dust off. Aerosol brake cleaner is safer than a brush or shop air because it doesn't put as much dust into the air for you to breathe. After it's wet, you can use a brush to loosen up the heavier deposits.

 

[dirtyb15]

Okay, i will try and take some pics tomorrow. I was messing around with it some more today, and it really seems like there is just too much slop at the anchor pin plate / parking brake lever. It allows that plate to ride up over the brake shoe which i would think should not be possible? Has anyone had this part wear out? Is there a bushing on that pin maybe?

 

[madpogue]

Yeah, that central tab on the anchor should be at 12:00 high, between the two shoes. If you mean you got it into that position, but it rode up over the aft shoe when you applied the parking brake, that tells me that the bolt/stud holding that anchor toggle thing is loose. Have you confirmed that the nut on the back side of the backing plate is in place, and fully tightened? Either that, or that tab is worn to the point that it's not engaging on the tab on the shoe, and is instead riding up over it. Either way, when that tab rides up out of its slot, the parking brake lever no longer moves the shoes, and is no longer subject to the action of the return springs, so that's why it stays forward and rubs on the hub.

I have a pic of how the toggle thing held by the anchor stud is supposed to be positioned, if you want me to post it.

 

[Steve83]

...it really seems like there is just too much slop at the anchor pin plate / parking brake lever. It allows that plate to ride up over the brake shoe which i would think should not be possible?

Take a closer look at the backing plate where the edges of the steel brake shoe frames rub against the pads; they commonly wear-in on neglected brakes, causing problems like you're having.

 

[dirtyb15]

Yeah, that central tab on the anchor should be at 12:00 high, between the two shoes. If you mean you got it into that position, but it rode up over the aft shoe when you applied the parking brake, that tells me that the bolt/stud holding that anchor toggle thing is loose. Have you confirmed that the nut on the back side of the backing plate is in place, and fully tightened? Either that, or that tab is worn to the point that it's not engaging on the tab on the shoe, and is instead riding up over it. Either way, when that tab rides up out of its slot, the parking brake lever no longer moves the shoes, and is no longer subject to the action of the return springs, so that's why it stays forward and rubs on the hub.

I have a pic of how the toggle thing held by the anchor stud is supposed to be positioned, if you want me to post it.

Sure if you could post a pic that would be great! I did feel on the back, and the nut is in place, but i did not try tightening it yet. Once i get the toggle in the correct position, you vsn visually see that the center tab is sitting to high and will just barely make contact with the aft shoe when the parking brake is applied. Maybe the stud is bent or the toggle/cam is just worn out. If i can find part numbers maybe ill just try replacing them if they are not too much.

From the diagram above, i can see the parts i need, does anyone know how i can find the genuine ford part numbers for these parts?

 

[Steve83]

Try starting here:
Official Ford Parts Site | Buy Motorcraft & OEM Ford Parts Online | FordParts.com

But I usually have to take the short number from that site, and search it on Amazon or eBay to get the standard Ford PN. The easy way would be to call your local Ford dealer and have them look it up.

 

[madpogue]

This is how the shoes, parking brake lever and the toggle thing should fit together. I found this of my passenger side, so I did a horizontal flip on it to match the driver's side for you. So that central tab rides higher than the tabs on the shoes? That tells me that either the shoes have fallen out of place, the shoes are not oriented properly, or possibly the stud is bent. And yeah, looks like you're going FoMoCo on the parts; I've seen brake "hardware kits" with lots of different options, but none with this particular part.

Hmm, I'm beginning to wonder about the shoes. See how (in your pic) they're making the pins coming out of the wheel cylinder point downward? I would give a good upward shove on the shoes and see if they seat better. Maybe the wear that Steve mentions above has allowed them to "slump" like that.

 

[dirtyb15]

I can definitely push the shoes up and if they were to stay in that position, i think the parking brake would work just fine. Not sure if that is where they should be sitting. I will check for wear on the backing plate, but not sure what excessive would be.

 

[Steve83]

Not sure if that is where they should be sitting.

They should fit around the anchor pin at the top.

...wear on the backing plate, but not sure what excessive would be.

Anything that prevents them from moving smoothly, or that causes them to be misaligned to the anchor pin or drum.

If you'd post more pics showing what you see, we could help you.

 

[dirtyb15]

okay, thanks Steve. I have yet to get some good pics yet as i had to put everything back together to use the truck. I did take a couple others but don't think they will be useful. I attached them anyway just in case. Hopefully ill get some time to dig in again this week.

 

[dirtyb15]

Well.... its been almost a year and still have not fixed the brakes. I did get a chance to inspect and the backing plates are severely worn. Going to try and weld them up and see if i can finally fix this. Has anyone done this repair and if so any tips or advice?

Or does anyone know the part number for these to buy new? I tried looking online several places but they all say discontinued....

thanks!

 

[Steve83]

I haven't welded backing plates (remember these are the BRAKES you're messing with, so your liability is very high), but I've had to do some delicate grinding to reduce the wear channel so the new shoes could move better.

Where exactly did you already check, and what PN did you search for at each place?

 

[dirtyb15]

I haven't welded backing plates (remember these are the BRAKES you're messing with, so your liability is very high), but I've had to do some delicate grinding to reduce the wear channel so the new shoes could move better.

Where exactly did you already check, and what PN did you search for at each place?

E4TZ2212B is the part number I think I need. Can't order on tascaparts, and says unavailable at lakeland ford parts. Somewhere else it said discontinued. I have found alot of backing plates for my year truck, but they all say with dual wheels which i dont have.

 

[Steve83]

Sounds like you've got a really good excuse to go junkyarding.