Vehicle is my '97 Ford Expedition. Anyone know how to adjust (tighten) the emergency brake? It's almost useless!
Thanks!
Tom
Thanks!
Tom
(Anyone know how to adjust E-brake?
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ADJUSTMENT
BASIC ADJUSTMENT
1.Raise and support the rear end on jackstands.
2.The brake drums should be room temperature.
3.Make sure that the parking brake pedal is fully released.
4.While holding the tension equalizer, tighten the equalizer nut 6 full turns past its original position.
5.Fully depress the parking brake pedal. Using a cable tension gauge, check rear cable tension. Cable tension should be 350 lbs. minimum.
6.Fully release the parking brake. No drag should be noted at the wheels.
7.If drag is noticed, remove the drums and adjust the clearance between the parking brake lever and cam plate. Clearance should be 0.015 in. (0.38mm). Clearance is adjusted at the parking brake equalizer adjusting nut.
First thing is to make sure the rear brakes are adjusted. Self adjusters often don't do their job. I haven't adjusted the emergency brake cables in years.
Originally Posted By: labman
First thing is to make sure the rear brakes are adjusted. Self adjusters often don't do their job. I haven't adjusted the emergency brake cables in years.
That's my thoughts. I recently did rear drums on my car and the ebrake needs adjustment. It was fine before the brake job. Just need to tighten it up a lil in the back, not at the ebrake itself.
First thing is to make sure the rear brakes are adjusted. Self adjusters often don't do their job. I haven't adjusted the emergency brake cables in years.
That's my thoughts. I recently did rear drums on my car and the ebrake needs adjustment. It was fine before the brake job. Just need to tighten it up a lil in the back, not at the ebrake itself.
Just get out your handy cable tension gauge to measure that 350 lbs minimum!
They gotta be kidding!
First, make sure the brakes are operating correctly. Now is a good time to clean the drums out and lube the points where the shoes ride against the backing plate. Also lube the adjusters.
Drive it a bit to reseat everything. If you P brake cables are not seized, it is a very simple thing to adjust them.
You are basically turning one screw/nut.
But you have to make sure that you don't go too much and have dragging brakes.
That is why the instructions above say to get the wheels off of the ground[check for drag] and use cold brakes [hot brakes have expanded drums, and they may be loose until they get cold and shrink, then they may drag].
They gotta be kidding!
First, make sure the brakes are operating correctly. Now is a good time to clean the drums out and lube the points where the shoes ride against the backing plate. Also lube the adjusters.
Drive it a bit to reseat everything. If you P brake cables are not seized, it is a very simple thing to adjust them.
You are basically turning one screw/nut.
But you have to make sure that you don't go too much and have dragging brakes.
That is why the instructions above say to get the wheels off of the ground[check for drag] and use cold brakes [hot brakes have expanded drums, and they may be loose until they get cold and shrink, then they may drag].
Kestas
Staff member
I agree with mechtech. Make sure all the components are working. Lubricate and exercise the individual components to make sure they aren't arthritic from corrosion. Only then should you make adjustments. Your Expedition is 12 years old and you didn't elaborate on what you meant by "useless".
One step you should include is to remove the adjusting screw, wire wheel the threads, and butter the threads with an antiseize.
One step you should include is to remove the adjusting screw, wire wheel the threads, and butter the threads with an antiseize.
Does this have rear disc with separate e brake?My 99 has this set up,its a pita.If yours has this remove the rotor and check that the e brake linings are still bonded to the shoes.
The OEM shoes are notorious for de laminating,the glue they used apparently didn't hold up very well.
With both calipers removed use 2 lug nuts to hold the rotors square on the hubs and adjust the star wheels from behind until you can hear/feel them making contact.
This can be a bit of a pain if the truck has awd and/or a posi rear end,there is some drive line resistance and slight drag from the other shoe,chock the front wheels and place the transmission in neutral.I use a small bar between the 2 lug nuts to turn the rotor.
When it feels like both are making contact equally push the e brake pedal down a few times and recheck,don't be surprised if it gets tight then on the next try it goes to the floor,keep re adjusting until its firm every time before reinstalling the calipers.
The OEM shoes are notorious for de laminating,the glue they used apparently didn't hold up very well.
With both calipers removed use 2 lug nuts to hold the rotors square on the hubs and adjust the star wheels from behind until you can hear/feel them making contact.
This can be a bit of a pain if the truck has awd and/or a posi rear end,there is some drive line resistance and slight drag from the other shoe,chock the front wheels and place the transmission in neutral.I use a small bar between the 2 lug nuts to turn the rotor.
When it feels like both are making contact equally push the e brake pedal down a few times and recheck,don't be surprised if it gets tight then on the next try it goes to the floor,keep re adjusting until its firm every time before reinstalling the calipers.
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