Parking brake cable replacement

JDZUPAN

MEMBER
1998 FORD RANGER
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
270,000 MILES

How do you disconnect the front brake cable from the pedal assembly? My truck has an e-brake cable that is broken into three parts, front that is connected to the pedal, middle that is the middle and the rear that is connected to the two rear drums. The front cable is difficult because the spring has to be rewound in order to get the cable off.

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Here are the procedures let me know if you need anything else.

PARK BRAKE CABLE; FRONT (RANGER)

Removal & Installation
Remove the parking brake control. See PARK BRAKE CONTROL. Disconnect the front parking brake cable from the parking brake control. See Fig. 12. Remove the front parking brake cable and conduit housing. Compress the front parking brake cable and conduit-to-parking brake control clip. Remove the front parking brake cable and conduit housing. To install, reverse removal procedure. Make sure cable is routed through loop on take up spool. See Fig. 13.

PARK BRAKE CONTROL (RANGER)
Removal & Installation

NOTE:
Make sure the parking brake control is fully released.

1. Relieve the tension on the parking brake system by pulling down on the parking brake intermediate cable and inserting a 5/32" (4 mm) drill bit or equivalent retainer in the parking brake control. See Fig. 14.

2. Remove the left front fender splash shield screws, pushpin, bolts and electrical connector locators. Remove the splash shield.

3. Disconnect the front parking brake cable and conduit at the locating hole end of the connector. Disconnect the front parking brake cable and conduit from the parking brake intermediate cable. See Fig. 15.

4. Remove the front parking brake cable and conduit from the bracket by compressing the retainer from the front parking brake cable and conduit from the bracket. See Fig. 16. Remove the front parking brake cable and conduit from the bracket. Remove the parking brake release mounting bolts. See Fig. 17.

5. Remove the parking brake control and front parking brake cable and conduit by disconnecting the parking brake signal switch electrical connector and removing the three parking brake control bolts. See Fig. 18. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification.

Check out the diagrams (Below) Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

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Monday, May 2nd, 2011 AT 9:11 AM

KKMAN

MEMBER
1 POST

Good description of removing the park brake control/pedal assembly from the vehicle. But the problem is how to remove the front cable from the park brake control. The first paragraph, sentence 3-4 says to do it but does not say how. The front cable end plug (fig. 12, labeled cable) is in the cable groove which has a hole on each side holding each side of the plug. Usually one would move the plug to one side which would have a slot allowing the cable to escape and then release the opposite side of the plug from its hole. On a 2005 Ford Ranger XL 2.3 L 5spd RWD there is no cut slot that allows the cable to escape to the side. Can you clarify how the front cable end plug is removed from the control? (I've seen this? In several forums so it would be great to get an answer.) Thanks.

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Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 AT 11:13 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That is correct. This is an issue with the manual as I suspect they just used a process from a different vehicle or an earlier version as I think up to 1998 had this gap. These ones do not have a gap in the bracket to remove the cable from the pedal assembly. They are sold with the cable intact and they disconnect the cable further back.

This was one that I am surprised that has not been fixed as one of my fellow techs discovered this years ago and sent it in.

There are two options. Replace the assembly with a new cable and disconnect it further back with the slip joint.

Second, you can cut a slit in the assembly large enough to get the cable out. Then you can rotate the cable up and slide it out.

I pointed to the place that you can place it. Just make sure you put it in a place that you have to rotate the cable up and slide it out. Clearly you don't want to put it in a place that the cable rests or it could get caught in it.

Please let us know if you have questions on this. Thanks

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