Parking brake cable?

Tiny
JOHN NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD RANGER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 63,000 MILES
When turning left, slowly from a parking spot or slow sharp turn from stop sign, it feels like left wheel is stuck and wheel is skidding.
Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 3:21 AM

23 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

My first thought is that you may have a frozen emergency brake cable that is partially applying the brakes on the wheel when you turn. It stretches the cable and applies the brakes to the drum.

Have the rear brake cables checked to be sure they are free and working properly.

Roy
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 3:41 AM
Tiny
JOHN NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have had the truck 4 years and have never used the emergency brake.
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 4:00 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
That is even more of a reason to get them checked. The fact they are not used tells me the cables are frozen.

Remove the wheel and inspect the cable for movement.

Roy
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 4:01 AM
Tiny
JOHN NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
But if the emergency brake was never used how would it stick in the on position?
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 5:30 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
When you turn left or right, the cables stretch where they are mounted. When the inner part of the cable is seized to the casing then it partially applies the brake on the effected wheel.

Remove the wheel and see if the cable is seized.

Roy
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 5:32 AM
Tiny
JOHN NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have had the truck 4 years but have never ever used the emergency brake
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
I read that before and it does not change anything. You need to check the cables for being frozen.

Roy
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 5:09 PM
Tiny
JOHN NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you. You were correct. I pulled the drum and sure enough every thing was gummed up with heavy brake dust and emergency cable was stuck. I also pulled and cleaned right side to get ahead of similar situation.
Thanks again
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Friday, April 17th, 2020 AT 6:00 PM
Tiny
BURTONBLACKMER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • 100,000 MILES
The connection between the front cable and the back cable pulled apart when pushed the e brake harder then normal while at boat ramp the other day. I since have reconnected the two but I am about three inches shy of being able to connect the front cable at the first connection. While investigating the situation I had my wife push and release the parking brake and the front cable has zero movement while doing this. I am in need of a solution. It has to be something I am not familiar with. The musky are done spawning and I got to get out there but I cannot with out the brake. I do not want to lose her at the ramp, again.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,709 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros. Com. I totally understand the need for the parking brake when docking a boat. (Lol) I nearly lost my truck, too.

Okay, if the front cable is attached in the cab of the vehicle, but is not moving under the vehicle, something broke. Most likely, it is the cable. What I have done is attach the directions for removal and replacement of the entire cable assembly as well as pictures to follow. Start at the park lever in the cab and following the schematics I have supplied, locate where the break is located. Since the front cable is not moving, chances are the cable anchor pin from the pivot hole in the control assembly ratchet pin has broken or come apart.

Removal:

Relieve tension on the system by having an assistant pull on the parking brake intermediate cable (2A620) or front parking brake cable and conduit while you insert a 5/32-inch drill bit into the hole provided in the parking brake control.
Disconnect the parking brake intermediate cable or front parking brake control cable from the parking brake rear cable and conduit.
To replace the parking brake intermediate cable, disconnect it from the front parking brake cable and conduit and remove it.
To replace the front parking brake cable and conduit, remove the cable anchor pin from the pivot hole in the control assembly ratchet pin.

Guide the front parking brake cable and conduit from the parking brake control and disconnect it from the frame mounting bracket. Remove cable-to-frame attaching screw, if screw is present, and slide cable from vehicle.

Installation:

Feed the front parking brake cable and conduit through the hole in the front frame mounting bracket. Push the retainer through the hole so the fingers expand over the hole.
Route the front parking brake cable and conduit around the control assembly pulley and insert the cable anchor pin in the pivot hole in the ratchet assembly.
If removed, install cable-to-frame attaching screw.
Connect the front parking brake cable and conduit to the left rear parking brake cable bracket (2530).
For intermediate cable installation, feed cable through holes in center frame bracket.
Attach cable to front parking brake cable and conduit and to left rear parking brake cable bracket.

As far as releasing pressure from the cables, here are a few ways to do it.

Place the parking brake control (2780) in the "released" position.
Parking Brake Control

While an assistant relieves tension on the system by pulling on the parking brake intermediate cable, insert a 4mm (5/32-inch), steel pin or equivalent drill bit into the hole provided in the parking brake control.
NOTE: Be careful not to damage the plastic coating on the cable strand. Remove the parking brake rear cable and conduits (2A635) from the parking brake cable bracket (2530).

Another method, which releases tension on the parking brake rear cable and conduits only, is to pull rearward on the parking brake rear cable and conduit about 25-50mm (1.0-2.0 inches) and place a clamp on the parking brake rear cable and conduit behind the rear frame crossmember (5035).
Another method which can be used is to remove the bolts attaching the parking brake control to the floor pan, and pull the parking brake control upward and forward to rotate the spring-loaded ratchet wheel as far as possible.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

Cheers and happy fishing!
Joe
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WWWCOMTHIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD RANGER
I recently did a brake job on all 4 wheels. The e-brake was tight and needed to be adjusted.I looked for the usual Y split to make an adjustment. I searched from front to back and could not find any adjustment. Is this some self adjusting thing? If so, how do you take the tension off to reset it?
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
All the adjustment is in the drum area, not the cables.
Did you replace the drums or maching them. A lip on the drum makes for a lousy adjustment. The little self adjuster cables tend to break on these are they new?

If you have them over adjusted, back off the the adjuster star wheel.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WWWCOMTHIS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The drums are brand new. The old drums were junk. The star adjuster is turned all the way in. What do you mean the adjustment is in the inside of the drums not at the cables? You only have a spring loaded bar that goes across from shoe to shoe, then you have the star adjuster. What else is there? There has to be an adjustment for the cable!
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
I empathyze with you.....there isn't. On a weekly basis I find myself looking a particular system that has been engineered so oddly that I say to myself.."But there has to be"...

I have a 98 ranger.

This is what you need to do. Pull the drums back off and apply the e-brake. Does it move the shoes out?

Recheck for anything mis-installed.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_brake_shoe_diagram_1.jpg



If either side or both sides are not moving with the parking brake pedal, then look more closely at the cable on the inside of the drum. Does the cable move as it should or does it not return. I'm thinking the cable (s) may either sticky or frozen and not moving the shoes.

Since you have the star wheel adjusted to the drums properly, then I doubt the shoes are moving.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MARK LJONGQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Just did this e-brake adjust on my 96 ranger. Hold the e-brake release up in release position, pump e-brake pedal several times, that will take up the slack. You'll hear a ratchety sound. Indicating adjustmemt had happened. Easy-as-pie.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,513 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FORANGER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 82,000 MILES
How do I adjust the emergency brake? I had the rear brakes replaced at a Ford garage and the emergency brake pedal goes to the floor when I set it but does not hold the truck on a hill. Should this have been properly adjusted as part of the rear brake job?
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sound sliek they didnt adjust the rear brakes properly. Take it back and tell them you would like them to finish the brake job, im sure you paid quite a bit going to the dealer.E-brake operation is part of a rear brake job
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OAUTO
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1994 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 300,000 MILES
Are there any emergency brake cable adjustment other than the one on the shoes inside the drum?
I put new shoes on and the emergency cable is freed up but they is still tension on the cable, I nee some more slack in the cable but did not see any adjustments no where along the cable under the truck. Both wheels are turning very hard.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 AT 10:39 AM (Merged)

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