Parking Brake

Cable(s)

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1997-98 F-250HD and F-350

Parking brake cables—F-250HD and F-350

Click to enlarge

PARKING BRAKE CONTROL
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. Loosen the adjusting nut at the equalizer.
  3. Working in the engine compartment, remove the nuts attaching the parking brake control to the firewall.
  4. Remove the cable from the control assembly clevis by compressing the conduit end prongs.
  5. Installation is the reverse of removal. Torque the attaching nuts to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm).
EQUALIZER-TO-CONTROL ASSEMBLY CABLE
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. Back off the equalizer nut and disconnect the cable from the tension limiter.
  3. Remove the parking brake cable from the mount.
  4. Disconnect the forward end of the cable from the control assembly.
  5. Using a cord attached to the upper end of the cable, pull the cable from the vehicle.
  6. Installation is the reverse of removal. Adjust the parking brake.
EQUALIZER-TO-REAR WHEEL CABLE
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. Remove the wheels and brake drums.
  3. Remove the tension limiter.
  4. Remove the lock-nut from the threaded rod and disconnect the cable from the equalizer.
  5. Disconnect the cable housing from the frame bracket and pull the cable and housing out of the bracket.
  6. Disconnect the cables from the brake backing plates.
  7. With the spring tension removed from the lever, lift the cable out of the slot in the lever and remove the cable through the backing plate hole.
  8. Installation is the reverse of removal. On the F-250 and F-350, check the clearance between the parking brake operating lever and the cam plate. Clearance should be 0.015 in. (0.38mm) with the brakes fully released.
  9. Adjust the brakes.

F-150, F-250, Expedition and Navigator; 1999-00 F-250SD, F-350 and F-Super Duty Models

FRONT CABLE
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. While an assistant relieves tension on the system by pulling on the parking brake intermediate cable or the front brake cable insert a 5/32 inch (4mm) steel pin or equivalent drill bit into the hole provided in the parking brake control assembly.
  3. Disconnect the front cable from the parking brake cable equalizer.
  4. Lower the vehicle.
  5. Remove the front door scuff plate and cowl side trim panel.
  6. Disconnect the brake cable from the parking brake control.
  7. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  8. Pry the rubber seal from the floor pan and compress the cable retainer from the bracket.
  9. Remove the front parking brake cable from the vehicle.

To install:

  1. Feed the front parking brake cable through the hole in the front floor pan and secure the rubber grommet.
  2. Route the cable and conduit around the control assembly pulley and attach the cable to the control assembly. Make sure the connector is locked in place.
  3. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  4. Route the cable through the cable bracket and lock cable in place.
  5. Connect the front parking brake cable to the parking brake cable equalizer.
  6. Remove the steel pin or equivalent from the parking brake control assembly.
  7. Operate the parking brake control several times and verify correct parking brake operation.
REAR CABLE
  1. While an assistant relieves tension on the system by pulling on the parking brake intermediate cable or the front brake cable insert a 5/32 inch (4mm) steel pin or equivalent drill bit into the hole provided in the parking brake control assembly.
  2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  3. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  4. Remove the brake drum.
  5. Pull down on the front brake cable and disconnect the cable equalizer.
  6. Compress the retainer and release the rear brake cable from the bracket.
  7. Unclip the cable from the bracket.
  8. Remove the brake shoes and lift the parking brake rear cable out of the slot in the parking brake lever (attached to the secondary shoe).
  9. On the wheel side of the backing plate, compress the retainer fingers with a 9/16 inch flare nut wrench or equivalent and remove the rear cable through the hole in the backing plate.

To install:

  1. Route the cable through the hole in the backing plate. Insert the cable anchor behind the slot in the parking brake lever. Make sure the cable is securely engaged in the parking brake lever so the cable return spring is holding the cable in the parking brake lever.
  2. Push the retainer through the hole in the backing plate so the retainer prongs engage the backing plate.
  3. Insert the parking brake cable into the rear guide bracket.
  4. Connect the cable to the cable bracket ensuring the retainer locks in place.
  5. Connect the rear cable to the equalizer.
  6. Install rear brake drum and adjust rear brakes, if needed.
  7. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Torque the lug nuts to 83-112 ft. lbs. (113-153 Nm).
  8. Partially lower the vehicle.
  9. Apply and release the parking brake control several times. Rotate both wheels to ensure that the parking brakes apply and release without dragging.
  10. Lower the vehicle.
  11. Verify proper parking brake operation.

ADJUSTMENT

1997-98 F-250HD and F-350

Before making any parking brake adjustment, make sure that the drum brakes are properly adjusted.

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.
INITIAL ADJUSTMENT WHEN THE TENSION LIMITER HAS BEEN REPLACED
  1. Raise and support the vehicle on jackstands.
  2. Depress the parking brake pedal fully.
  3. Hold the tension limiter, install the equalizer nut and tighten it to a point 21/2 in. +/- 1/8in. (63.5mm +/- 3mm) up the rod.
  4. Check to make sure that the cinch strap has 13/8in. (35mm) remaining.

F-150, F-250, Expedition and Navigator; 1999-00 F-250SD, F-350 and F-Super Duty Models

The parking brake system is self-adjusting and requires no further adjustments.

Parking Brake Shoes

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

F-250, Expedition and Navigator

Parking brake shoes—F-250, Expedition and Navigator

Click to enlarge

Make sure the parking brake control is fully released.

  1. Relieve the tension on the parking brake system by pulling the front parking brake cable and conduit and inserting a suitable retainer.
CAUTION
The electrical power to the air suspension system must be shut off prior to hoisting, jacking or towing an air suspension vehicle. This can be accomplished by turning off the air suspension switch located in the rear jack storage area. Failure to do so can result in unexpected inflation or deflation of the air springs, which can result in shifting of the vehicle during these operations.
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely on jackstands.
  2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
WARNING
Do not let the rear disc brake caliper hang from caliper hose, use wire to hang it aside.
  1. Remove the rear brake disc caliper bolts.
  2. Remove the rear brake disc caliper and position aside.

Be sure to remove square cut O-rings from hub before removing rear brake disc.

  1. Remove the rear brake disc.
  2. Remove the brake shoe retracting spring.
  3. Remove the brake shoe adjusting screw spring.
  4. Remove the brake adjuster screw.
  5. Remove the rear brake shoe hold-down springs.
  6. Remove the rear brake shoes and linings along with the inboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  7. Inspect the components for excessive wear or damage and install new components as required.

To install:

Lubricate the brake shoe contact point before installation of rear brake shoes using Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound D7AZ-19A331-A (Motorcraft WA-10) or an equivalent silicone compound meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A.

  1. Install the rear brake shoes and linings along with the inboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  2. Install the brake shoe hold-down springs.
  3. Install the brake adjuster screw.
  4. Install the brake shoe adjusting screw spring.
  1. Use Brake Adjusting Gauge to measure the inside diameter of the drum portion of the rear brake disc.
  2. Use Brake Adjusting Gauge to set the rear brake shoe and lining diameter to 0.020 inch (0.5 mm) less than the inside diameter to the drum portion of the rear brake disc.

After rear brake disc has been installed, be sure to install the square cut O-ring in the hub groove.

  1. Install the rear brake disc.
  2. Install the rear disc brake caliper.
  3. Install the rear brake disc caliper-to-rear brake disc caliper anchor plate bolts.
  4. Clean the wheel hub mounting surface.
  5. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
  6. If equipped with air suspension, reactivate the system by turning on the air suspension switch.
  7. Lower the vehicle.
  8. Apply tension to the parking brake cable system.
  9. Hold the front parking brake cable and conduit taut.
  10. Remove the retainer from the parking brake control.
  11. Check the operation of the parking brake.

1999-00 F-250SD, F-350 and F-Super Duty Models

Parking brake shoes—1999-00 F-250SD, F-350 and F-Super Duty models

Click to enlarge

  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle securely on jackstands.
  2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
  3. Remove the rear disc brake rotor.
  4. Disconnect the rear parking brake cable at the parking brake cable equalizer.
  5. Disconnect the parking brake cable at the parking brake lever.
  6. Remove the outboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  7. Remove the brake shoe adjusting screw spring.
  8. Remove the brake shoe hold-down springs.
  9. Remove the brake adjuster screw.
  10. Remove the parking brake shoe and linings along with the inboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  11. Inspect the components for excessive wear or damage and replace as required.

To install:

Make sure the inboard brake shoe retracting spring is attached to the parking brake shoe.

  1. Install the LH parking brake shoe and brake shoe hold-down spring, along with the inboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  2. Connect the inboard brake shoe retracting spring to the RH parking brake shoe, and install the RH parking brake shoe and the brake shoe hold-down spring.
  3. Install the brake adjuster screw.
  4. Install the brake shoe adjusting screw spring.

The outboard brake shoe retracting spring mounts above the inboard brake shoe retracting spring.

  1. Install the outboard brake shoe retracting spring.
  2. Connect the parking brake cable at the parking brake lever.
  3. Connect the rear parking brake cable at the parking brake cable equalizer.
  4. Install the rear disc brake rotor.
  5. Use the Brake Adjusting Gauge to set the rear brake shoe and lining diameter to 0.030 inch (0.75 mm) less than the inside diameter of the drum portion of the rear disc brake rotor.
  6. Install the tire and wheel assembly.
  7. Lower the vehicle.

ADJUSTMENT

The parking brake system is self-adjusting and requires no further adjustments.

Chilton® Automotive Information Systems. © 2004 Thomson Delmar Learning.