Adjust Parking Brake

Tiny
JAMESMCKINNEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
How do you adjust the parking brake on a 2002 Explorer Sport. The pedal goes to the floor.
Do you
have the same problem?
Yes
No
Saturday, January 8th, 2011 AT 11:24 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Raise and support the vehicle.
Inspect for broken or binding parking brake cables

Parking Brake Shoes

Special Tool(s) Gauge, Brake Adjusting
206-D002 (D81L-1103-A) or equivalent

Removal and Installation

NOTE: Verify that the parking brake control (2780) is fully released.

Relieve the tension on the parking brake system.
Pull the front parking brake cable and conduit (2853).
Insert a 4 mm (5/32-inch) drill bit or equivalent retainer.

Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly.
CAUTION: To prevent damage to the brake hose, do not allow the disc brake caliper to hang suspended from the hose.

Remove the disc brake caliper.
Remove the two bolts and lift the disc brake caliper and brake pads off the brake disc.
Using mechanics wire, position the disc brake caliper aside.
Remove the brake disc.

NOTE: Wheel hub has been removed for clarity.

Remove the brake shoe retracting spring (2296).

Remove the brake shoe adjusting screw spring (2049).

Remove the brake adjuster screw (2041).

Remove the rear brake shoe hold-down springs (2068).

Remove the rear brake shoes and linings (2200).

Inspect the components for excessive wear or damage and install new as required.
WARNING: Always remove any corrosion, dirt or foreign material present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel, the surface of the wheel or the surface of the wheel hub, brake drum or brake disc that contacts the wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to loosen and come off while the vehicle is in motion, causing loss of control.

NOTE: Before installation, lubricate the applied parking brake shoe at points where it contacts the wheel knuckle 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.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Use the Brake Adjusting Gauge to measure the inside diameter of the drum position of the rear brake disc.
NOTE: Make sure the shoes are correctly centered. Take measurement across the center of the shoes.

Use the Brake Adjusting Gauge to set the rear brake shoe and lining diameter to 107 mm (0.042 in) less than the inside diameter of the drum portion of the rear brake disc.

Apply tension to the parking brake cable system.
Hold the front parking brake cable and conduit taut.
Remove the retainer from the parking brake control.

Check the operation of the parking brake.

Check out the guide below, it will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/parking-brake-shoe-replacement

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, January 8th, 2011 AT 11:53 PM
Tiny
MWO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 65,000 MILES
I am having difficulty loosening the parking brake to remove the rotor. I do not find an adjustment access point anywhere on the back of the hub? Typically I would take out the rubber boot and adjust the starwheel on the drum brake assembly. I cannot find it?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
There is an adjustment hole knockout panel or access plug that you must first remove in order to contract the parking brake shoe and lining. Don't forget to reinstall the plug or panel after installation because it is necessary to prevent contamination
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WP100
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I'm having the same problem with rear rotors on a 2005 Explorer. I used WD-40 on both rear rotors and let it set over night. This morning I beat on the rotors and the passenger side came off! I did the same on the drivers side, and although the driver side rotor is now loose, it seems the parking brake is keeping the rotor from coming off.

I looked for the adjustment hole to back off the parking brake, but there is no hole. Inspecting the passenger side (the rotor is now off and I can see it from both sides) I can see the round indentation where it looks like the hole should be in the backing plate, but the hole was never made. Any suggestions on how to get the driver side rotor off. Or another way to back off the parking brake to allow the rotor to slip off?

Thanks for any help!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDONNIEMANN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
Brakes problem
1998 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

hOW DO I ADJUST THE PARKING BRAKE?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JNOVACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 723 POSTS
If you have crum brakes there is a ajustment plug on back of drum jack truck and suport remove rubber plug and with a flat screw driver thighten the ajustment wheel so there is very little drag and your done
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAINEMITCH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD EXPLORER
Brakes problem
2001 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Manual

My Explorer is stuck in the driveway with the parking brake stuck. I released it but it seems to be stuck at the rear wheels, since the cable has some slack.
I've had the cable replaced before but this problem still occurs. Usually I just drive forward a few feet and it lets go. Not this time!
It's VERY cold today (single digits) so that may have a bearing.
Mainemitch
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Are they rear drum or disk brakes?

Jack up the back and take off the wheels and hit on the drums and see if you can loosen them up. Coudl be ice in the lines freezing it up. Drive a bit and they shoudl warm up and release.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACK5169
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
How do you get the emergency brake cable to release to repair the rear brakes?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Leave it on the lever and remove the lever from the shoe, then all you need to do is put it on the new shoe.I use Dykes and get under the clip and grab and pull. Thats for drum brakes, right?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOEGREEN_1999
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
2003 Explorer doesn have Drums, it has disks. Make sure your parking brake is off, then us a C-Clamp to compress the hydrallic cylinder so that you can remove the calliper from the disk
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INFORDEXPLORER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 FORD EXPLORER
  • 170,000 MILES
The parking brake in my 2000 Ford Explorer is not holding. Rolling backwards when in park with clicking sound. The gear selector looks like it is in park, but I have to put it in park again w/ more force to get it to stay.
I bought this used w/ 150,000 miles on it 2 yrs ago and took it to Ford dealer to fix known problems, 2 of which were parking brake not holding and gear selector not always going into park. They replaced the shifter cable and the rear parking brake cables. A year & 10,000 miles later, the gear selector felt looser and not always truly in park. Now 2 yrs later and at 170,000, it is rolling backwards and today it wouldn't start (wouldn't shift into any gear). A friend looked underneath and "pushed the lever at the box where the cable assembly hooks into transmission" and the gear selector moved again and it did start.
Am I going to need the same repair again that I got 20,000 miles ago? Pretty pricey. Or can we fix ourselves? Thank you!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
It sounds like the cable is loose where the outer casing is attached on the ends. That will prevent the cable from moving the lever on the transmission. The bracket holding the casing could be loose too. Someone will have to watch what it does while a helper works the shift lever inside.

As for the parking brake, Ford wrote the book on cables rusting tight and not moving within a year or two, especially if you live where they throw a pound of salt on an ounce of snow in the winter. The clue is the pedal will feel normal or unusually high. It can also become sluggish first leading to a parking brake that doesn't fully release.

Parking brake cables can stretch too over time and from frequent use, and need to be adjusted. The clue there is the pedal will go close to the floor with little resistance.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INFORDEXPLORER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
So it sounds like both cables need to be looked at. I wondered if the gear selector not being fully in park was causing the rolling, but that might not be the case---really could be two different problems? I remember the first repair, Ford said the shifter cable was stretched out. Thank you for info!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
It does suggest there's two different problems. You do not need to set the parking brake with an automatic transmission, but if it's not going fully into park, the parking brake should hold the vehicle from rolling.

Ford had a huge problem in the '70s and a lot of lawsuits and news stories over transmissions popping out of park and rolling away. That has been resolved. With those problems the shifter felt normal. Your observation about the feel says the loose casing is the likely culprit.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DALES3EVER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,500 MILES
How do I tighten the e-brake cable to make the brake hold stronger?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/261618_Noname_416.jpg



Thanks for using 2CarPros.com!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WHEELIEZ
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 169,000 MILES
Hi Guys,

Just had the parking brake shoes and spring kit replaced on my exploder XLT, and now, the parking brake cable snapped on me tonight. Where I have to park my truck is on a downhill slope, and don't really like having the weight of the truck on the transmission.

If you can help me to figure out how to change this thing, it would be greatly appreciated.

Beat wishes for the holiday season,

Mike
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Mike:

Which cable broke? Also, do you have rear drum or disc brakes?

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SAMAURI.JACK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
Where does the bottom spring (tension spring, or adjustment screw tension spring) attach itself to on the shoes of the rear wheels of a 1998 Ford Explorer. (4.0 L, SOHC if it matters)
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018 AT 5:43 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links