wrong e-brake cables?????

[F-100Ranger]

My 68 F-100 LWB styleside truck didn't have functional ebrakes when I bought it, so now that I'm rebuilding it I've run into a problem.

The rear brake cables don't seem to be long enough. They reach the rear cross member and lock in with the retainers, but the gage area comes up short. I only have about 8 inches gage area when the manuals show the free cable reaching over 2 thirds the way to the equalizer lever. Also, the cable for the front that runs from the lever to the pedal is not fully housed as shown in the same diagrams.

Is there an ebrake setup that was used for a couple years that isn't in the diagrams, or Is it possible that the previous owner installed ebrake cables from a swb truck - therefore couldn't make it work?

[Hawkrod]

The illustrations you are looking at are notoriously generic. They were usually drawn before the new model was actually even built so the manuals could be published and distributed with new model introduction and then the same drawings were then used for subsequent years if the changes were not significant. In your case you have a longbed so there are a pair of extensions that go on the cables you have to allow them to reach the rest of the linkage. Hawkrod

[FORDification]

... In your case you have a longbed so there are a pair of extensions that go on the cables you have to allow them to reach the rest of the linkage. Hawkrod

The SWB and LWB trucks actually used the same rear cables, so the LWB trucks used extensions to compensate for the difference in length.

Since a picture's worth a thousand words:

[fordman]

heres a set for you if you need it. they are exernutts. buti have them to sell for him.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 11&t=37583

[sideoilerfe]

It must be an F100 thing because I've never seen those extensions before on any of my F250s.

[Hawkrod]

F250's did not come in a short wheel base version and the brake cables are model specific so there was no need to make short one for the F250. That being said, longer than standard wheelbase models can use extenders as well (like Crew Cabs, later Super Cabs and even chassis cabs). Hawkrod

[sideoilerfe]

F250's did not come in a short wheel base version and the brake cables are model specific so there was no need to make short one for the F250. That being said, longer than standard wheelbase models can use extenders as well (like Crew Cabs, later Super Cabs and even chassis cabs). Hawkrod

I know the F250's were the long wheel base but why the extensions on the F100 long beds? Why not use the longer cables from the f250 models? Unless the cables themselves are different somehow.

[Hawkrod]

F250's did not come in a short wheel base version and the brake cables are model specific so there was no need to make short one for the F250. That being said, longer than standard wheelbase models can use extenders as well (like Crew Cabs, later Super Cabs and even chassis cabs). Hawkrod

I know the F250's were the long wheel base but why the extensions on the F100 long beds? Why not use the longer cables from the f250 models? Unless the cables themselves are different somehow.

Yes, F100 and F250 cables are physically different. This is due to the size and shape of the rear brakes. Even an F250 can be different from another F250 as there are actually more than one length based on brake size (an F250 with 2 inch wide brakes use a different length cable than 2 1/2 wide brakes)! Hawkrod

[sideoilerfe]

Cool. I wasn't aware of the difference as I've only had F250's.

[fordman]

thats wierd to have differet lenght cables for different width brakes. unless the width made the lenght different. moving the hook up point on the shoes.

[Hawkrod]

thats wierd to have differet lenght cables for different width brakes. unless the width made the lenght different. moving the hook up point on the shoes.

I have never compared them side by side but I would be willing to bet it is how the cable have to enter the backing plate. The wider rear brake shoes require a more deeply pressed backing plate (the front of the drum can't get closer to the wheel so the brakes wrap around the axle more to get the extra width) and so the cable enters differently. I am not positive on this point but it is that way on many other vehicles. Hawkrod

[fordman]

that could be why. it is bettter than my theory. for why.

[F-100Ranger]

I can see now that the extensions are what's missing. Actually, there was one extension and I couldn't make sense of just one. So now I need to find another extension and coupler.

But what about the single cable that runs from the lever forward? Is that one completely housed? mine is half housing and half bare cable

[fordman]

yes thats how the front ones look. half exposed cable and hal sheathed.