e-brake adjustment

[kevfromwales]

right guys

after the saga of the missing e-brake cable, I'm now ready to adjust the rear brakes - as the e-brake doesn't produce much in the way of braking
I took the halfshaft out, and got one drum off to have a look inside, make sure everything was as it should be - good news is new cylinders, and recent shoes too!
- question is, the handbrake actuating lever seems to be in the wrong position?

http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... akes01.jpg

looking at this ^^ parts diagram, the actuating lever 2A637 - on my drums the little nub at the top of the lever looks like it should be tight against the inside edge of the shoe - is this correct? -as at present it's about 1/2" from the shoe, as if it's too far forward??

any help would be much appreciated here - I'm so close to being on the road I can almost taste it!!

- kev

[fordman]

when that lever is pulled back it engauges the brakes. it should have some slack in it when the drum is off and looking at it. you can probably give more adjustment to the cable to make the brake work better. that extra 1/2 inch will let it adjust more. i do not remember exactly where it is suppose to set at. just as long as the shoe doesn't rub while the brake is off.

[Alvin in AZ]

Wow that surprised the heck out of me. :)
The rear brakes on my '75 F150 is a little different.
Mine's a Bendix and the one shown is a Web Ledge design.

The "eye" goes on the upper stud along with the rest of the parts in
the right order. :) Can't answer the distance question. :/ All I can
say is, after you've got everything adjusted up and it works right,
you're good to go. ;)

----------------------------

The adjustment instructions in the Ford Truck Shop Manual suck. :(
I ain't typing any of that crap out. LOL :)

Screw the cable adjuster nut down until the rear brakes are set good
and tight ...when the emergency brake pedal is about half way down.
Trial and error it, until you like it. LOL :)

---> But that's after the brakes are adjusted by the adjuster at the
bottom!

{edit}
You got a service manual?
If not, get one!
If so, read it! ;)

Alvin in AZ
ps- While I was researching and typing that out, Fordman posted.
pps- x2 on what he said. :)

[kevfromwales]

great stuff - yeah that makes sense now, thinking about it!

I'll give it a tweak tomorrow, and see if I can improve matters - then start putting the rear end back together and do the other side!

cheers fordman!

- kev

[70_F100]

Like Alvin said, adjust the shoes with the adjuster in the drum BEFORE you ever put any tension on the e-brake cables.