Parking brake -- help!

[Supermike]

So I was out driving the truck pretty much all day yesterday. She ran great and I didn't really have any problems short of getting used to the lack of power brakes (which I hope to remedy soon) and power steering.

Anyhow, at one point I parked on a hill and so I applied the parking brake. When I did, it "slipped" off to one side. I know it worked (I at first forgot to take it off when I got back in the truck), but I found that it is not bolted to the truck!!

Short of taking it all apart, can someone tell me what kind of bolt this is? Is the bolt supposed to enter from the outside and screw into the brake on the inside? Or has this sheared off over time?? Should I replace the brake assembly? Also, what should I put around this to keep it from leaking into the cab during heavy rain, etc.?

[fordman]

are the bolts broke off or are they just not bolted down? i had one break when i took it off.

[Supermike]

I don't know... I'd have to pull the thing down to tell. I guess that should't be too hard. If they are broken off, I guess I should find a new brake assembly?

[studdmstr]

The bolt is part of the parking brake assembly and then a nut screws onto it. I believe you can access the nuts from the drivers side wheel well. The easiest way, other than taking off the drivers side wheel, is to turn the wheels way to the left then use a flash light to look in.

[Supermike]

The bolts are sheared off... and rusted solid.

[studdmstr]

ouch!

[Supermike]

Wow! Lucky me! Tim P. had this up on eBay, and I just snagged it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &rd=1&rd=1

From Keith's descriptions, I was double-lucky in that this assembly appears to be from a 67...

http://www.fordification.com/67-72ID2.htm

I'm sure I could've scoured junkyards or found another rusty one, but for an assembly that has been sandblasted and repainted and also has a brand new factory correct rubber foot pad, I thought $34 was a good deal. He even discounted the shipping for me, which was cool considering my need for this.

[Tim P.]

Hey thanks mike BTY some good hardware stores have the thin ss washers with a rubber washer attached to it thoses work well for sealing out water around thoses holes im using them on my heater box mounting bolts at this time but any thin rubber washer will work.

[Supermike]

Thank YOU... and good tim on the rubber washers. I'll check it out if I can find a good hardware store. Lowes and Home Depot have run most of them out of business. You can't go into HD and buy two washers... they want you to buy a box of 25.

[Tim P.]

belive it or not lowes might have them i have seen them in there store here in michigan they have a nice selection of body bolts and clips too and some decient SS selection better than HomeDepot supply. I would check them out first they are open on sunday you can check your unit out for size you need and have everything ready for when your item arrives.

[ToughOldFord]

[jor]

Well, I learned something on this post. I have a 67 and a 68 and didn't know that E-brake assemblies were different. Thanks.
jor

[fordman]

yea i think that the 73-79s are different also they have a extension on the bolts. i think the distance between the dash and firewall is more on the 73-79 trucks.

[Tim P.]

does any body have pics of the parking brake area for the 73-79 truck doesnt that still have the same type of vent in that area too.

[fordman]

i don'ty have pics but i think the vents are the same.