2003 Ford Expedition E-Brake issues

(helinut) · (helinut) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 07-02-2008, 8:33 AM

Heya,

I just changed out the rotor and pads on my truck because of some shaking while braking. I was hoping it would solve why my E-Brake pretty much goes to the floor with very little braking. Is there something I'm missing? I wasn't able to replace the rear rotors yet since they are rusted on, but I will be replacing those tomorrow night. Suggestions?

(wake1823) · (wake1823) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 07-02-2008, 8:35 AM

your e-brake is tied into yrou rear rotors, that's why. replace thsoe and bleed and you'll be good to go.

(prostartjh) · (prostartjh) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 07-02-2008, 8:45 AM

The e-brake is inside the rotor of the rear brakes. It is actually a drum brake type setup. It's not fun replacing them.

(helinut) · (helinut) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 07-02-2008, 8:56 AM

The e-brake is inside the rotor of the rear brakes. It is actually a drum brake type setup. It's not fun replacing them.

Awww crap. I was hoping this wasn't the case. That would be why the rotors are shaped the way they are. I wondered why they had that cup that faces the inside of the brake. Is there actually pads within that drum?

(prostartjh) · (prostartjh) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 07-02-2008, 9:14 AM

Yeah, the e-brakes are actually shoes not pads. They are a real PITA to replace. You have to pull the axels out a little way to then slide the rotors away from the e-brake shoes. When it was time to replace my front and rear brakes, I threw everything away to went with Power Slot rotors with high performance pads and new e-brake shoes. My Expy will stop on a dime for a 5,500 lbs truck. It's great.

(guido) · (guido) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 07-02-2008, 10:26 AM

E-brake shoes could also be out of adjustment. You'll have to pull your rear rotors to have a look at the shoes.

(helinut) · (helinut) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 07-02-2008, 10:35 AM

Yeah, I'm hoping I just need to to adjust them and not replace them. That would be sweet. We'll see after tomorrow night :-)

(rodmcinnis) · (rodmcinnis) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 07-03-2008, 11:28 AM

Have you ever adjusted drum brakes?

It isn't hard to do and you don't need to take the drum off. In fact, they must be adjusted with the drum in place.

If you haven't inspected the drum brake shoes it would be wise to pull the drum off and inspect them. While you have the drum off do a "dry run" on adjusting so that you are familiar with what you are dealing with once the drum is on and you can't see.

There should be a little oval slot in the backing plate with a rubber plug in it. You pull the plug and reach in with an adjusting tool, which is a small bent lever. Sometimes you can use a screw driver.

Inside the drum, next to the hole there will be an adjusting wheel that has notches in it to catch the tool. You reach in, engage, pry up/down and the wheel moves one notch. Spin the wheel while you do this and adjust until the brake just starts to drag. Operate the brake a few times to center things up and repeat.

When you have the drum off and do your dry run make note of which way you need to turn the wheel to expand the shoes apart. Note that the other side will probably have reverse hand threads so it will go the opposite way, but then it is on the opposite side so it may seem to be the same, depending on how you are thinking about it, which is probably all wrong so do a dry run on the other side as well.

If you have both sides adjusted and the brake is still not engaging firmly when the pedal is to the floor then look for an adjustment on the cable itself. This is generally near the rear axle where the single cable from the pedal mechanism splits into two cables heading to each wheel.

Rod