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  #1  
Old 12-20-2012, 10:40 AM
Halo34 Halo34 is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 143
Default Emergency Brake

Hi guys, I've done a lot of work to this truck in the last 4 days. Here's the rundown:

I was driving in Canton at 60 MPH on the interstate when some d-bag cuts me off. As quickly as they cut into my lane, they swerved left out of it. I realized that he saw stopped traffic directly in front of me and swerved. I did the same, mashing the brake pedal as I swerved left. Immediately, I realized I no longer had brakes. The pedal went straight to the floor. I'm changing lanes like a madman to avoid rear-ending anyone, and end up cruising down the inside breakdown lane at 30mph. Im trying the E-Brake and downshifting (5-spd) and I don't really seem to be slowing much. Well, luckily I got stopped about 30 feet from the 2 car accident and the Canton police car blocking the road before hitting them. The master cylinder wouldn't keep fluid, so I said eff it and drove the rest of the 60 miles home without brakes, just downshifting and timing the lights just right.

Well I get to a friend of mine's house on the outskirts of town so I didn't have to drive in town and parked it there. I see that I have a broken brake line going from the master cylinder to the driver's front. In cutting the line off at the brake hose, I cut the wrong one and ended up cutting the passenger front line. Great! Now I had to replace both of them. I got the lines, flared them myself, and replaced the lines, driver's brake hose (couldn't get the connector loose from the hose, and new driver's caliper (couldn't get the bleeder loose), and the pads up front.

I then went to bleeding the brakes. I couldn't get the back brake bleeders to break loose, I replaced the passenger rear bleeder, and broke off the driver's side one. So I bought a new wheelcylinder and small piece of line and cut a chunk off and replaced it from the wheel cylinder to the cut. I bought new brake shoes as well, because the ones on it were shot.

Here's where the trouble ensued. I did the passenger side fairly easily, but I went to the driver's side and I put everything where it is supposed to be and even got a new self adjuster set because the cable for the self adjuster was broken. The trouble is no matter how I fanagle it, I CANNOT get the hub to clear the shoes with the parking brake link in there!! I took it apart 3 times, yanked the emergency brake release handle, everything, and I cannot get the darned thing on. So I took the link out and slapped the hub right on. The brakes are fine now, and stopping is a breeze. I just have no idea what I can do to get that link in there and make the hub fit over the shoes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I hope you've enjoyed my tale...
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I don't jerry-rig, I make custom parts from alternative materials.

'93 Ranger Single Cab, Shortbed, 2.3, 5-spd.
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  #2  
Old 12-20-2012, 12:38 PM
sgtsandman sgtsandman is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,129
Default

It sounds like the parking brake cable on that side is hung up.

Sent from my DROID X2 using FRF App
'98 XLT, 2.5, 5MT, RWD
'11 XLT, 4.0, 5MT, 4X4
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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap
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  #3  
Old 12-20-2012, 12:44 PM
modelageek modelageek is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,268
Default Re: Emergency Brake

Quote:
Originally Posted by Halo34 View Post
Hi guys, I've done a lot of work to this truck in the last 4 days. Here's the rundown:

I was driving in Canton at 60 MPH on the interstate when some d-bag cuts me off. As quickly as they cut into my lane, they swerved left out of it. I realized that he saw stopped traffic directly in front of me and swerved. I did the same, mashing the brake pedal as I swerved left. Immediately, I realized I no longer had brakes. The pedal went straight to the floor. I'm changing lanes like a madman to avoid rear-ending anyone, and end up cruising down the inside breakdown lane at 30mph. Im trying the E-Brake and downshifting (5-spd) and I don't really seem to be slowing much. Well, luckily I got stopped about 30 feet from the 2 car accident and the Canton police car blocking the road before hitting them. The master cylinder wouldn't keep fluid, so I said eff it and drove the rest of the 60 miles home without brakes, just downshifting and timing the lights just right.

Well I get to a friend of mine's house on the outskirts of town so I didn't have to drive in town and parked it there. I see that I have a broken brake line going from the master cylinder to the driver's front. In cutting the line off at the brake hose, I cut the wrong one and ended up cutting the passenger front line. Great! Now I had to replace both of them. I got the lines, flared them myself, and replaced the lines, driver's brake hose (couldn't get the connector loose from the hose, and new driver's caliper (couldn't get the bleeder loose), and the pads up front.

I then went to bleeding the brakes. I couldn't get the back brake bleeders to break loose, I replaced the passenger rear bleeder, and broke off the driver's side one. So I bought a new wheelcylinder and small piece of line and cut a chunk off and replaced it from the wheel cylinder to the cut. I bought new brake shoes as well, because the ones on it were shot.

Here's where the trouble ensued. I did the passenger side fairly easily, but I went to the driver's side and I put everything where it is supposed to be and even got a new self adjuster set because the cable for the self adjuster was broken. The trouble is no matter how I fanagle it, I CANNOT get the hub to clear the shoes with the parking brake link in there!! I took it apart 3 times, yanked the emergency brake release handle, everything, and I cannot get the darned thing on. So I took the link out and slapped the hub right on. The brakes are fine now, and stopping is a breeze. I just have no idea what I can do to get that link in there and make the hub fit over the shoes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I hope you've enjoyed my tale...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sgtsandman View Post
It sounds like the parking brake cable on that side is hung up.

Sent from my DROID X2 using FRF App
'98 XLT, 2.5, 5MT, RWD
'11 XLT, 4.0, 5MT, 4X4
I have replaced all my brake lines, my shoes and all the ebrake cables....I think sgtsandman is onto something......these ebrake cables cause all kinds of issues when they get old.....I would replace both of the rear ones......they are cheap......there is a secret to it.......let me know if you want it.......
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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #4  
Old 12-20-2012, 01:09 PM
modelageek modelageek is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,268
Default Re: Emergency Brake

I think you have the same setup I had for the e-brake.......try to do this before you even attempt to change the cable.......you will need a helper............release the e-brake all the way....THE E-BRAKE MUST BE RELEASED ALL THE WAY.......PULL THE HANDLE OUT AND LIFT THE E-BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE IT IS RELEASED ALL THE WAY..........Have some under the truck and pull on the cable toward the REAR..if you cannot pull on the cable it is because the e-brake is not released all the way.....pull as far as you can....you cant pull to far less than 6 inches.......the other person has to stick a nail or screwdriver in the hole in the ebrake mechanism. the hole is next to a FORD insignia(the insignia is very very small......the size of a small bean).....once the screwdriver is in release the cable.......the cable will now be loose and you can unhook it.......I am including a picture of the e-brake. I removed it from my truck. you do not want to remove it. it is a PITA.......but you can see where I put the screwdriver in.......



----------

If you look closely in the center of the picture you will see the end of the cable and how it sits in the ebrake......the only way to get access to the end of the cable is by pulling back on the cable and exposing the end.......if you can figure out what I am saying you will save hours upon hours of work.........

----------

you can see where my cable busted. the only way I could get to it was to remove the mechanism.......I would suggest you replace all 4 cable if you can......I had a front cable.......and intermediate cable and 2 rears.....not sure what you have..get under and look.......you will see the cables connect with a turnbuckle type thing.
__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #5  
Old 12-20-2012, 04:23 PM
Halo34 Halo34 is offline
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 143
Default Re: Emergency Brake

nice. appreciate it man. I just now found out after driving to my moms that I have a brake fluid leak somewhere...smdh. well at least its in front of my house now. Im not gonna eff with it til after this storm goes thru and dumps whatever form of precipitation it decides.
__________________
I don't jerry-rig, I make custom parts from alternative materials.

'93 Ranger Single Cab, Shortbed, 2.3, 5-spd.
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