97 STD. CAB RANGER..2.3L 5-SPEED STEP SIDE SHORT BOX. just finished putting rear brakes, hardware kit, and starwheel adjusters on both sides, driver side seems to be ok, but passenger side locks up wiht starwheel COMPLETELY backed off, as soon as i put drum on pass. side it click click click clicks the star wheel and locks up when i turn it foward!?!?! i believe i have done all work correctly, my cable for parking brake is routed towards the REAR of vehicle(inside drum brake setup), the big shoes are towards the REAR of vehicle, is there something im missing or dont incorrectly? i believe whoever did brakes before me just let this issue go because when i pulled the drum off..the front shoe(smaller friction pad) was completely worn out and the cable for parking brake was snapped/rusted apart....PLEASE help me i need my truck tomorrow and it's already dark...

by the way; drums are 9"

 

take some pics

 

upon further tampering and messing; i thought maybe the parking brake cable(big long one over axle) may possibly be frozen; so i disconnected the pass. side cable and bashed the arm (inside the drum) back to the "unlock" position; put drum on and all was well!!! obviously i guess i got a frozen parking brake cable, does anybody know if im able to just leave it unhooked from the brake shoe?? leaving me with only one(driver side) parking brake setup. will that work ?

 

you should be fine leaving it off

 

Considering your trucks a 5-speed, i'd put it back on. I know you can stick it in 1st or Reverse, but buy a new parking brake cable setup and install it when you have time.

 

thanks for all info. will my parking brake work though with just the one wheel holding it back?? i VERY RARELY use it unless the trucks running and i get out, or im on a STEEP hill...

 

Try it in your driveway. Put the parking brake on, stick it in 1st, and tap the gas. See if it will move at all.

 

i havent had a p break for almost a year then again i have a manual tcase so if i have to park on a steep hill i just put it in 4l so it wont roll

 

Between the parking brake cable and rear wheel cylinder seizing up, it's a common issue with the Rangers. Also making sure to use the right replacement parts help. I made the mistake of trusting a friend at the local garage to replace my ebrake cables and rear drums, only to find out a year later things were braking or not working. Make sure you get the right sized drums, and right length cables.....LOL Or find out the hard way.

As a temp solution you can use just the one, but I'd eventually get them both up and going.