I have had a loud noise that i have noticed when driving, and was pretty sure it was the wheel bearings or ball joints. Well I took it to firestone to have it checked out and apparently its the rear brakes and the guy is telling me that they completely shot.

I have never touched rear brakes before, but he said the drums and pads are terrible, and one of my cylinders on one side is gone. So just got off the phone with him about this and he is telling me its going to cost me $690 to have it done. I almost gagged.

I am about to pick it up and I think im just going to take it somewhere else instead or call around because I think that price is pretty high.
I'll let you all know more when I pick it up and check out the inspection sheet.

 

hold crap!!!! man 999999% if rangers out there have failed wheel cylinders. its very common.

lets see here
wheel cylinders around $35 each
brake shoe's like $45
get the drums turned $10each
rebuild spring kit if there shot hmm some where around $30
so ya.....find some one to help you work on it haha if you where closer I would say swing over after i get off work BUT thats a little drive justin

 

Wow I didnt know that people had troubles with their wheel cylinders. Yeah it sounds pretty damn high to me. When I look at the sheet I will know more, but defintely going to call around or try and get it done myself.

 

ya that wheel cylinder design has been around on ford trucks and such for years its a VERY common problem I have been through about 3 since i got my truck the weekend after i got it i pulled the brakes off the back and sure enough both where shot...

 

Fords development team is behind on their braking technology....

 

no there not behind its just how it is just like chevy has there qurks its just fords thats why the part is not very expansive

 

How can you tell if they're shot?

 

pop open the drum you will see the wheel cylinder on top of the backing plate. move the rubber boot off BOTH ends of the wheel cylinder and look at the piston inside if there is rust/water/fluid/ inbetween the boot and the piston then its shot

 

Well just got the truck back and they are saying it needs new drums, shoes, cylinders, and a new emergency brake cable. They also wanted to flush the brake system. With parts and labor they came out to $690!!!!

I picked the truck up and drove to a parts store and all of the parts not including the emergency brake cable cost $135. So doing it myself is looking better and better. My father in law is going to give me a hand, but I plan on checking with this local shop tommorow and see what they will charge first.

I dont really understand how the rear brakes got so bad, I havent noticed any problems breaking, plus the emergency brake thing is also weird.

I need to ask you guys a question though, does anyone have the CD for our trucks and can send me something describing how to do the rear brakes so it will make it a little easier? This would be very awesome and a huge help!!

 

there add ing to it now that truck is pretty much new but it does prolly need the cylinder though. And for the HELP GUIDE go to Autozonje and get a Haynes manual

 

The haynes manual only goes to 2000, should I just use that? I am guessing the breaks are probably the same. The parts store I was at didnt have one for rangers but I can look elsewhere.

 

Rear brakes will be the same, not a bad job. Should change the retainers also, they sell they as a kits, probably about $15 or $29 for the retainer kit.
Thats the little springs and locks that hold the shoes on.
Should only take ya a couple hours to do it.
Make sure your wash the new drums down with break cleaner to get rid of the packing grease coating oon them

 

Also make sure you spread a thin film of white litheaum grease on the rub pads on the backing plate, they are raised sections, you will se where the shoes rub on them by the wear

 

Justin would you be interested if if took my chiltons manual and copied all the brakework pages using a scanner? They should be the same, if not extremely similiar. Rangers only get appearance upgrades anymore lol

Aaron

 

Aaron if you have the time and dont mind that would be very helpful. Otherwise I need to track now a 2000 model Haynes manual.

Thanks

 

I have a something service manual that goes up to 04-05 models I think. I got it at autozone.

 

Well I just took my truck in for a second opinion at a local shop here and he says $680 to do it. And apparently the sound I was hearing is because the emergency cable is hung up in the rear.

So looks like I am gonna have to get this done myself cause I sure dont have $700.

Anyone have any idea how hard the cable is to replace, I am sure I can get the brakes done, but not sure what replacing the cable is like?

Thanks

 

cable is a pain in the *** just time consuming FOLLOW the instuctions on how to replace it i think i have the ford print out here if i can find it I will scan it in

 

Thats encouraging, haha. I plan on picking up the haynes manual for 2000 ranger, does it have how to replace the cable in it as well ya think.

 

Never mind I am wrong

 

the hung up emergency brake cable probably killed your rear brakes
a good suggestion when changing out drum brakes is to remove both the drums, but only take apart one sides mechanism at a time
this way in combination with whatever manual you are working with you can reference the untouched side to make sure you put parts back on in the proper order
good luck - it's not really that hard

 

Okay thanks for the help, and yea I was kinda thinking that about the cable. Any idea if replacing the cable is hard and what about as far as bleeding the brakes.