Hello Ranger-Forum.

I just purchased a 2002 Ranger 3.0 4x4 with 10" rear drum brakes. The center parking brake cable had been cut by the previous owner when it got frozen. I ordered replacement for all the parking brake cables, front, center and both rears. So today I open up the drums to try and get started on the putting in the rear cables and I find the cable missing on the left side inside the drum. The housing around the cable is connected, but there's no cable in it. On the other side the cable is going into the drum, but it isn't connected to anything.

I also don't see any lever connected to the shoes that the cable should connect to. I'm now wondering if the last time the rear brakes were done on this they just didn't put the levers on the new brakes.

No big deal I think, I'll just go to rockauto and order some levers. Except rock auto doesn't list the parking brake levers as a part on the 02 ranger. And they list parking brake shoes as an available part, which makes no sense to me. Are there 02 Rangers with rear disk brakes that would have parking brake shoes?

Can anyone help me identify what part I need. I think it's ford part 2A637 but there's different styles for the 9" and 10" brakes. A part number search on rockauto finds More Information for DORMAN 924743 but I don't know which size brake that fits.

 

The parts you have found are for a Ranger or explorer with rear disk brakes.

The part you need, I have looked for on Ford parts online, Partsgeek and eBay.

I struck out, my guess is you will have to find what you need either by calling Ford directly.

Or just call up a salvage yard or craigslist listing of someone parting out a Ranger Or explorer with a 8.8 rear end with 10 inch drum brakes.

My guess is even if Ford comes up with a Part number they will not have these parts in stock or available.

 

Thanks. I guess I'll be searching the scrap yards this weekend then.

 

Well I was able to find a couple of in tact drums at the boneyard and scavaged the parking brake components. I installed these and all new parking brake cables yesterday. The problem is it's not tight enough.

Using the back access panel behind the drum I tightened the star wheel as much as I could. I also tried the trick of slamming on the brakes in reverse to force it to adjust and it still isn't tight enough to fully engage with the pedal on the floor.

I can pull the center cable by hand and feel the brakes engage, so I know that they work.

I'm thinking about cutting the center cable and adding a turnbuckle in the middle of it so I can adjust and tighten it further.

 

When you get time take some good pictures of what your rear brake shoes, springs etc look like on both sides and post them here.

I will look them over and give you a second set of eyes.

It sounds like you are using used brake drums from the salvage yard with your old brake shoes?

If this is the case you need to at minimum replace the brake shoes with new shoes, either replace the rear drums with new drums or have the new to you drums machined.

Brake parts are inexpensive if sourced correctly.

 

I'll try and get some pictures next time I have the wheels off.

I am using new shoes. I replaced the shoes, all springs, the star adjuster and all the parking brake cables with new (and also the rear right brake line after finding a leak).

If you look at this parts diagram the only parts I had to scavenge are the lever (2A637) and the link bar (2A642).

 

The only thing I can think may be a possibility is the parts supplier may have sent you a hardware kit for the 9 inch drum setup.

The kit for the 9 inch and 10 inch look very similar.

Do you still have the old hardware parts?

The self adjuster ( star wheel ) may be shorter for the 9 inch compared to the 10 inch setup.

Using new shoes and even older drums that have been machined,
this would leave the self adjuster with probably no more than 1/4 to 1/2 of a inch of threads exposed when the brakes are adjusted properly.

If you had to max this adjustment out and it still does not hold something is way wrong here.

Hopefully you still have the old shoes and old hardware parts so you can compare each part.

If everything matches up perfectly, is it possible you are turning the self adjuster the wrong way?

 

Funny you say that. I did get the wrong parts the first time, discovered that when I couldn't get the self-adjuster cable to reach. Took it back to the parts store and got the correct set for the 10" drums.

And I don't mean it's maxed out, like unthreaded all the way. I mean it's maxed out as in I've turned it as far as I can to the point that the shoes are tight against the drums, but the parking brake still goes to the floor.

Actually while writing this and looking at the parts I ordered, I figured out what the problem is. I ordered the wrong center cable. I ordered the one for the 118" wheel base, just checked the door sticker and my truck is the 112" wheel base.

 

I am glad you explained the issue better and found the problem.