Parking Brake Pedal
 

Good morning,

I have a 1993 Ford Ranger XLT, 2 wheel drive, manual trans, standard cab and bed.

When he bought the truck we knew it needed a new front parking brake cable as the one on there was stretched out. We purchased and installed replaced the parking brake cables from the brake pedal to the rear driver side drum brake. We have a small amount of tension, but the parking brake does not engage.

Two points I would like to make as they may be part of the issue. When we originally released the front parking brake cable, we did not lock the pedal mechanism with a lock pin or anything. Not sure if this is an issue that is causing an issue there. Also, I noticed that the cable that should split off to the passenger side of the truck was cut and the current new cables on there do not have a split in them.

I appreciate any help. My nephew turns 16 in February, truck won't pass inspection w/o parking brake, and he can't take his driver's test in the truck either.

Thank you

Doug

So, no one knows if not having the pin in the foot pedal mechanism when tension was released from parking brake cable would cause something to become "unsprung" on the foot pedal mechanism?

I'm not sure I'm following your description of the cabling layout. Are you saying that there is a connection in place to both rear drum brakes, or only to the drivers side?

When we got the truck, there was a series of cables that went from the inside parking brake foot pedal mechanism all the way to the rear, driver's side wheel/drum assembly. When we were under it last time, I noticed that there was a cable that was cut off near the rear driver's side wheel; the cut cable seemed to lead under the truck to the passenger's rear wheel.

Is this truck supposed to have parking brake cables to both rear wheels?

Bottom line, we have replaced the entire cabling system from the inside of the truck to the rear driver's side wheel. The parking brake is not engaging. The only thing that hasn't been replaced is the pedal mechanism in the cab. Also, we verified with wheelbase and drum measurements to get the correct cables. It seems as though the cable is very close to engaging, but it is not. We tried to adjust everything when the drum was off as well. No luck.

Yes, there should absolutely be a split that then leads to cables to each rear wheel.

Would not having both cables there cause the driver's side parking brake not to engage? I'm thinking this is an issue with the foot pedal assembly. And, that is a PITA to get to bc there is no room. I thought about taking out the driver's seat just to get some room LOL

I suspect that it would cause all of your problem, yes. At the very least - you actually know that it's wrong, rather than wondering about a possible issue with the pedal assembly. Fix the known problem first, then troubleshoot what remains.

Ok. I just wanted to see if I was missing anything else before I throw my back out trying to replace that foot pedal. Thank you, I appreciate your help and guidance!

These parking brakes are self adjusting, correct?

Theoretically, yes.

That comment exudes confidence LOL

We got the foot pedal assembly from a junkyard for $10 and will be putting it in this weekend. I will update accordingly.

They are self adjusting, I just don't have that much confidence in them working.

Why are you replacing the pedal assembly?

Parking cables were very stretched out when we bought the truck. We have replaced all cables from the foot pedal back and it is close, but won't fully engage when the pedal is engaged. When we replaced the cables, we did not have a "lock pin" in the foot pedal assembly as the manual called for. My belief is that when we released cable tension and the pedal assembly wasn't locked down, that something in the spring or ratchet system of the assembly released and now we have a small amount of slack; that the pedal assembly/gears/springs are not fully engaging the cable as it should. I hope that makes sense. It is the only thing that hasn't been replaced on the cabling system to the driver's side rear wheel.

So you have installed the missing cables to the passenger side?

not yet. The foot pedal is the next place to go, I think. Even if the passenger side cable wasn't hooked up, the driver's side should still engage, correct?

No. That would almost certainly cause the entire problem.

Oh snap. I guess I will try and figure out how that second cable attaches (right now, it is a straight shot of cables from cab to rear wheel. So I'm not sure how the second cable will connect). I will research all of this and go from there. I will see if I can find images online as a guide. I will also talk with O'Reilly's about the other cable. Thanks!

Update. This was a bit more than it should have been. But it's all done.
1: We had to take out and "wind" and pin the foot pedal mechanism. It was unsprung. I believe this would have been impossible to wind and pin while still in the truck.

2: FastPakr, you are absolutely right. You must have both rear cables. The driver's side rear cable is ridiculously long and had to be almost wound up under the bed.

3: The parts store gave us the wrong front cable. They gave us the normal 70" and we needed the long bed 75". So, we struggled to make up that 4-5" for a while until no amount of tugging was going to make it. Then we pulled the cable and measured it and found the issue.

It is done. It holds well. Lessons learned and hopefully shared well.

Thanks for the help FastPakr