E-brake & Backing Plate Question

[wingzam]

Well,have started another round of truck maintnance,which with this 87 Ranger is actually "rebuild" or "restore" or "alot more than I expected to spend!" In this case am redoing the brakes starting in the rear.Problem #1 is the e-brake gets stuck once depressed.With the rear brakes disassembled I can find no sticking,etc..Questiono the springs on the e-brake cable (located where the cable plugs into the brake backing plate) supply all the spring pressure on that cable,or is there another spring somewhere?Problem #2:There are some deep grooves on the bottom brake shoe lands in the backing plate.I have ground them smooth so the shoes will move freely but am wondering - with all the metal I had to remove,will this cause the shoes to misalign and contact the edge of the shoes before they make full contact?

 

[Sprag-O]

#1 You have the springs on the end of the cable, and then a tensioner spring under the driver side seat area.
If the cable was sticky at all in the first place, for the price, I'd replace all the cables.

#2 Even if they were a little off, as soon as the brakes grabbed the drum they should "Re-align" with the drum while stopping.

If you had to take that much off the plate that it's really at an angle, Id consider replacing them, only like 6 bolts including the wheel cylinder. Which also you should look into replacing as well if you're in there... (The wheel cylinders- are ridiculously cheap)

 

[AllanD]

When the parking brake sticks it's almost always the axle cables.

AD

 

[wingzam]

Thanks for the reply Sprag-O and AllanD.Can't find the backing plates anywhere.Dealer and parts stores don't carry them and the only junk yard that has them will not seperate from rear end,wanting to sell as a whole assembly.Recent metals prices really cleaned out alot of older vehicles..I'll look for the spring under the seat and see how cables are routed.Hate to spend the last of my cookie money on a cable,but oh well..

 

[CraigK]

wingzam

If you locate backing/splash plates, please post your source. I am having trouble locating these. also.

CraigK

 

[wingzam]

Craig I don't have time to track down those backing plates as this is my daily driver.Was as conservative as I could be with the metal removal;there's still a bit of a notch there,but I figure it will be a good reservior for anti-seize compound (?).If it's a problem will do like I read in another post and have someone weld some metal on there and grind down to spec.Hate doing work like this cause requires removing the axles again...I call this "The Poor Boy Shuffle" - one of these days i'll write a song on that and make enough money to buy 2 junkers so i'll always have a back-up vehicle!

 

[snoopdoggie]

wingzam

If you locate backing/splash plates, please post your source. I am having trouble locating these. also.

CraigK

Is your axle a 7.5? I have one I'll part out. PM me.