Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum banner

E-Brake Locked.....Some help??

2K views 26 replies 8 participants last post by  stetson 
#1 ·
Anybody know how to unstick an e-brake? Truck sat for a couple of days with the e-brake on and now I can't get the truck to move. Took the assembly apart under the dash to check the cable and it was fine. Got under the truck and pulled on all the cables and they move freely but the truck still doesn't move. Engaged and disengaged the e-brake like 8 times also. No dice. Even put the truck in forward and reverse a few times, hit the throttle and no go. Anybody have any ideas??
 
#3 ·
Yeah Im not sure how that works on the 97. Does it have rear drums?
 
#6 ·
Do you use your E-brake often Rick? I hardly ever use them.

It doesn't move at all? I remember someone put my PSD's e-brake on, and I forgot to check since I don't use it, but I could still get it to move.. felt weird, then the annoying chiming from the dash let me know what was up. Anyway, sorry to hijack.

Wouldn't the E-brake only be on the drivers side rear?
 
#7 ·
Yeah Dave I use it all the time with the manual trans. Prolly should just stick it in first and leave it. I have one cable coming from the actual foot pedal down underneath the truck. Then halfway down the framerail there's a metal connector and it splits into 2 cables and continues to both rear drums. Scratchin' my head dude.
 
#8 ·
Since you have drums Like John said pull the tire off and give the drums a tap or two. Its probobly rusted up some. Your brake line or cables will be connected right to the brake shoes. Also your cables could be shot.
 
#12 ·
No probobly not but over time it probobly has rusted up drum brakes are good for that. When was the last time you had a brake job? On drum brakes there is lots of little moving parts springs that tend to get gunked up with grime and brake pad dust etc.
 
#13 ·
Newer truck to me Sean, just had it pass inspection at a local diesel shop where I know the guys who work there. They said the brakes were good. He only pulled the rear passenger side to do a visual though.
 
#14 ·
When you pull the brake release does the brake pedal spring back or just free float?
 
#15 ·
Springs back every time. I think as soon as I get home from work tomorrow I'm gonna jack up the rear end, pull both wheels and see what's going on.
 
#16 ·
Yeah once the wheels are off you will be able to tell what is up:thumb:
 
#17 ·
Can you think of anything specific I should look for? Haven't had my nose in a set of brakes in quite a while.
 
#18 ·
Get yourself a can or two of brake clean and spay the heck out of everything all the springs and levers inside the drum and see if that will free everything up for ya. Make sure you have somthing to catch all the crap that will come out of the brake.
 
#20 ·
You bet hope it works for ya:)
 
#21 ·
Just a quick trick to try. There is a cable that goes into the shoe pull inside the drum. It goes thru a housing outsdie the drum around 6 to 8 inches long. This is usually were the cable hangs up. Take a propane torch a slowly warm up the housing moving it back and forth along the cable. If the cable is froze up it should release the shoe. Try this on both sides. It helps if you have the wheels jacked up so you can try to turn them while heating the cable. Just something we used to do before tearing everything apart.
 
#24 ·
check the cable where the go into the brake backing plate. The plastic jacket gets beat to snot from rocks and other road schrapnel. If they are pitted up pretty good, water and dirt probably settled in and jammed them up, with some rust to boot. if this is the case, for less than 100 bux, replacement of both rear cables is the best option. if you can get the drum off, check to see that nothing has popped out of place, causing the brake mechanism to jam
 
#25 ·
alberta said it all!!! mine have done that yrs back i could beet the backing plate with hammer an it would work!!! Need to replace the short cables from the drums,im going to nextime i do braks. You can get them off but the drums are gonna be a plain female dog,
I have done this on ohter vechiles you may have to get it on stands and actualy pry them off htey will come off but its tough . If i am remebering rihgt i think i had to drive a screwdriver in and pry around the drum but this chews up shoes so you aill need to replace them also... You can do it but its tough........ I know been there done that got a "T" shirt Bill
 
#26 ·
O.K. update. Saturday morning finally got to truck. Took both rear wheels off and manually disengaged e-brakes. Sprayed everything down and cleaned out all dust and junk. Everything is unlocked now. New rear cables are a must, but for now i'll stick it in first to hold the truck. Thanks for all your help! :thumb:
 
#27 ·
I got stranded because of my emergency brake wouldn't release ! Ford in it's infinite wisdom decided to use two different metals that are not compatible which cause all kinds of problems.I don't use my e-brakes so the tend to freeze up it did on my 98 F150
and now on my 2000 F 250.Luckily the tow truck driver freed it up in no time but it cost me a vacation day!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top