Parking brake from my '97. There is no tension on the cable. It doesn't look right to me. There is several inches or more of slack in the line and don't see any kind of adjustment that will take out that much slack.

 

The spring is attached at the wrong spot on the front. Where is is hooked to the mount is correct. Take the spring and attach it to the metal bracket, not the cable itself. This will give you back the tension needed to hold it up. Right now, the way it is, there is no spring pulling back the assembly.

 

I can do that but it won't help my problem. When I press the ebrake, it won't take up enough slack to engage.

 

Brad....that is the way this system works. I just had to replace a cable on my 98 that I put in a 2002 disc brake rear end into. If the rear end was changed, you could have a problem with wrong right side cable. If you haven't changed it, then you may need to check where the cable clips into the mount at the backing plate.

It looks like you have the right stuff, just not the spring to support the cable system. Check it out, and if it doesn't work, take another picture of the place where the two cables are joined by the 4 inch sleeve to the front cable.

Also more pictures of each section will help us help you. (rear axle cable area, front of the cable picture you posted, etc.) if the spring doesn't cure your problems.

 

I moved the spring and it did pick up some slack. I tried to get the drum off but couldn't get it. I'll try again later. I'm betting it probably needs new brakes and I can adjust it then.

 

You'll likely need to pop the rubber plug out of the backing plate, and turn the adjusters to bring the shoes in far enough to remove the drums. There's usually a "rim" of rust that forms and interferes with removal.

Andy

 

Poor design, screwed me over more than once. I hardly used it, but if I hit it accidentally or worse, - someone else moved the truck and used it, it would lock the rear tire...cable froze corrodes way to quickly. New cables, hardware wouldn't last. Michigan winters, -if I didn't maintenance the cable weekly...

Got rid of the system about 10 years ago. No funeral, and don't miss it one bit.

 

Parking brake cable not connected. This is what I have. It looks like there is a spring missing that goes to the actuator. AutoZone doesn't have it.

 

You are missing the e'brake pull back bar (lever). (red part in picture)

 

I believe this is the bar. You can see the hole. I can see another spring in other pictures online. Anyway, AutoZone doesn't carry the parts so I'm going to Ford tomorrow. This has been a royal pain... Thanks for helping me!..