dragging brakes?

[NisAznMonk]

Alright so my 2004 XLT 2wd is annoying me. The noise is coming from the rear, and it sounds like the brakes are dragging. I spent 4 hours today replacing the differential fluid, and rear brake pads.

The worn brake pads wore the same way on both sides. The inner pad was ever so slightly thicker than the outer pad. Normally I would assume that the calipers were sticky, but both sides were identical. I also had to buy the metallic pads because the "claw" on the ceramic pads were too big.

I then took the rotors off and inspected the parking brake. Nothing stuck out other than some rusty parts. I went ahead and turned the star wheel to adjust the shoes inward and started putting everything back together.

After I was done I took it for a spin, and the noise was still there! I even engaged the parking brake to see what would happen. The truck would not move at all. I disengaged the parking brake in hopes something would loosen up, and nothing changed. The noise is still there :thumbdwn:


What else can I check? Since the truck is an automatic I see no reason to ever engage the parking brake. Should I continue to adjust the shoes inward? Is there something I'm missing?


Other than that this truck is EXTREMELY comfortable. I like it alot more than my 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner as far as ride comfort. I just wish I could get rid of this darn noise issue.

 

[ncranchero]

The backing plate/shield rubbing the rotor would be the only other thing I can see it might be that sounds like what you describe.

 

[Carguy3J]

Alright so my 2004 XLT 2wd is annoying me. The noise is coming from the rear, and it sounds like the brakes are dragging. I spent 4 hours today replacing the differential fluid, and rear brake pads.

The worn brake pads wore the same way on both sides. The inner pad was ever so slightly thicker than the outer pad. Normally I would assume that the calipers were sticky, but both sides were identical. I also had to buy the metallic pads because the "claw" on the ceramic pads were too big.

I then took the rotors off and inspected the parking brake. Nothing stuck out other than some rusty parts. I went ahead and turned the star wheel to adjust the shoes inward and started putting everything back together.

After I was done I took it for a spin, and the noise was still there! I even engaged the parking brake to see what would happen. The truck would not move at all. I disengaged the parking brake in hopes something would loosen up, and nothing changed. The noise is still there :thumbdwn:


What else can I check? Since the truck is an automatic I see no reason to ever engage the parking brake. Should I continue to adjust the shoes inward? Is there something I'm missing?


Other than that this truck is EXTREMELY comfortable. I like it alot more than my 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner as far as ride comfort. I just wish I could get rid of this darn noise issue.

So, you see no reason to prevent the parking pawl from being snapped off from the weight of the truck? You see no reason to prevent your truck from rolling away on it's own?

The PARK position on an automatic trans is NOT a substitue for the parking brake/e-brake. The tiny little parking pawl in the trans is not meant to hold the weight of the vehicle, only to keep it from shifting out of park. It's a tiny little $.05 sliver of metal, but when it breaks the entire trans needs to be disassembled to remove it and repair the trans. Also, when it brakes, the truck will roll.

Also, remember that the parking brake is also called an emergency brake, because it's there for last ditch emergency stopping ability , in the event of total failure of the hydraulic system; so it's a good idea to keep it functional.

The backing plate/shield rubbing the rotor would be the only other thing I can see it might be that sounds like what you describe.

Could possibly be a bad bearing? It's hard to say without actually being there.

As far as the e-brake adjustment, back them off until you feel no resistance (to spinning the tire by hand), then tighten it up until there is a slight drag as you spin the tire.

 

[ncranchero]

So, you see no reason to prevent the parking pawl from being snapped off from the weight of the truck? You see no reason to prevent your truck from rolling away on it's own?

.....and don't you think you should double-knot your shoestrings to prevent them from coming untied and you tripping over them? I don't think he asked for a lesson in life.

The PARK position on an automatic trans is NOT a substitue for the parking brake/e-brake. The tiny little parking pawl in the trans is not meant to hold the weight of the vehicle, only to keep it from shifting out of park. It's a tiny little $.05 sliver of metal, but when it breaks the entire trans needs to be disassembled to remove it and repair the trans. Also, when it brakes, the truck will roll.

1.The pawl WILL hold the weight of the vehicle. 2.It's NOT a $.05 sliver of metal. 3.The trans will NOT have to be disassembled IF it ever broke. Rarely do you ever hear of a pawl breaking and if it happened to it's in the tail housing on these transmissions and can be easily repaired.

Also, remember that the parking brake is also called an emergency brake, because it's there for last ditch emergency stopping ability , in the event of total failure of the hydraulic system; so it's a good idea to keep it functional.

Not any more, not on a rear disc brake Ford. We replaced hundreds of rotors/parking brake shoes on our police fleet because the vehicles were driven with the parking brake applied.

Could possibly be a bad bearing? It's hard to say without actually being there.

If there were a bearing that sounded like a brake dragging I would think it would be quite evident it was a bearing........like the axle came out or the rear end locked up.

As far as the e-brake adjustment, back them off until you feel no resistance (to spinning the tire by hand), then tighten it up until there is a slight drag as you spin the tire.

I can agree there.