high pitched squeal- e brake???

[vdavis25]

Right rear is making the most god awful squealing noise :/ I drove it into town, came home, stopped at the mail box. Up my drive way, I could hear the high pitched squeal. Tires needed rotated anyhow, so I pulled them to find which tire was making the noise.

I pulled the caliper, we live on a gravel road and I was really hoping it was just dust or something, but no.

So what are my options here? Bombed e brake? A bearing of some sort?? My husband is hopefully heading home in the next few days, and I would like to get this figured out, so he can help me get it fixed. I searched for e brake, and found how to get it off, but not much on what happens if it goes out. We are also in a small town so I may have to order parts anyhow.

Thanks!!

 

[EXPLORER04]

New parking brake shoes are cheap. The easiest thing to do is to remove the parking brake shoes to see if noise stops. They are just held in there with clips and 2 springs.

 

[Exproblems]

. I searched for e brake, and found how to get it off, but not much on what happens if it goes out.
Thanks!!

To test the E-brakes to see if they are still working, turn the engine on and in PARK with the engine "idling" and push down on the E-brake pedal with your foot to "apply" the E-brake, holding the vehicle in place. Once the E-brake is set, put the vehicle in DRIVE with the engine "Idling" and if the E-brakes hold the vehicle in place(doesn't roll forward), they work okay in DRIVE. Next put the vehicle in REVERSE and see if they hold in place in that direction. If good, the E-brakes work as they should according to the New York State Vehicle Inspection rules. Every state that has a yearly vehicle inspection requirement could have different rules when it comes to E-brakes or other parts of the vehicle.
E-brake hardware can make the noise you hear especially when it gets rusty inside the inner rear rotor area where the brakes are housed. The springs or clips that hold them in place can also break from rust and rattle around in there scraping against the rear rotor when the wheels turn, causing the type of noise you hear.

 

[caspian65]

Had the lining separate from the parking brake shoes on an '02. Was kind of a pain to replace, but not bad. Was ridiculous how much Ford wanted for the shoes though. Got them at Advance Auto for around $20.

 

[vdavis25]

I will test that today Exproblems. Sounds like my husband will be home tomorrow *He works in ND* so I am planning on jacking it up, and pb blastering all around the rotor. I know it just squeals/squeaks LOUD in either direction and when I had the tire off yesterday, I can rotate the rotor a little bit each direction and it does it. Sounds terrible! I am really hoping it IS the e brake and not any bearings or anything like that.

Stupid question lol does it have the shoes on both sides? so if I get parts, I should get both sides? I really have no clue about brake stuff, I rarely deal with it!

 

[vdavis25]

So the shoes look great! I got the rotor off easily, thanks to reading on here. It appears it was just something in there, because I cleaned it all up with brake parts cleaner, took some sand paper to the inside of the rotor and the shoes, pb blastered the springs, and went over the shoes and rotor with brake parts cleaner again.

NO MORE NOISE!! I tested the brake like Exproblem said and it stops it both directions. Phew

Right after I got the rotor off:

and after cleaning it up:

I have shoes ordered, and will probably just pick them up and keep them, since they are only $32. Think we should just change them anyhow??

 

[Exproblems]

I am really hoping it IS the e brake and not any bearings or anything like that.

Stupid question lol does it have the shoes on both sides? so if I get parts, I should get both sides? I really have no clue about brake stuff, I rarely deal with it!

Bad wheel bearings tend to have a "growl like hum" to them that usually gets louder and steadier the faster you go.
The only stupid question is the one you failed to ask so you aren't asking a stupid question. Yes, the E-brakes have a pair of brake shoes on each side of the vehicle(2 shoe halves per side) and when you order the E-brake shoes, they should come as a set (4 shoe halves) to do each side of the vehicle at one price. You should order a new "E-brake hardware kit" as well and that should come complete as a set with enough hardware(springs,pins and caps, star wheel adjuster bolt and housing etc) to do both sides.
If you aren't sure where you are going to order the parts from, you can save some money by ordering them from www.advanceautoparts.com , but first go to www.couponcabin.com and get the "coupon code" you will need for the online discount during the ordering process at the Advance Auto Parts web site. At coupon cabin, just type in Advance Auto Parts into the search box and it will pull up the coupon codes for Advance. It will also direct link you to Advance Auto Parts web site. There is a box during the checkout process at Advance to enter the coupon code into and you will see the discounted price after you apply the coupon code. Advance has various coupons for different purchase amounts, but I know they have a $25 off coupon on a $70 order and new E-brake shoes and hardware kit might come close to $70 or so. Use the corresponding coupon code to the amount of your purchase to get the most savings. You can also have the parts shipped to your home from Advance Auto Parts. Hope this helps and good luck.

Edit: You posted just before me here and I'll leave this up on the board for someone else who may need the info in the future.

 

[vdavis25]

Thank you! I will look into ordering the hardware kit. And thanks for the tip on where to order. It will be $32 for the shoes, and I did not think that was too bad. I do not usually mess with the brakes, they always seemed hard to me, but, after messing with this one, I think it doesn't seem to be quite as difficult! I know everything is pretty rusted out, so I think replacing the hardware is a good idea anyhow. I would rather do it soon, instead of having it actually break on me.