Parking brake auto adjusters 01 Expl. w/rear disc

[Drew2000]

Hey Guys,
2001 Explorer Sport with rear wheel disc brakes.

I know how to ajdust the p-brake manually, but how to I do the auto adjust when the drums are inside the discs like they are on this model?

I don't see how applying the service brakes while going in reverse could possibly work, because the service brakes are hydraulic and the p-brake is cable actuated.

I tried driving in reverse with the p-brake applied to see if that would work, but it was a no-go.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Drew

 

[ALYZ1FLR]

P brake.

I,m not positive but I think yours has auto adjust on the cable were it splits at the frame in front of the wheel well. Might be worth a look. If I run across some more info on It I will post a link.

 

[jimbo74]

drums are or should be self adjusting... there shouldnt really be any adjustment necessary other than driving in reverse with no type of brakes on whatsoever

 

[ALYZ1FLR]

Check his earlier post. He has disks. And drums must have the brakes applied in reverse to adjust.

 

[Drew2000]

Yeah this is a 4 wheel disc model, and I have heard conflicting information on whether or not they will self-adjust.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[Robert]

They self adjust when you use them. If you consistently use them, they will always stay in adjustment. You can manually asjust them through an oval hole in the back of the rear hub though. They adjust manually just like a standard drum brake does. Turn the little star wheel inside until you can't turn the wheel by hand. Back it off a couple of turns until it is free.

 

[dogfriend]

I have the factory manual for 97, which also has rear disc brakes. According to the shop manual, the parking brakes are not self-adjusting.

Also, I have replaced both the shoes and the rear rotors. When reassembling with new parts, you are supposed to adjust the shoes (dia) manually to be within .020 inches of the inside diameter of the drum built into the rear rotor.

I think that your system is probably the same. I'm not sure how they would be able to make them self adjusting in any event.

 

[Drew2000]

Thanks--that's what I was afraid of. Oh well, I'll just adjust them manually the next time the wheels are off.

Thanks,
Drew

 

[Robert]

I was going by the way the look and the way my Wife's '93 Sable's rear drum brakes self adjust. The internals looked very similar. I just looked in my service manual and it also states that the rear parking brake inside the disk assembly is not self adjusting and may require periodic adjustments. In the 90K miles I had on my parking brake shoes, I never needed to adjust them. When you think about it, once they are adjusted properly they shouldn't require adjustment unless you drive with them on. There shouldn't be any wear on them. All they do is press against the inside of the drum/rotor. That is why they are so thin (about 1/8" of material when new).

They do get old and fall apart though which is why I ended up having to replace mine. Three out of my four shoes had lost all of their material and had nothing but metal left. I only ever drove with them on once and that was only for about 1/2 mile. The brakes weren't even set hard enough to cause a drag. Since I drove off towards the sun, I didn't see the brake light until I turned. Since the brakes weren't causeing a drag, I doubt if that is what ruined the brakes but who knows.

 

[dogfriend]

Mine also fell apart and needed to be replaced at 55k when I did the rear brakes. This is after they had (supposedly) been replaced at 11k under warrenty by the previous owner. I just checked because I replaced the rear rotors (warped) and they look ok at 82k although there was one crack in the shoe lining near the center. They should be perfect, I only use them when towing the trailer which is only a few times a year.