Parking Brake Lever and Seal Replacement?

[glidere902003]

Hi all, new guy here. I stumbled onto this great site while having problems getting the rear rotors off to replace the parking brake shoes on my 1998, 2wd, rear disc Explorer.

Thanks to doing some extensive searching of this forum I found that this was a common problem, and that heat and the BFH was certainly the way to go. Problem number one solved. The next problem I have not found in my searching, so here goes.

The reason my parking brakes quit working seems to be that the parking brake levers rusted and quit releasing completely. One of the reasons for this (I use the parking brake all the time since it is a 5 speed) could be that the rubber boot seal in the backplate around the lever was torn. After removing the four bolts holding the backplate in place I was able to remove the seized up parking brake lever. The seal seems to be more involved unfortunately.

The rubber seal is also riveted to the backplate. It looks to me that the only way to repair this will be to remove the axle from the diff, so I can remove the backplate. Has anyone encountered this?

~So is the backing plate and seal available only as a set, and only through Ford? If so what was the price?
~Is there a kit to replace the rubber part only, through Ford or other? If anyone knows of something like this I would love to hear about it.
~Is axle removal inevitable? Seems like it. Can someone at least provide solace that removing the axles will make the parking brake shoe replacement MUUUUUCH easier?
~What do the parking brake levers (a two piece scissor affair) go for, and are they available anywhere but from Ford? If you know of any other sources please let me know.

Thanks for any help; hopefully future problems will not be this obscure, and future posts will be less wordy..

 

[CDW6212R]

Hello, I changed all of my brakes two years ago when I bought my 98. I waited until I changed my differential, to change the parking brake pads. I knew that it would be easier with the axle out of the way.
Those pads were about $85 from Ford, and the old ones were shot. I bet someone drove it with the parking brake on. Good luck,
DW

 

[glidere902003]

Thanks, yea it looks like the axles may as well come out and get new seals.

A call to Ford today yielded little joy. The actuators are $28.34 per side. I can sandblast mine and free them up for that.

The boots are thankfully available separately for $8.83 each, but they have to be ordered. If anyone happens to search this thread in the future the guy said it is part #2404 (which seems short to me, we'll see when I stop in to order them).

Now the funny part, they cannot seal the springs without selling me the whole backplate, which runs $137. WTF? Anyone out there had any luck finding a spring/hardware kit for the parking brake shoes?

 

[warpjavier]

Hi,
Same problem here.
I found in Advance Auto Parts that they sell the pads(like $16 both sides) and the springs kit (like $19 both sides) but they dont sell the actuator or lever or whatever they call it.
If anybody found that part, please post here where.

Thanks

 

[G-96XLT]

Just a heads up , don't go to Ford for any of the rear e brake stuff. it doesn't make sense since the design is poor and will rust
out again in a short time.


Get an aftermarket kit which has the springs and adjusters. The one I got was kit H7299 for $20 at the undercar specialist
place on 646 Magnetic, Toronto. Every other aftermarket place wanted to sell me a H7233 which is the pins and springs with no adjusters..
The Ford dealers are even bigger scumbags, they want to sell the hole kit including backplate for $225 CDN and it varies by dealer,
one dealer said I could buy the adjuster serparately at $35/ea.. a complete joke for 1 screw when a box of 12 cost $1.99.

The parts you need are wagner and raybestos part number and every dealer knows them. H7233 if you don't need adjsuters and 7299 with adjusters..

the good thing. The box of parts I bought seemed to be better quality over the factory originals and it was stamped Made in USA amd CANADA... AMEN.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's good to know for the hardware stuff. The parking brake pads are available easily now for about $20 at any parts stores.