Removing E brake cable from drums...

[5.0CRAZY]

How do you do this? It looks like I have to take apart the drum, which I dont want to do cause I know nothing about them. Dont know if I have the right tools to take them apart either....

 

[93 teal terror]

You dont HAVE to have special tools to do the rear brakes, it just makes it much easier. I did my with a pair of pliers and a few screw drivers. I cant quite remember what happens when the brake cable comes off but that may be whats holding the shoes together. Actually removing the shoes is the hardest part so, dont be afraid to take the cable off. Just make sure you leave one side alone so you will have a reference.

Might be a good idea to get a good brake manual for future reference

 

[93 teal terror]

Now that I think about it....you should be able to take the cable off without touching the brakes. The green and white springs are what holds the shoes together. Just use a big screwdriver for leverage.

 

[jrichker]

For drum brakes, a shop manual is a must have. It is too easy for the occasional mechanic to lose track of how everything fits back together. The other possiblity is to take a picture with your digital camera before you take it apart.

The ebrake cable has a strong spring that fits between the actuator arm and the cable housing mount. It will be difficult to force the spring back enough to remove it from the actuator arm without removing the shoes. I use a big pair of dikes to slide in between the arm and the spring. That way I can push the spring back far enough to release the cable. Don't worry about damaging the cable - it is very hard and the dikes won't hurt it unless you have King Kong's grip and squeeze as hard as you can.

 

[blk92stangg]

Yes, get a shop manual, and if you can afford it, the 'special" tools, mainly the ford tool to remove and replace the shoe hold down. You need the manual because once you loosen tension on the thing random parts will fall off of it, and unless you have done a few, you may be in trouble.

 

[DirtyD916]

it actually really easy. Just take the drum cover off, (use the other side as a reference) And then find the cable that is simply placed on the end of the silver bracketry. I dont think you need to do anything more or have anything else besides just a screwdriver.

 

[blk92stangg]

IIRC, the cable snakes around here and there...or was that the auto adjuster cable? Well, I would still say get a manual if you can for the worse case scenarios, although the more I think about it DirtyD sounds right.

 

[5.0CRAZY]

Cool, Ill give it a shot today, thanks.