Emergency Brake Cable(s) in '99 Ranger

WHat makes you think they're failing? It's not a common problem.

Well, last spring I had a lockup of the brakes on a very wet warm day when water was sloshing all over everything, then it got to sub-zero temperatures. I locked up the brakes, and had to spray anti-freeze all over everything and wait an hour or so in order to free up the rear drums.

Then I had a problem maybe a month or 6 weeks ago when the brakes locked up again. I did some polling of mechanical types, and they are telling me that probably the brake cables have let moisture in and what I saw in the second incident would be rust in the brake cables. (I take a bus to work, and do a fair bit of walking on weekends, so I think, the truck had sit idle for 2-3 weeks... so the theory is plausible, from my frame of reference.)

I'd not expect the brake pads to be absorbing moisture and swelling up - I admit that by local standards, we've had a wet summer, but by seacoast standards things are pretty dry around here. So if it is the brake pads, there should be a lot of other owners having the same problem. I'd think?

So from my perspective, it looks to be the brake cables...

H.

I doubt you have a cable problem. More likely it will be in the actuating mechanism the cable attaches to. That is where rust will sieze-up the works. Pull the wheels and check.

Dave S(Texas)

I agree - I would pull the wheel and drum and inspect the return springs and linkage. Cables only operate the emergency brake operation. Is this happening after you have parked and set the e-brake? If it is happening while you are driving, it has to be somehwere in the hydraulic system or in the wheel linkage/springs or possibly an adjuster out of whack but that would only affect one wheel. Interesting problem, let us know what you find out. Good Luck

Only happens after I have the emergency brake set for hours to days in high humidity conditions.

I'll pull the drums off and look at the little bits inside as suggested. If I see something with oxidization, I'll replace. And I'll inform this NG of my findings.

H.

If you start replacing everything with oxidation you'll be under your Ranger for a long time. Don't go tooooo crazy.

I was hoping to see something with rust dripping like blood from the fangs of Dracula, personally. Otherwise, I was planning to leave well enough alone.... I've seen a few brake assemblies in my life, so I sort of know what to look for. Kind of. It is just that I really don't like having the brakes sieze up on me, and I'd like to stop it from happening real soon again if I could.

(And going crazy is one of the few times I get to enjoy myself...)

H.