I installed a used DTS Ford 9" rear this past May. Ever since then the parking/emergency brake is very hard to pull, and will not lock up the rear brakes good enough to hold the car still on even the very slightest incline.

It's not a matter of not pulling it up far or hard enough. I've pulled it to the point I've pulled the cable ends through the splitter bracket that turns the one cable into one going to each rear wheel.

Anyone seen this or know the possible solution? These are rear disks BTW.

Also, should I have used a different proportioning valve on this set up? I've always had dual disks, so I just re-used my old valve. Just wanting to make sure I didn't mess up on that point.....

 

Nobody experienced this or have any suggestions?

 

If your still running iron calipers that is your likely problem. They suck. The ebrake part of them is prone to freezing up and not working and possibly freezing up the entire caliper. I would look into upgrading calipers. I also have a 9" and the rear end it self should have nothing to do with the problem. I would suggest looking into new rear brakes. Wilwood makes kits and so does Currie enterprises. You can go with explorer style brakes for around $400 or the wilwoods for around $600. I personally made some custom brackets and used the aluminum pbr calipers with c4 disks. I haven't driven them yet so i can't say how good they will be, but should be a ton better than factory.

 

'91 car = PBR rear brakes standard so the old calipers aren't the issue, and keep your prop valve you have.

Have you tried to adjust the parking brake and the caliper settings? You may want to read this as it may help. I rarely have to adjust calipers but it can happen. Also recheck all your cables for binding. Crawl under the thing and have the wife or SO play with the e-brake while you look at what's going on underneath:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ght=adjustment

Ed

 

Let us know what happens. I've had the same problem on my 89 formula rear end with the pbr calipers. There are lots of adjustments you can make with those calipers and so far I havent had any good results. Brakes arent my area to begin with anyways.

 

Guess I wasn't clear enough to begin with, sorry.

Yep, adjusted the e-brake mechanism and have ghad it tight enough that I pulled the rear cables right out of the splitter bracket.

I'm not sure if they're Ford iron calipers or not (don't remember). I do know that the replacement brake pads use Explorer pad from 95 or 96 on this DTS-built Ford 9" rear. I'll check and get back to ya.

Ed - what caliper settings/adjustments are you referring to? THat could be my problem.... will try that this weekend once I figure out what you're talking about and how to do it.

One nuisance I've had with this 9" since installing it last May has been this lack of holding on the e-brake and how much tighter/harder it is to pull up the handle. Do-able for me, don't know if the wife could though. Luckily she doesn't know how or want to learn how to properly drive a manual tranny...

 

No one familiar with the Explorer rear disc brakes on an F-Body Ford 9" rear?

Guess I'll have to start carrying around a brick.....

 

it'll never work, so you should give your 9" to me.

since im so nice, i'll even pay shipping.


lol, you have the newer explorer calipers, right? you might want to see if theres a adjustment for them on a ford board... thats where id look.

 

Yeaj, they're supposed to be 95 or 96 Explorer calipers. I'll try to check your idea out, Thanks!

Uh, and thanks also for the offer, but I think I'll decline for now...

 

I have an explorer. This is what I know about the e brake. The ebrake on the 95+ explorers is the internal drum in the rotor hub type set up. There is a sinle adjustment star screw thingy between the shoes to set the spread. Once it's adjusted so that the shoes will fit into the drum it shouldn't need adjusted until the ebrake shoes need changed. Changing the shoes is a major PITA. When I did my explorer last year it took me about 45 minutes to get all the springs and pins and crap together with out pieces poping out everywhere for the first side. The other went a bit quicker. I don't rember exactly how it went to give you instructions. The directions that were in my haynes manual sucked so don't both looking there for info. like people have advised take the cables off the brakes and check to make sure they move free. After that I would pop of the rotors and check the ebrake set up. If one piece popped out of place for some reason it might jam up the lever.

 

OK, I'll do that this weekend. Thanks for the reply!