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zmasterflex
User
Mar 25, 2010, 7:54 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1795 views)
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Turn brake light off?
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2002 Ford Windstar 135k miles. Greetings all. I posted a few weeks ago about my brake light being on, It was suggested to me the my cylinders in the drums were leaking (they were). I changed both of those, replaced the shoes on both sides with all-new hardware. I bled the brakes and did some city driving. The light still didn't go off. When I have the car in drive at idle with my foot on the brake and I pull on the emergency brake and then let go of the brake pedal the car continues to roll forward, with only a little resistance. Presumably this has something to do with the light being on. What is the next step? thanks for any help....
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 25, 2010, 10:18 AM
Post #2 of 6
(1793 views)
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Re: Turn brake light off?
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OK: Rear drums are the parking brake and when brand new the parking brake won't work as well as even a few miles of break in. You must know the cable are free to fully retract, adjust the rear shoes up close without rubbing first, then the parking brake will behave. If drums have been cut/turned or near maxed out sometimes when all other adjustments are done and cable known free you can adjust the parking brake but really shouldn't have to unless you are putting a new cable in.
The warning light is probably the same light for ........... low fluid, pressure imbalance or parking brake on or won't release fully.
As said the adjustments need be done in order. If all was right the parking brake would still work better than your description so it's probably off or regular shoe adjustment is set to accommodate a frozen brake cable.
Some will not self center the pressure warning (multifunction proportioning valve) without some tricks but I don't think that's it. See if you can pull up more on parking brake then it retracts on its own - shouldn't go more,
T
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zmasterflex
User
Mar 26, 2010, 6:24 AM
Post #3 of 6
(1780 views)
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Re: Turn brake light off?
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Thanks for the quick reply, but I don't understand everything you said. When I changed the shoes I was barely able to get the drums back on, I had the adjustment as tight as possible. My fluid is toppped off and I assume the pressure balance is good because I bled the brakes and have been doing city driving 30 miles no problem. I gather from what you are saying that the problem lies in the parking brake. Where do I begin?
thanks
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 26, 2010, 6:40 AM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: Turn brake light off?
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">>When I changed the shoes I was barely able to get the drums back on, I had the adjustment as tight as possible.<<"
I have to run in a nano second so remind me to be more complete if needed.
This smacks of parking brake cable(s) being frozen or sticky. If you had to retract adjuster fully on used drums especially there wasn't much clearance because park brake may be partially on. I can only guess but when they are that tough as quoted above it indicates a problem.
Hey - sometimes replacements shoes are a bit large and shouldn't be but it's happened. Other factors too.
Try pulling on the cable if and where exposed under vehicle to see it move and return by hand. You can watch it there or go back to a brake (both rear) and see if you can pry or pull it further towards retracted mode which I bet it will or stuck so bad it can't work.
Something to test for now that could cause the light to light - this would be because it thinks parking brake isn't fully off at the moment if I'm guessing (best I can do without being there) is the issue,
T
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zmasterflex
User
Mar 26, 2010, 12:41 PM
Post #5 of 6
(1598 views)
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Re: Turn brake light off?
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Thanks again for the quick reply. When I did the drums I wanted to clean the area where the parking brake cable attaches, but I couldnt remove it because it was rusted solid on both drums. The replacement cable is <20 bucks so ill try to find time in the next week or 2 to swap it out. I have the manual so it shouldn't be too difficult, thanks for all the help...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 26, 2010, 3:39 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1597 views)
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Re: Turn brake light off?
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Rust can make what seems simple a nightmare. You may need more than one and where they adjust will be a mess too and may not cooperate. I strongly suggest getting exact replacement part(s) as the universal ones are a pill and a half to get right.
Also know that if you need one or more they are strong metal and don't just cut so easily. Prepare for imaginative, creative ways to remove rusted or stuck ones. Good luck. Ask away if they are giving you fits to get right,
T
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