Chock the front wheels, release the parking brake, and engage 1st gear or P. Loosen the relevant wheel nuts, jack up the rear of the vehicle, and support it on axle stands before removing the rear wheels. Work on one brake assembly at a time, using the assembled brake for reference if necessary. Disconnect the ABS wiring connector if installed, then remove the rear brake drum and hub assembly by unscrewing the four bolts at the rear of the hub assembly to prevent damage to the wheel bearings. Note the installed position of the springs and brake shoes, clean the components with brake cleaner, and allow them to dry while positioning a tray beneath the back plate to catch fluid and residue. Remove the two shoe hold-down springs using pliers to depress the ends, then take out the hold-down pins from the back plate. Disconnect the top ends of the shoes from the wheel cylinder, taking care not to damage the rubber boots, and to prevent the wheel cylinder pistons from being accidentally ejected, install a suitable elastic band or wire over the cylinder/pistons, avoiding pressing the brake pedal while the shoes are removed. Pull the bottom end of the brake shoes from the bottom anchor, using pliers or an adjustable wrench if needed, then pull the parking brake cable spring back from the operating lever on the rear of the trailing shoe, unhook the cable end from the cut-out in the lever, and remove the brake shoes. On a clean bench, move the bottom ends of the brake shoes together and unhook the lower return spring, noting the location holes. Pull the leading shoe from the strut and brake shoe adjuster, unhook the upper return spring, and pull the adjustment strut to release it from the trailing brake shoe while removing the strut support spring. Inspect the wheel cylinder for signs of fluid leakage or defects. Clean the back plate and apply small amounts of high-melting-point brake grease to the brake shoe contact points, avoiding grease on any friction surfaces. Lubricate the sliding components of the brake shoe adjuster with high-melting-point brake grease, leaving the serrations on the eccentric cam clean. Install the new brake shoes by reversing the removal procedure, setting the eccentric cam at its lowest position before assembling it to the trailing shoe, and inspect the drum before replacing it. With the drum in position and all securing bolts and nuts tightened to their specified torque, install the wheel and carry out the replacement procedure on the remaining rear brake. Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel nuts to the specified torque. Depress the brake pedal several times to operate the self-adjusting mechanism and set the shoes at their normal operating position. Make several forward and reverse stops, operate the parking brake fully two or three times, and adjust the parking brake as required. Finally, conduct a road test to ensure the brakes are functioning correctly and to seat the new shoes to the contours of the drum, noting that full braking efficiency will not be achieved until they have seated.
Posted by FordPartsGiant Specialist