rtallon Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 About two weeks ago, I "broke" my parking brake in my 2000 Expedition (about 89K miles). When I depressed the parking brake pedal to set it, it just went to the floor! Today, I went to get my state vehicle inspection as it had expired at the end of February. To my surprise, it won't pass because of the broken parking brake. So, my question is: Is it just a broken cable or something more? The brakes in the rear are about a year-and-a-half old. I have 15 days to get it fixed. How much is it going to cost? I plan to trade it in within the next six months and am hoping to get the quickest and least expensive fix. Please advise. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Can you fake the footbrake function to pass inspection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtallon Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Can you fake the footbrake function to pass inspection? How do you mean? After it passed everything else (emissions included), they drove it in the parking lot to test the brakes and then tried the parking brake. When it went to the floor, he said that he couldn't pass it. I just want it to pass and would love to be able to "rig" it to pass the inspection because we do plan to trade it in during the next six months for an '07 Expedition. I love this vehicle; but I don't want to spend a whole lot just to fix the parking brake! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtallon Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 I just got a quote from a local repair shop. They said that the parking brake cable has 3 parts - one in front and two in the rear. The front would cost around $140 installed and both rears $220 installed. You've got to be kidding?! Is there not some way to rig it with duct tape or hot glue?!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELlover Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 I just got a quote from a local repair shop. They said that the parking brake cable has 3 parts - one in front and two in the rear. The front would cost around $140 installed and both rears $220 installed. You've got to be kidding?! Is there not some way to rig it with duct tape or hot glue?!!! Maybe a bungee cord? Just kidding, I have no clue. I would just pay the $140 or $220 and be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 I just got a quote from a local repair shop. They said that the parking brake cable has 3 parts - one in front and two in the rear. The front would cost around $140 installed and both rears $220 installed. You've got to be kidding?! Is there not some way to rig it with duct tape or hot glue?!!! Most parking brakes operate through the use of high-tension springs/cables. Not exactly something that tape or hot glue are going to hold. Maybe you could talk to a Ford dealer and see if they could work out something about covering the repairs toward a discount on your new one. Worth a shot at least... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtallon Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Most parking brakes operate through the use of high-tension springs/cables. Not exactly something that tape or hot glue are going to hold. Maybe you could talk to a Ford dealer and see if they could work out something about covering the repairs toward a discount on your new one. Worth a shot at least... Good idea! I will give it a try. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 (edited) Just get it fixed! You need a parking brake! I had one of the three sections on my Explorer fixed by an honest mechanic. He said he 'recommends' all three sections, but only one section was actually damaged. So, he replaced one section and we are good to go. Find a guy who will fix only what is broken. You can crawl under to see what needs to be fixed, it is not that complicated. Typically, the cables fail or break because of a point where they rub against the frame. This, over time allows water into the housing, and the cable rusts, freezes or breaks. Parking brakes do not use the rear disc brake pads. There are shoes on the inside back of the rotor (you have to pull to rotor off to see). The parking brake shoes on the inside of the rear rotors are an expensive fix. They seem simple enough, but the parts alone are about $300. Edited March 7, 2007 by Kev-Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Just get it fixed! You need a parking brake! Baah!! I got by without one on my Cobra for 6 months. Sucked having to find parking spaces on flat ground all the time though. :lol: Parking brakes do not use the rear disc brake pads. There are shoes on the inside back of the rotor (you have to pull to rotor off to see). The parking brake shoes on the inside of the rear rotors are an expensive fix. They seem simple enough, but the parts alone are about $300. Depends on the parking brake. The ones used on my Mustang are simply springs attached to the backside of the caliper that press the pads against the disc when the brake handle is pulled up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELlover Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Baah!! I got by without one on my Cobra for 6 months. Sucked having to find parking spaces on flat ground all the time though. :lol: That happened in my GT Mustang and you are right it is freaking hard!!! I couldnt have lasted more than a few days I dont know how you did 6 months!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 That happened in my GT Mustang and you are right it is freaking hard!!! I couldnt have lasted more than a few days I dont know how you did 6 months!!! Well, luckily at this point it's only a secondary vehicle, so much of the 6 months was spent sitting in the garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtallon Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 I broke down and had it fixed this morning. The driver's side cable was broken. It cost me $125; but I am good to go for another year on inspection if need be! Thanks to all of you for your advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELlover Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I broke down and had it fixed this morning. The driver's side cable was broken. It cost me $125; but I am good to go for another year on inspection if need be! Thanks to all of you for your advice! Well least it was just the one cable and $125 isnt to bad. Now least you can pass inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docb969 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) For all you that have problems with your (Parking or E-Brake) first it is very important to keep it in good working order. All you need to do is apply it once a week or once a month at very least. Next depending on the cable being broken or the shoes being wore to dust, the parts are not very expensive. All you need to do is a little shopping. I found every part on E-bay. Sure I had to wait a few days for the parts to come in , but the savings was well worth the wait. I always check the local auto parts stores first. I get the prices, part numbers from them, and availability. I also get any other information I might need to do the job myself.(like if special tools are needed, ect..) I also will buy the shop manual, most range from (15 to 20 bucks) if I don't have it already. (NOTE:) Chilton or Hayes manuals have very good illlstrations and step by step instructions. I bought, New shoes, new Calapers, Rotors, a spring kit, new pads, and all 3 new cables for my 2000 Expedition. At the local parts houses, I got price ranges from 347.00 to 495.00 for the parts. I then went shopping on E-bay and got the same parts that the local parts houses had for 187.60 and free shipping (always look for free shipping, it will save you a bundle) with a 4 day wait on the parts. Now if it would have been critical to get my truck back on the road I would have got them local. (NOTE:) the local parts house's still had to order some of the parts due to not being a stocked idem. Now that I have my parts I had to decide wether to install them myself, or hire someone else to install them for me. I shopped for shops, to do the installs for me. Here is what I found. There labor rates range from (high) 550.00 (low) 155.00 The high one said it would take 20 hours to get it done. The lower one said it would take about 3 to 4 hours. So it pays to shop around if your going to let someone else do it for you. (Note:) always check online like Google or one of the others to see how much book time it is to replace the parts. This is how a lot of shops charge you on book time not actual time. Book time might say it takes 3 hours to change a part out, when in actual time it will take only 1.5 hours. So the shop charges you the 3 hours and profits big time. I chose to do it myself. It took me about 2 and a half hours on the first side and about 45 minutes on the other side to complete the brakes, and run the new rear cables. It took another hour and a half to install the front cable. So I saved a 155 bucks the next time I will oppt for the shop to do it, or at least the front cable. lol Hope this help all you with e-brake problems. Edited December 3, 2013 by Docb969 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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