First, start with Crispy's excellent write up
https://www.planet-9.com/threads/parking-brake-r-r.118802
This is an update from my experiences with taking apart and reassembling the parking brake on my 2009 CS. I am not going to go into taking it apart because nobody seems to struggle with that.
Reassembling, I think I found a trick that makes the job easier. Short version is, put the springs on first, then spread the shoes with a pry bar to avoid fighting the springs.
1) Join the shoes with the bottom spring (notches at the bottom).
2) Place the shoes up behind the hub but NOT against the backing plate. Get the bottom spring above the parking cable latch. This is important. If you continue with the spring below the latch, you will hate life.
3) Put the top spring on WITHOUT the adjuster. Should be easy because the adjuster isn't there and the bottom spring isn't stretched yet either.
4) Push the shoes back against the backing plate somewhat. The bottom of the shoes is still against the outside of the cable latch, so it won't go all the way.
5) Angle the adjuster in on one shoe, then use a screwdriver or small pry bar to spread the shoes and slip the adjuster in on the other side. Because the bottom is still loose you'll have to hold the first shoe in place.
6) Use your pry tool to pull the bottoms of the shoes out and get them to snap into place on the cable latch. The first one won't be too bad, but the second will be tricky. But LESS tricky than trying to pull a spring with pliers and get it to snap into place.
7) Install the 1/4 turn springs.
I figured this out after fighting and cussing for 90 minutes using all the suggestions I had read on this and other forums. Hope it helps.
Good write up. I have the misfortune of having the Escape with drum rears. If you think these are a circus the full size version are the big top in the circus. Flimsy retainer hats on short springs, high tension shoe retractors that resist even a snap on tool designed to stretch them into place and then a floating assembly that can also be tricky to manipulate. I know what I’m doing with them after many other pursuits before disc brakes but they are still subject to being a
“wrestling with a Russian bear” experience even with knowledge. Good on you getting them done, since they are parking shoes only you should never need to do them again. My dad knew how to rebuild transmissions and he did many but he didn’t enjoy the work, that’s how I feel about drums.
Great write-up,
@wwexell
-- seriously great job.
@Boristhespyder
- I NEVER enjoyed dealing with my drums on my former '68 VW bug. Vespa rear drums aren't too bad but this is the other size extreme.
After he sold his business in the final months he refused transmission rebuilds to the crying and gnashing of teeth of mortified customers who had to suck it up and go to AAMCO. 😂
This is a perfect way to install the brake shoes.... really no more than 10 minutes. And with the two small pressure springs, I actually compressed them with two tiny zip ties, inserted them, turned them, and cut and removed the zip ties. So easy!
