Parking Brake Adjustment

[Chuck27]

Good day. 2-year member, but have seldom posted here.

My car is an '03 V8. I had it to the local Ford dealer for the 150,000 km service last week and also had the rear rotors & pads replaced. Got home and discovered the e-brake was not working. Back to the dealer, who insisted it was a coincidence (he shrugged and said, "Well, it's a Lincoln, eh") and instead of looking underneath, the "mechanic" hooked up a scanner and promptly told me that an actuator needed to be replaced.

I couldn't accept that explanation so I went home again and crawled underneath, and I can see that the actuator is working, it comes out to engage the brakes and then immediately returns to the home position, triggering the "service parking brake" message.

I think the "mechanic" may not have screwed the rear pistons back in far enough and so the e-brake actuator is retracting because it's seeing too much pressure before it is fully extended.

Before I go home, pull the wheels and start messing with things, does anyone have any comments on my diagnosis, other than to switch dealers?

Thanks.....

Chuck

 

[owlman]

According to my manual there is no trouble code from the scanner that just says the actuator needs to be replaced. There are other checks that need to be done once the DTC is identified.

When you disconnect the battery for a while you may have to do a parking brake reset procedure. You can try this first, maybe it will help!
Otherwise you/your mechanic should follow the DTC/pinpoint tests instructions.


Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) Resetting

NOTE: The EPB can be released after the battery is reconnected.

The EPB system must be reset whenever the battery has been disconnected or has been in a state of discharge.

To reset the EPB system, follow the steps:

1. Place gearshift selector in the PARK position.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.

3. Press the brake pedal and at the same time pull on the EPB switch.

4. Release the EPB switch. To release the EPB switch, push on the EPB switch while depressing the brake pedal.

 

[NYC LS8]

Betcha it's the same thing as on my car. Ford decided to use a plastic retainer piece that holds the parking brake cable inside of it and it mounts to a metal bracket. The plastic on mine cracked, which doesn't enable the parking brake cable to pull on the caliper giving that check parking brake message. Have a look at the calipers first and where the parking brake attaches. This piece can easily break while doing a brake job.

 

[Chuck27]

Wow...thanks, Owlman...the link to your manual is quite impressive and will undoubtedly be helpful later today.

Your comment that there is no DTC that says the actuator needs replacement serves to confirm my suspensions about the individual who did the brake job and now I'm suspicious of the dealer's motives as well.

Thanks also NYC. As I was researching this topic this morning, I noticed comments in other posts about that plastic part that holds the cable in place so I'll be taking a good look at those today as well. I would have hoped a Ford-trained and Ford-employed mechanic would have been trained to look for such a thing on a Ford product so I'd love to show the Service Manager where his mechanic broke something and failed to notice that he'd done it.

Then again, he could be right and I could be wrong, it would not be the first time. I'll find out later when the wheels come off, I guess.

Thanks again.

Chuck

 

[Chuck27]

Betcha it's the same thing as on my car. Ford decided to use a plastic retainer piece that holds the parking brake cable inside of it and it mounts to a metal bracket. The plastic on mine cracked, which doesn't enable the parking brake cable to pull on the caliper giving that check parking brake message. Have a look at the calipers first and where the parking brake attaches. This piece can easily break while doing a brake job.

It was even simpler than that.

The left side cable ferrule had not been re-inserted into the metal bracket so there wasn't enough take-up for the actuator to reach full stroke. A 2-second fix once the wheel was off.

That might have otherwise cost me $500. Thanks again, guys.

Chuck

 

[NYC LS8]

Even better

 

[Aquabrit]

Now go back to that 'mechanic' at the dealership and raise hell!!!

 

[Chuck27]

They've run out of chances. They won't be seeing any more of my money.

 

[joegr]

They've run out of chances. They won't be seeing any more of my money.

Let the owner/management of the dealership know why you won't be coming back (in detail). They may not care, but then again...