My 99 5.2 D. has had major problems. Last time I had the passenger side drum removed the entire hardware kit and shoes fell into the mechanics lap. During that event the brake backing plate had broke and needed to be replaced. In a bit of an emergency the parking brake cable was cut from behind the brake plate. No I have no parking brake. Everything was put back together new shoes, hardware, wheel cylinders. About 4 months have passed and recently I heard a klinking noise coming from the back brakes. I removed the drum and the parking brake strut was dislodged. My question is can my D live with out the parking brake/strut and still function properly.

 

Should be ok without a parking brake for an emergency stand point, but I would surely fix is ASAP and that is a very dangerous not to have a parking brake.


Something tells me you need to take it back to the mechanic and have him fix it the right way!

 

Thank you for the reply,

the mechanic was a backyard mechanic so im going to have to replace the cable myself, fortunately it is like 12-15 bucks from a dealer. With 199,250
miles its starting to nickel and dime me. It may be time to put the old D down.