[5.0cobra]

i posted earlier about a grinding noise comin from my buddies gt. we got under it at the shop and it does in fact look like the park brake cable is rubbing the drive shaft. someone had made a comment about that. hopefully he see this and can give me a possible solution. or anyone for that matter. thanks

[rj8806]

The e-brake cable is rubbing on the driveshaft?

Has he changed something underneath to cause this or did it just start happening? There should be a pivot bracket that is attached underneath. This bracket is where the single cable coming from the e-brake handle, branches out into 2 cables that run to each back wheel. Did the bracket come off or get moved for some reason? If not, I would guess that the e-brake is not adjusted correctly... Does the e-brake work like it's supposed to? Is there slack in the cables?

Posting a picture of what you are seeing would be a HUGE help.





Richard
Tech Support
Tremec TKO, T45 & T56 Transmission Systems

[tayl81]

Yes. I have a '94 GT. Same noise, same issue. Took me 18 months to figure it out, and I finally found it when I changed out my cluch. This was a problem w/ 94 models. The tension on the T-Bar from the cable when tightening the parking brakes gets bent over time lowering the cable onto the driveshaft. I've got pictures of it, i just don't know how to post them. My name is Michael, my email address is BeaconSTpz@aol.com. Email a quick note and i'll respond with the pics. This is my first post, and i don't know how to attatch images yet.
The solution: My buddy who is a welder tacked that thing up there good so I don't have to drive around with a brick in the car incase I park somewhere on a hill.

[tayl81]

Okay, if i did this right, there should be 3 pictures. Here's what they are:

1) A goes to parking brake lever assembly in cabin.
B Each cable goes to each rear brake and pulls them.
over the years the on again off again tension begins to break the metal slab that keeps the 2 cables up away from the driveshaft.

Pic 2) is the metal slab breaking away from the body of the car.
pic 3) this is my driveshaft, see the shiney part up there towards the top, that's compliments of the thick casing those cables are enclosed with.

Hope this helps. Ya just got to weld that slab up there and she'll be fine. The other option is to disconnect the parking brake lever from the cable, i did that for about 8 months and i lived w/out a parking brake. Just blocked the tires on hills.

[5.0cobra]

got the pics. thanks for the help. i didn't look all that hard when we put it on the lift so i could not for the life of me think why that would be happeneing. i'm gonna look at it tomorrow. thanks again for the help. i think we caught it a bit earlier than you (as you said 18 months). it just started happeneing maybe a month ago. so our wear on the driveshaft isn't that noticeable. thanks again. glad we got the chance to catch it early. did you have to replace your driveshaft?

[piaband]

I was the one that told you about this originally.

Basically, you arent getting enough tension on your e-brake cables, so the tension equalizer bar is sagging onto the driveshaft. You will need to install new rear brake cables most likely.

Does your ebrake function properly? If not, I suspect its because you arent getting tension on your cables.

Also, have you gotten the Ford parking brake recall done yet? I ask because when they do the recall, they install a metal bracket that takes away the automatic tension adjustment. You need to go in and manually adjust the tension by removing this bracket and letting your tensioner take up the slack. Then, reinstall the metal bracket. If you do a search for parking brake recall, I posted some very good pics in there and it will tell you alot about it.

I have also heard that if you have lowered your vehicle, it may cause this, but I dont know about that and I cant understand if that would be true or not.

Good Luck.

PS:: Once I changed the rear brake cables, the parking brake works sooooo nice. Its amazing, its so easy to pull up and it holds nice and tight.

[5.0cobra]

actually come to think of it he hasn't gone in for the recall. i'll let him know and maybe that will take car of it. thanks for all the help.

[tayl81]

Originally Posted by 5.0cobra

got the pics. thanks for the help. i didn't look all that hard when we put it on the lift so i could not for the life of me think why that would be happeneing. i'm gonna look at it tomorrow. thanks again for the help. i think we caught it a bit earlier than you (as you said 18 months). it just started happeneing maybe a month ago. so our wear on the driveshaft isn't that noticeable. thanks again. glad we got the chance to catch it early. did you have to replace your driveshaft?

You're welcome. It was my pleasure. I took the driveshaft to have it balanced. They told me it didn't effect it, which i already had figured seeing as she rides smooth at 100mph+. It just polished a section of it for me.