Rear End noise.

[Whosondephone]

I've got a funny story for you all. I decided take the risk and put the 86 Mercury tires on the rear of the 04. I measured approximately a 4" reduction in clearance with the 86 tires and rims.

I started noticing a strange sound while going around turns. One day I hear a loud bang while feeling a jerk. The ABS light turned on. It felt to me like the E-brake cable was dragging and got caught under the rear tire pulling the cable out. I remember the cars behind me creating a good following distance.

I've been checking the wheel wells for rubbing and never seen any evidence of it. No visible damage of any kind in the undercarriage. I imagined the ABS ring came loose on the new Axle.

I took it to my mechanic because I didn't want to open the rear end again. Not to mention I was keeping my step father up all night hammering out those bearings at 2 or 3 in the morning.

Turns out the parking brake shoe assembly came off. My stepfather has a very steep driveway and I applied heavy pressure to the brake peddle untill it stoped rolling down the hill.

So I've been safely traveling in style all this time with no issues. Of course it handles a little funny. Thankfully I've gotten enough seniority at UPS to work closer to home at least for the winter.

So... Is the parking brake a joke? Just a half assed implementation to satisfy the DOT? I'm never using it again.

[sly]

The parking brake is typically fine, but in rust belt areas, the cable becomes a maintenance item due to being exposed to the elements. Replace the cable and have a nice day.

Also, stuff breaks. Replace it or live dangerously. Breaking the parking pawl in the transmission is a much more expensive thing to fix.

ABS light is probably because the sensor wire was cut when the cable f'd off.

[DerekTheGreat]

I've never had a car with a functional parking brake. No, I take that back. The Firebird's works, but that car has never seen salt. My Lincoln? It probably does, I've never used it because if it doesn't, I just created a bunch of work for myself. Michigan is pretty flat.

[gadget73]

The truck does, after losing a vehicle down a boat ramp that was non-negotiable.

At one point it worked on the Towncar. Might still but it hasn't been touched in years. Never tried the other two.