How to Adjust the Parking Brake on a Ford F-150
by BretN
If your Ford F150 is having trouble staying parked on hills and the emergency brake is feeling soggy and loose, you may have to tighten it. You can do this without having to take it to a mechanic. The braking system is very important on every vehicle, so be sure to effect this repair properly. Since you will have to get under the truck to make this adjustment, take advantage of the situation and examine the rest of the brake components to make sure that everything is in good shape.
Step 1
Put the truck in gear and turn the engine off. Chock the front tires and jack the truck up. Place the truck on jack stands.
Step 2
Climb under the back of the truck and look behind one of the rear tires. Locate a rubber cap behind the brake dust cover and under the axle. Take the cap off with the flat-head screwdriver.
Step 3
Turn the adjustment star sits under the cap with the flat-head screwdriver. Turning it clockwise will tighten the emergency brakes and turning it counterclockwise will loosen the emergency brakes.
Step 4
Move to the other side of the truck and adjust the adjustment star in the same manner. Replace both caps.
Step 5
Let the truck down and put it into neutral. Engage the emergency brake and remove the chocks. Push the truck back and forth to see if the emergency brakes are holding -- in forward and reverse.
References
Tips
- After you are completed, take the truck to a hill and test the emergency brakes, pointing both up and down the hill.
Things You'll Need
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Wheel chocks
- Flat-head screwdriver
Warnings
- Never get under your truck unless the engine is off, the truck is in gear and there are chocks under the tires.
