Ford has basically used the Ford Ranger nameplate for a number of popular model lines of pickup trucks all over the world. And the nameplate suggests that the pickup trucks be the mid-size type as well as under the compact preference.

We’ve found a considerable amount of people trying to get the ford ranger drum brake diagram and information regarding the specific style of the brake system. And no way, we won’t be doing something about it.

Let’s tell you all the right things about the drum brakes and of course the simple visual demonstration including the component detail.

Enjoy!

Table of Contents show

The Basics of Brake Drums You Should Know

Now some of you might just wonder what exactly are brake drums and how do brake drums work?

Starting with the first question, it’s a type of brake system that comes with brake drums, or in other words, a rotor. The brake drum turns along with the wheels. And there are brake shoes inside each of these drums.

This attaches to the brake linings or friction material. And just to let you know we are already answering the 2^nd question, how the whole mechanism works basically.

So, there are pistons, a mechanism meant for pressure, and it has to press against the drums. It does so from the inside by the way. So that braking force is produced. That eventually worse for decelerating as well as stopping the vehicle.

Look wise, the brake drum is pretty hefty looking. Typically made of cast iron. And it resembles a cylinder that is several inches in height, a bit shallow looking, and has a diameter between 9-12 inches.

A surface that takes over the whole interior circumference is precisely machined. And this is for making the brake shoes stay in contact with the surface as soon as the brakes are applied. This transmits a hydraulic pressure on the wheel cylinder.

The brake shoes experience a force to go outward against the brake drum’s interior. So that there’s friction and the vehicle slows down.

Here are rear brake components that the brake drum will enclose completely while it stays over. The comments are springs and clips, parking brake mechanism, brake shoes, and wheel cylinder.

Lug nuts and wheel hold the drum to the wheel hub. However, a few configurations are slightly different, with a combination of drum and wheel hub working as a single unit. Typically, you will find the drum brake system that’s on the rear axle.

Now that you have a quite clear backstory on the system, let’s move to the ford ranger drum brake demonstration as well as some more discussion.

Ford Ranger Drum Brake Diagram

Now that you had a look at the drum brake of ford ranger, let’s find out what all the numbered parts are about.

1. Anchor Pin Plate

The very solid foundation playing the part of the drum brake is backing plates and these are metal-made. Material is usually steel for the plates and they come with wheel cylinder mounting most of the time. So that the ford ranger rear brake shoes can attach to these.

2. Anchor Pin

1 inch by 1 inch in diameter and height is what this next part, anchor pins is all about. This is basically here for making the floral foam secure to the container. And just providing that extra amount of security is sometimes necessary for certain arrangements.

3. Brake Cylinder

There needs to be a fraction material inside the drum brakes, and no it’s not brake pads. Instead of that, there is a wheel cylinder and pistons. This mechanism works combinedly for pushing the brake shoes against the spinning drum’s interior.

As soon as the contact, the rotation of the brake drum gets a little slower and stops at one point, the same goes for the wheel. Hence the vehicle stops.

The wheel cylinder is a critical component of the brake drum assembly and it needs to press against the ford ranger rear brake shoes. So that with the now-available friction vehicle can stop.

4. Secondary Shoe

Now there should be another trailing shoe, which falls into the secondary category use-wise. The direction of the leading shoe for pressing is along with the drum’s rotation. And due to this rating, shoes can press against the drum using a huger pressure to get a stronger braking force.

The crescent-shaped component, brake shoes come with friction material, that is quite rough, on one side.

5. Retracting Spring (Right Side)

Returning the brake shoes to their actual position is a big role to play. And that role is played by this part, Which we call retracting spring or return spring. It functions right before the pedal pressure or brake lever.

6. Cable Guide

This is a self-adjusting part of the drum brake. The part needs to have a matching design that fits and functions with the original guide.

7. Self-Adjuster Cable

This part is a self-adjuster cable and it works alongside the cable guide for the whole adjustments of the brakes.

8. Parking Brake Lever

The parking brake lever is the emergency brake option. And this one looks like a hand lever that works as a backup system for braking. The location is sometimes on the left side of the brake pedal or right between the seats on the front.

9. Pivot Hook

The pivot gook stays near the lever. And hook surfaces are square in shape. And the lever should be on the body that allows right pivoting.

10. Adjusting Lever

The adjusting lever stays on the parking brake assembly. And this requires some adjustments for the notched wheel. It attaches to one of the hoses. As the brakes are applied, no pressure gets towards the adjusting screw.

And that basically lets the lever rotate the notched wheel. Whenever the user applies the brake, the lever will rotate a ratchet wheel and eventually make brake shoe adjustments.

11. Pivot Nut

This is the adjusting pivot nut. And you can identify the part with the line numbers given around the nut’s body. A right-hand nut will have two lines. While the left-hand nut comes with just one line.

12. Adjusting Screw

This is a threaded mechanism. Similar to nut and bolt.

13. Socket

This is one of the minor but important mechanisms to exit for drum brake fitting.

14. Parking Brake Cable

In the parking brakes, there should be a cable. And it attaches with the 2-wheel brakes. So that it can work along with a pulling mechanism, as it connects to the part.

To reduce braking-relevant traction, the location of parking brakes is often kept for rear wheels. To get a clearer insight, you should check the ford ranger parking brake cable diagram.

15. Adjusting Lever Spring

The adjusting lever spring is another crucial part that makes sure the drum brakes are adjusted occasionally. And that helps it to operate properly throughout its’ lifespan.

16. Primary Shoe

This one is also called the leading shoe. And it needs to move along with the rotation’s direction. This is when the shoe needs to press against the drum.

17. Brake Shoe Hold-down Spring

You should find the brake shoe springs on the rear wheels inside the drum brakes. The brake shoes need to be pulled away from the wheel hub whenever the release of brake pedals takes place. And that is what the springs are in charge of.

18. Parking Brake Link Spring

The parking brake link springs worse with the main part called the parking brake of controlling the rear brakes. So that the vehicle does not roll or fall.

19. Retracting Spring (Left Side)

Similar to the 5 number part, it’s just on the left side.

20. Parking Brake Link

This part is a long metal-made sleek rod-looking one that is a very crucial component of the entire parking brake system.

Also Read: 1999 to 2022 Ford F150 Fuse Box Diagram & Complete Guide!

When To Replace: Ford Ranger Drum Brake Replacement Guide

As you are looking for the diagram, the chances of facing possible damage to a certain component are high. So, we wanted to add a section that talks about some noticeable signs, that you need a replacement.

The good news is that there are several high-quality ford ranger drum brake kit options that you can use for the task. And hiring an expert for getting it done is also an path. Let’s find out a few signs of needing replacement.

The very first sign would be reduced braking efficiency

Possible causes are uneven wear out in brake drum or even cracking or scoring. The stopping distance will get raised. If it’s worn out, then you can go for a brake lathe restoring path. But for a cracking drum, replacement is a must.

The next sign is vibration, noise, one side pulling, and pulsating brakes

Worn-down brake shoes are usually the reason behind such occurrences. It can also be due to be warped brake drum. Metal-to-metal contact could end up giving pedal pulsation issues.

And that makes the vehicle prone to pulling on one side. Sometimes vibration and noises accompany that whenever the brakes are applied. A thorough inspection of the brake system is necessary here.

Whenever you’ve done a brake shoe replacement

Replacing or resurfacing the drum is necessary as soon as you change the brake hoses. Installing new brake shoes on worn-out drums will only end up giving disappointing results.

Parking brake function ineffective

You will notice that the brake shoes are locked against the drum due to the parking brake. And often this takes place due to a cracked brake drum.

Excess pulling up of the parking brake ever can make the vehicle roll. Other common scenes are having seizure components on the parking brake or maladjustment. Removal of brake drum and repair or replacement will be necessary for solving the issues.

How to Replace Ford Ranger Drum Brake?

You might need a resurfacing or outright replacement of the brake drum. And in a few cases, replacement is cheaper than the other option. Of course, you need proper guidance for removing and installing the part the right way.

Here’s a short idea of how to do that:

Use steel jack stands for bringing the vehicle up and to give it the right support while you work.
Get the wheel assembly and tire out.
Now comes the part where you need to remove the brake drum. If it is rusted to the wheel hub, then you will require using a brake drum puller. If the wheel hub is integral to the drum, then you need to take out the wheel bearing and hub bearing retaining bolt. Carefully remove the drum.
Use a brake drum micrometer or a tool similar to functioning for finding the inside diameter of the drum’s machined surface next. You need a sufficient amount of metal for resurfacing the brake lathe drum. If the restoration demands more cost than replacement, better go for later.
Now you should be ready with the new drum (or the resurfaced one in case of that) along with other parts that are the backing plate, wheel cylinder, parking brake mechanism, and brake hoses. Thoroughly inspect the parts.
Anything that has worn out needs replacement. Also with new drums, new brake shoes are necessary. Or else irregular wear on the brake drum can take place causing ineffective braking.
Adjust the shoes and then install the drum. Apply proper sequence for installing as well as torquing the wheel and tire assembly. Check the vehicle on road to ensure safe operation of the brakes. And That’s All!

Warnings: Must Keep in Mind

Any brake work necessary on one exile end should be done for both ends. And this is for both brake drum and brake shoes servicing. Consider both sides of the axle to receive the same treatment.
When installing new shoes, replace all the springs in the ford ranger rear drum brake assembly. This is because the springs are exposed to high heat all the time. And so, a sudden breaking of spring might lead to the mispositioning brake shoe. That can result in serious safety issues later.
In the case of the integral wheel hub and bearing, grease replacement is recommended.

Making Ford Ranger Drum Brake Adjustments

You already know that the drum brake system that the Ford ranger uses is a servo style and rear one. And it comes with self-adjustment functions along with parking brake operation.

Proper adjustment of brake shoes will give a firm pedaling feel. And the adjustment also helps in activating the self-adjustment for shoes as they wear.

It will take you less than an hour for making the ford ranger drum brake adjustments and keep it working great. So definitely include it in your maintenance regime.

Here’s how to do it:

Use wheel chock for lifting and supporting the back wheels. Use a floor jack for raising the rear axle until the wheels take off the ground. The ranger should be relying on a jack stand with a position beneath the back axle tubes. Until that happens, keep lowering the jack.
Then you need to repeal the parking brake and get rid of all rubber access plugs that stay on the brake backing plate, on the lower edge more specifically. Use a screwdriver to pry those off if stuck for too long usage.
There should be a slot from which the rubber plugs were out, insert the brake adjusting spoon right here. The spoon will touch the adjuster and you should be able to feel it at some point. Pry the adjuster wheel by rotating the adjuster upward using the spoon. The wheels need spinning while adjusting the brakes and the shoes will slightly drag.
Use the floor jack for removing the ranger off jack stands, then gradually remove the stands. Let the vehicle come back to the ground. Go for a test drive and check whether or not it stops correctly. You also want to test f the parking brake is holding properly or not.

A Helpful Tutorial You May Need!

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

What is the ford ranger rear brake drum size?

The 4×4 rangers have drums of 10-inch size. While 9-in drum brakes are used for the 2×4 rangers. The drums that include cooling fins around the outside, can be identified as the 9-inch size type.

Is it safe to drive with a brake drum problem?

Not at all. there’s a serious safety issue with a vehicle that has a problematic brake drum. And so, you should get the issue identified as soon as possible and conduct further repair or replacement.

Why does Ford still use drum brakes?

Ford uses drum brakes for certain models as it is less costly to manufacture compared to disc brakes.

How many miles do drum brakes last?

Drum brakes will last be depending on how frequently one uses the vehicle. However, it should give a decent 200,000 miles of usage with proper maintenance.

Wrapping Up

Q: What is the ford ranger rear brake drum size?

The 4x4 rangers have drums of 10-inch size. While 9-in drum brakes are used for the 2x4 rangers. The drums that include cooling fins around the outside, can be identified as the 9-inch size type.

And that was a guide we wanted to make for a long time. You have the simple ford ranger drum brake diagram along with some other key information regarding the subject.

Hopefully, this was helpful. If you are not a person who knows much about how these automobile parts work and hence there’s little chance of solving the issue on your own, do take help from an expert and get the problem resolved quickly.

See You Again in Another Piece Soon!

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