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Old 07-28-2025, 01:40 PM   #1
Forddan
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Default Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

Hi, sorry for my lack of a better technical language. As the title says, the emergency brake handle suddenly stop working. The car left Florida with all working. Sent to MA in an enclosed truck of a professional car transportation company. At arrival, the emergency brake was not working at all. When it is pulled to the back, returns to the front. It's not staying in position and not braking.

Please, can you provide me some guidance what do I have to look or in other words, what could be the problem.

Thank you,
Dan
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Old 07-28-2025, 01:51 PM   #2
Ruth
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

Sounds like the actuating rod fell off during transportation. Do you see anything dangling underneath?
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Old 07-28-2025, 02:41 PM   #3
Forddan
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

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Sounds like the actuating rod fell off during transportation. Do you see anything dangling underneath?
Thank you for your fast answer. My son, to whom I sent my Ford A from FL, went ahead and took out the floor mat and send me the below images. We think that those 2 pieces are disengaged. The kind off "hook" needs to engage the piece that is below with "teeths". If we are correct, that piece have 2 pins, then...

Removing those pins will free the "hook type piece" ?

And, how to reassemble it engaging what teeth?

Thank you !!

Screenshot_20250728_151631_WhatsApp.jpg

Screenshot_20250728_145947_WhatsApp.jpg
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Old 07-28-2025, 02:48 PM   #4
Ruth
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

Hard for me to see in the pictures, but it looks like someone just pulled the lever back too far. Pull it back an see if you cap "flip" the pawl back onto the teeth. I'm not that familiar with the early parking brake.
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Old 07-28-2025, 02:53 PM   #5
Keith True
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

For whatever reason,the moving pawl has jumped up over the fixed pawl.Not sure how it happened,but there it is.Go to the opposite side of the pivot,towards the drivers foot,and take the pinch bolt out.Slide the lever through the cast pivot until the ratchet pawls clear each other.Turn the moving pawl down to where they will engage,and slide it all back together.Then track down as to whay it happened.I suspect the parking brake was adjusted too loosely,and when somebody pushed their thumb on the button and pulled to release it,the pawl just popped up over the fixed part.Nobody actually did anything to break it.
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Old 07-28-2025, 03:11 PM   #6
Forddan
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith True View Post
For whatever reason,the moving pawl has jumped up over the fixed pawl.Not sure how it happened,but there it is.Go to the opposite side of the pivot,towards the drivers foot,and take the pinch bolt out.Slide the lever through the cast pivot until the ratchet pawls clear each other.Turn the moving pawl down to where they will engage,and slide it all back together.Then track down as to whay it happened.I suspect the parking brake was adjusted too loosely,and when somebody pushed their thumb on the button and pulled to release it,the pawl just popped up over the fixed part.Nobody actually did anything to break it.
Hi, I am assuming this is what you mean - remove that nut and take that bolt out?

1000076494.jpg

Is there anything else I should be aware of, like anything that should be loose / disengaged before removing that bolt and sliding the lever?
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Old 07-28-2025, 03:22 PM   #7
Keith True
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

Something that just occured to me.You MAY be able to take the pin out of the clevis on the riders side brake rod,and pull that lever back far enough for the parts to be turned back to where they belong.You MAY also be able to push the button down,and pull the lever back hard enough to roll the pawl back down into place.Things never pop back into place as easily as they popped out though.When properly adjusted you should be able to go from free wheeling to locked up in three clicks.
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Old 07-28-2025, 03:49 PM   #8
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

fixed, thank you.
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Old 07-28-2025, 04:29 PM   #9
Forddan
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith True View Post
For whatever reason,the moving pawl has jumped up over the fixed pawl.Not sure how it happened,but there it is.Go to the opposite side of the pivot,towards the drivers foot,and take the pinch bolt out.Slide the lever through the cast pivot until the ratchet pawls clear each other.Turn the moving pawl down to where they will engage,and slide it all back together.Then track down as to whay it happened.I suspect the parking brake was adjusted too loosely,and when somebody pushed their thumb on the button and pulled to release it,the pawl just popped up over the fixed part.Nobody actually did anything to break it.

Fixed, thank you !!! On the way you suggested that I quoted. Here are some images.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG-20250728-WA0024.jpg (28.6 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg IMG-20250728-WA0026.jpg (51.2 KB, 20 views)
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Old 07-28-2025, 05:01 PM   #10
Keith True
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Default Re: Emergency Brakes: Handle returns to "un-brake position"

You can see now just what happened.You should not have to pull that lever back that far to operate the parking brakes.If you can tighten the rod adjusters to the point that the wheels are locked at 3 clicks,and not drag when released,you'll be all set.
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