The Ford Taurus' rear brakes are comprised of two main components. There are the brake shoes within the drum assembly that work with the parking brake and then there is the parking brake itself. If the parking brake lever in the car becomes easier to pull, the rear brakes likely need adjusting. You need to adjust both the shoes and the parking brake, but you won't need to disassemble the whole rear brake assembly to do it.
Instructions
- 1
Raise the rear end of the Taurus and support it on jack stands. Block the front wheels and make sure the parking brake is applied. Loosen the lug nuts on each wheel prior to raising the car.
2Remove both the rear wheels. Remove the lug nuts for the wheels in a five-star pattern, moving to the nut on the opposite end of the one you previously removed.
3Take out the rubber inspection plug that is on the backing plate of the brake drum. Insert a narrow screwdriver or a brake adjusting tool into the inspection hole to access the star wheel.
4Turn the star wheel with the screw while turning the brake drum by hand. Turn it until the drum starts dragging, then lift up the adjuster lever so the star wheel will turn in the opposite direction. Turn the star wheel that way until the drum is just able to turn freely.
5Reinstall the plugs in the backing plates. Connect the wheels, using the same five-star pattern on the lug nuts. Release the parking brake, making sure the front wheels are still securely blocked.
6Adjust the parking brake by getting underneath the car, holding the brake cable with pliers so it won't turn and tightening the adjusting nut with a wrench while turning the wheels- this is much easier with at least two people. Tighten the nut until the wheels drag slightly, then turn the nut in the opposite direction until the wheels don't drag.
7Lower the car once you've adjusted the brakes on both sides.
