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How to Adjust Ford Drum Brakes Many times restoring proper brake pedal height and parking brake function is just a matter of adjusting the rear drum brakes on your Ford vehicle. As the brake shoes wear, the distance between the shoe and the drum increases. This causes the brake pedal or parking brake lever/pedal to move farther before the shoes make contact with the drum. Adjustment of the Ford drum brake system is well within the average home mechanic's ability. Things You'll Need Floor jack Jack stands Wheel chocks Lug wrench Drum brake adjusting tool Instructions Place wheel chocks behind the front wheels to prevent vehicle movement when the rear wheels are off. Raise the rear of the vehicle with the floor jack, and place jack stand under the frame. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands to support the weight of the vehicle. Never rely on the floor jack alone to support the vehicle. Remove the rear wheels and place them, along with the lug nuts, out of the wo

How to Adjust a Hand Brake in a Ford Escape The Ford Escape is equipped with either a traditional front disc/rear drum or a four-wheel disc with drum in hat parking brake function. Either system applies the parking brake by expanding a set of brake shoes against the friction surface of a drum. Adjusting the hand brake on your Ford Escape properly requires two steps. First, a brake shoe adjustment is necessary to ensure proper clearance between the brake shoes and drum, followed by a hand brake lever adjustment to adjust lever travel. Things You'll Need Wheel chocks Floor jack Jack stands Lug wrench Brake adjusting spoon Socket set Instructions Secure the front wheels by placing wheel chocks in front of and behind both front tires. Lift the rear of the Escape with a floor jack positioned under the center pivot of the rear suspension. Place jack stands under the rear control arms for safety. Remove the rear wheels with a lug wrench and set them aside.