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Thanks for the great video. I'm finishing up a complete brake job on my 2005 Ford Expedition. Had to do all 4 wheels, including new calipers, rotors, pads, and parking brake pads / hardware. Fronts are easy to do. Same with the rears. The parking/emergency brake was definitely the most frustrating. Luckily, these rarely need replacement. My rear parking brake looked slightly different than in the video, especially the springs. Those are a complete BASTARD to get on. My hands are literally "tore up" from pushing, bending, holding, and repeated slipping of those damm springs. I did notice one thing with um: once you actually get them spread it's not too bad. But the initial spreading of the springs especially the upper, is brutal. Use a good set of vice grip needle nose and ensure you have it crazy tight on that upper spring. You have to get it just right or you won't be able to get the spring end inside the groove if the vice grips aren't positioned properly. It's a tough job with one person. If you had an extra set of hands to hold the entire pad assembly from moving while you use two hands to push on the vice grips, it really helps. I found the pads moved a bit while trying to spread the spring with the vice grips and than BAM everything comes apart, including the lower spring and adjustment wheel you just spent time putting together. Than you gotta start all over again with the bottom which SUCKS !!!!! I don't wish this job on my nasty neighbor.

I did the drivers side on my Explorer today after watching other videos. It took me forever, very frustrating. I was just going to bag the passenger side, but your video gave me the courage to finish the job tomorrow. Like F. Ramos below, I ended up using a long thin screwdriver to pop the large spring into place. Also, I used one of the new clips on the more easily accessed pin, but I found the original pin and clip easier to do on the other side (the side where you had to fish the pin through with a wire). This is a terrible job to have to do. Thanks for the detailed video Jim.

Great video helped me out changing out a broken wheel stud on my 05 Explorer. I was able to get it back together pretty easily, until that dreaded last spring at the top. The locking pliers didn't work for me, however, I cut a notch in an old 12" flat blade screwdriver with my grinder and was able to wiggle it in.

Thank you for the detailed step by step video, and the plus on using the wire for the pin.

Gonna be honest, this video is a life saver and ur an honest man for not adding on charges to change the rotor and brake pads!

Been regretting doing this repair for sometime, but today I mounted drilled & slotted rotors and new pads on my '05 Explorer, and now the repair was staring me in the face. Had a set of shoes for my '96 Explorer and they fit. I pulled up this vid and finished off one side in less than 25 minutes & 20 for the other. I'd done this once before on my son's Expedition and it took 2 hours, for one side!. Looked at this vid and BAM!! done that quick. Differences were, the pin you couldn't get to hold in place, I could with my finger, took a while to find, but it's there. The top spring popped right in place using a thin screwdriver then doing the old "slide job" technique used on mounting the springs on drum brakes also my clips did not require the turning of the pin to lock in place. Hitting the like button now.....

Props to you guy! I just did one side on my Explorer and it took me a solid 2 1/2hrs. You did it in 20 mins and with patience. Those V clips and pins weren’t too bad, thanks to your video. That large top spring tho… oh my gosh…I couldn’t pull the spring without the vise grips slipping out of my hands. I installed a new knuckle so I had the oily coating from that all over me and my tools haha. I’m going to try to do the other side quicker now that I think I know what I’m doing! Haha thanks brother!

Keep up the good work Jim! I love watching your videos.

Thanks for this video , most helpful ! I ended up using a long and thin screwdriver on that upper spring ( much like using the brake caliper tool they normally using for drum brakes ) I guess I'm not strong enough because I couldn't get that spring on with the needle nose locking pliers and the long shafted screwdriver gave me leverage to slide over that upper spring into the slot !

That wire tip for the recessed pin was a great idea. I’m totally stealing it and claiming it as my own. Also I’ve seen videos where the guys install the top spring before the 2nd shoe. Seems much easier since you’ve got the entire shoe to manipulate and bring it into position. Thanks for the video!!

Jim, 1. Thank you for your honest video. A lesser man would have edited all the struggle out, but you were honest enough to show it. 2. I found your video -after- I spent the best part of two days struggling and cussing. 3. Some folks here, like me, have two springs at the top instead of one. It depends on the Explorer. Mine is a 97 AWD Explorer with 5.0 liter engine. One emergency brake spring is behind the top and one is to the outside. No amount of vise grips or struggle worked for me. I finally figured out this method: a) install rear spring across both shoes apart from the wheel. Use the bent metal hook on the shoe to place spring and avoid round holes as they are not for the top springs. Then wrangle the left shoe over the top brake mechanism. Fairly easy. Now, the hard part. With the right shoe completely loose and not in its final slot, it will be closer to the left shoe and therefore the 2nd outer spring will be easier to place. Place the outer spring in place on both shoes. The outer spring will need to be under the mechanism. Use the video's method with vise grips, but the stretch is much easier. Now, cuss and struggle, use multiple screw drivers of all sizes and pry the right shoe into its final location. If you're lucky the two springs will still be in place. Now, install the pin on the left shoe. Then use a pry bar or screwdriver and move the right shoe enough that the shoe pin can be installed on the right shoe. At this point tap the shoes at the top until both shoes are flush to top mechanism. Now, pry and install the star adjuster. Just make sure the adjuster star is available to the little oval window so that it can be adjusted from behind the wheel. Then install white smaller spring. Then adjust.

Much thanks Jim, you saved me a lot of time.

I appreciate that you didn't edit out the difficult part as most people do. I get less frustrated knowing that it's not just me :)

great thorough video. I was able to replace e brake shoes because of his help.

Thank you, this was very helpful!

A trick I learned was to put the top spring on the 2 shoes, put lug studs on either side of the e-brake seperator then pull over the top then put the clips and lower spring and adjuster on.

Nice tip on using wire to pull the pin back through....Thanks Jim !

Thanks your video helped out on my 97 Ford Explorer!

Very nice! You have a pleasant and honest way about you! Wish you were my mechanic!

Honest real time shoe replacement. Thanks for this Jim!

I used a small round magnetic pickup tool to hold the difficult pin in place instead of the wire it allowed pressure on the pin instead of gripping it with needle nose

Jim, nice job and great video to learn from!

For the recessed pin, I found it easiest to tape a long nail head-to-head with the pin. Then you can both guide it back in and hold pressure on it with your finger while installing the retaining clip. Much less cursing that way.

Jim you are an amazing mechanic. I have seen my brother put tons of these shoes on like that. He is a good mechanic. But he doesn't have pactents like you do. I said it before and I will say it again. I sure wish I lived near your garage. Awesome video my friend.

That was a very difficult job you had replacing the Emergency Brake shoes, but you got it done properly. It reminds me of replacing the drum brakes on my 1987 Chevy S-10 Blazer.

Awesome man! Thanks. Ur a great instructor!

Outstanding! thanks for helping this Ol Toot! One side done! Some one Remover the adjuster!

Thank you. Really good information.

Thank you so much for this video. You saved my life!!!!

Great video! That wire trick saved my life!

Thanks a lot for you video Very helpful

You are right when you said the top spring is a pain in the #$!. I could not get it using the vise grip. Here's what i did. I pulled a small skinny punch out of the tool box. Got the first side in and then ran the punch through the other loop and then the tip of punch in the hole. I stretched it and used a screw driver to help slide the spring down the punch. It took a couple of attempts but once it got caught on the lip of the hole I used the screw driver to push it in the rest of the way. First side about 90 min and lots of cussing..Second side about 30 min..Thanks for the video.

could you sometime show how to adjust the rear shoes?

Idk what I would had did if it wasn't for this video thankyou you this video was a lot of help.

great video! could you sometime show how to adjust the rear shoes?

Thanks so much Jim! Pulling and replacing those springs is a b*tch! Your demonstration and words of encouragement made my day.

Terrible job to do. I did it on my 97 Explorer 4 years ago when I got it and also had to remove and free up the applying mechanisms at the top that were all rusted together. As I recall I got the driver side together OK. On the passenger side I didn't have good leverage to stretch the upper spring in left-handed and I had a terrible time with a big pry bar . In fact on the 97 it is of course a solid axle and some of the internet advice is to pull out the axle shafts for access. I didn't, but if I had to do it again, I would. (Believe me. I don't intend to do it again) Good job Jim. Thanks for showing us.

Great video!!

Good video and a lot of new tricks thanks a lot for demonstration

PITA, Every time I pull off the rear wheels I hope and pray the little shoes are ok. LOL

Fantastic I've been looking for this video I just bought a very clean Explorer with a few problems n breaks are 1 of them this will be the 1st time for me working on this style of breaks so wish me luck n I hope the Explorer keeps all of its windows through this ordeal 😁

what are the best type of vise grip pliers to get?

Best advise during this whole video to me was the "If you have problems step back and take a break." Something that I hardly ever do and get so overly frustrated.

Very good video

Jim do you know where the transmission control solenoid is located on a 2001 Grand Prix with a 3.8?

Awesome job!

Thanks for this. I was hoping to find some magic trick to make it easier, but that was wishful thinking. Can you tell me though: Does the star adjuster orient the same on both sides, or is the star toward the front on the passenger side? Thanks.

So the clippers can face up or down? Because the old one face down the new one you put on face up

Hey Jim is it normal for abs and parking brake light to come out when I disconnected rear emergency brake?

With the brakes and tire on how do you adjust the star wheel to tighten the e-brake from under the car which way do you turn it thank you

On the back passenger side, should the star adjuster thing be facing the front or the back?

very Good friend

Nice video but one question. Are you using 2 different type of clips. Slide lock type (old ones) and rotate lock type (new ones)?

Hey, would this also course the foot leaver not to go back up?, my cables are good

How does the e brake cable tie into the shoe assembly

Great video! Thank you :))

Much easier to do with the hub off. What to replaces 2 wheels bearings. Thanks for the video.

Jim, great video but you didn't show how to adjust the star, install the rotor and then go behind the backing plate, remove the rubber grommet and adjust the star again until the pads just start rubbing against the inside of the rotor and then turn the star the opposite way just a bit. Were you planning on a separate video for that? Keep the videos coming! Great job!

Hi I have a 2010 4x4 sport.do you have anything on how the parking brake lever hooks to the cable? looks like it goes between shoes? on mine the cable is not hooked to lever . having trouble finding how to hook cable on lever!

great job just need better lights on shop

@ 3:20 is a clip I need. Took my rotors off and that piece had broken off and I have no idea how to put it back since I didn't take it off. Wasn't even sure it could be done without pulling the hub out

I have an Explorer that is a few years older than this one that has two upper springs on the shoes. I'm not sure what technique to use to remove and reinstall the inner spring. What's your method for the two spring type? Thanks for all of the videos.

Can you replace the stud after taking off the brake shoes?

This is one of those brake jobs, that you change everything, with new parts. It looks like you have to adjust the parking brake shoes, with the rotor off. But how do you adjust the shoes in, if you're having trouble getting the rotor off?

Jim, in my particular case the emergency Brake shoes comes with two springs , one in the Back an one on the front, a nasty nightmare to take of and a near imposible nightmare to put in due to the Hub interfering with the rear spring,.... thinking maybe removing the rear axle to install the Shoes? any input will depply apreciated " I hapend to be working on a 98 Mountanier rear Brake shoes emergency...what a terrible design LOL

Thanks man! that was very helpful. I will definitely take it to a mechanic. haha. jk ILL TRY.

Been there , done that. The time to do those shoes is when you change the bearing because the hub is off. One of the worst setups I have worked on.

Ok so I watch your video and it was pretty good but the retainers and clips install didn't work so good. Took me longer to address the pin then the rest of the repair. This is what I figured out. I used a long handle needle nose pliers holding the end of the clip compressed, secured pin on a pocket screwdriver with magnet end attach to the driver with scotch tape together. I slid clip up between hub and shoe, insert the pin from the rear of back plate and turn to lock position. Pull off screwdriver with the tape and check if secured. Tried the wire thing and it kept falling out. Thank you the the video please add in my method it work better then the wire trick.

I would have put the spring in b4 putting the brake shoe on, maybe on both brake shoes if possible!

wouldn't it be easier to pull the axle?

Good Video. Lots of off camera cursing, I'm sure. Lol.

I bought 2 new front hood support bars, but I won't install them. I can send you one for free. Can you take a picture of how to install?

napas e brake hardware kit SUCKS for this ap plication,i use the new top &botton springs& reuse the old pins & flat springs.the flat springs have no spring to them &the pins are smashed on the end,very easy to destroy

I slapped the wheels back on and took it to the mechanic. this job SUCKS! best $65 bucks ive ever spent.

I'm trying to imagine doing this with the rear up on jackstands and me sitting on the ground. I might prefer eating a bucket of live bees instead.

Those clips are the worst thing Ford came up with I am use to the push and turn keepers and I wonder why there is no auto adjustment anymore like the older fords

Those parking brake shoes are a pain in the ass Jim. What about removing the hub assembly for space?

no link smmH!

They sure don't give you much room to work on these park brake shoes. I use hemostats to keep the two pins from falling out of the shoes while trying to place the clips over them.

Kind of a fussy job but I'm guessing this wasn't your first rodeo.

Please Lord - Jesus let the parking brake pads be OK when I tear it apart 😩

this is a fake video because you dont show the second spring hidden behind the first spring this second spring is harder to remove than the one you show in front and removing the hold down locking clips are very hard to remove.please make a video showing you removing the back spring you wont look like such an amazing mechanic if you struggle to remove that back spring

fuck brake drums

Say it Jim. It's a shitty job! I enjoyed your misery, because I just did my wife's..No fun.