Forum Discussion

deprived's avatar
deprived
Explorer
May 18, 2017

Ford E450 Parking Brake Leak

Apparently, this is not uncommon: the drum-style parking brake on a Ford V8 or V10 transmission leaks. Here is a previous thread that covers it.

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27650720/print/true.cfm

So, I noticed a tiny dot of transmission fluid on my parking brake assembly yesterday. Leaks tend to get worse, not better, so I'd like to fix this ASAP. The assembly doesn't look too complicated and the seals are cheap and easy to get.

Question: has anyone here done this job? My 2007 E450 shop manual barely even mentions the brake assembly, let alone outlines the R&R procedure.

To head off the inevitable speculation: The transmission is not leaking. The rear seal is not leaking. The parking brake is leaking. I am going to replace the seals (or the whole unit if it comes to that).

Again, has anyone here done this job themselves?
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  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    May 19, 2017
    Yup I had this repaired while I was on the road. Real big learning curve for me about how a a parking brake works on the Ford E450. :(

    The parking brake is part of the driveshaft AND when I said since it was only leaking a little and said I'd wait to have it fixed the mechanic told me that that part holds a substantial amount of your transmission fluid. And if that parking brake assembly goes I'd be dead on the road with no transmission.

    I took mine to a semi-truck repair shop and waited for it. And it was no where's near $4,000 like the poster said in the link you provided.
  • Blackrider's avatar
    Blackrider
    Explorer
    May 19, 2017
    deprived wrote:
    Apparently, this is not uncommon: the drum-style parking brake on a Ford V8 or V10 transmission leaks. Here is a previous thread that covers it.

    https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27650720/print/true.cfm

    So, I noticed a tiny dot of transmission fluid on my parking brake assembly yesterday. Leaks tend to get worse, not better, so I'd like to fix this ASAP. The assembly doesn't look too complicated and the seals are cheap and easy to get.

    Question: has anyone here done this job? My 2007 E450 shop manual barely even mentions the brake assembly, let alone outlines the R&R procedure.

    To head off the inevitable speculation: The transmission is not leaking. The rear seal is not leaking. The parking brake is leaking. I am going to replace the seals (or the whole unit if it comes to that).

    Again, has anyone here done this job themselves?


    Yes I have done this job. I worked for a Company that had a fleet of City Delivery trucks I was their mechanic.It is a routine maintenance job but if the park brake is leaking. The oil is probably coming from the transmission through the park brake. Make sure you do the rear seal on the transmission output. If it is leaking it may appear to you that it is only the brake leaking. The brake hold a few ounces oil to lube the bearing.

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