How to adjust rear brakes - 1999 Mercury Cougar

Rear brakes on Dakotas are notorious for having adjustment issues. What happens is when the rear brakes are replaced, most DIYers and repair shops do not bother to replace the hardware kit, self adjuster and adjuster lever. What happens is the star wheel on the self-adjuster wears out the ridge on the adjuster lever that is supposed to keep the rear brakes adjusted. Unless you replace these components, you will face a constant battle to keep the rear brakes adjusted and will invariably be wearing out front brakes and rotors much faster than the norm.

Unless you have replaced the cable, it should never need to be adjusted. If you can reach under the vehicle, and when wiggling the parking brake cable, if it is taut (not sagging), then it is probably adjusted properly. What usually causes the parking brake cable to appear mis-adjusted (the parking brake won't hold the vehicle), is that the self-adjusters in the rear drum brakes are not working properly. This is bad because it means that you are not getting proper braking from the rear brakes as well as having the parking brake issue. This can cause premature wear to the front disc brake pads/rotors and affect braking power and control under certain stopping conditions. Front disc brakes work so well that many people never realize that their rear brakes aren't doing their fair share. The purpose of the self-adjusters in the drum brakes is to keep the rear brake shoes at a consistent distance from the drum's inner surface as the shoe lining wears down. If the adjuster works correctly, the parking brake will always stay in adjustment. You CAN adjust the parking brake cable, but if the problem is actually with the self-adjuster, you are masking the real problem, and later on when you need to replace the rear brake shoes, you will find it impossible to put the drum back on over the shoes as the parking brake will have the shoes pushed out too far. Have a mechanic check out the self-adjuster mechanism. It is always a good idea whenever you replace the rear brake shoes to replace all the rear brake hardware as well. You don't replace rear brakes nearly as often as the front ones, and the cost of the hardware is minimal in relation to the satisfaction of knowing that non-corroded parts will work better and provide longer service than the older, gummed-up and rusted hardware that is currently installed.

I just find this (click over this link for zoom)...

Fig. Exploded view of the rear drum brake assembly - LINK
The rear brakes do not require manual adjustment. Adjust the shoes by sharply applying the brake pedal several times while driving the vehicle alternately forwards and backwards. Check the brake operation by making several stops while driving forward. The self-adjusting mechanism will sufficiently adjust the rear brake shoes without any manual tightening at the brake shoe adjuster. If the rear brake shoes are manually adjusted, the additional action of the brake shoe adjuster can cause the brakes to become over-tightened and result in binding or overheated rear brakes.

Hope this helps.

they r a self adjusting cable....if ur sable has rear drum brakes then adjust the rear shoes...if it has rear disc brakes then u have a faulty rear brake caliper..the parking brake system is also inside the rear brake calipers

If the following is not enough then maybe try Alldata.com which generally has more information, but it will cost: REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Chrysler Concorde, New Yorker, LHS Dodge Intrepid Eagle Vision

1. Remove the rear wheels and brake drums.
2. Remove the dust cap from the rear hub and bearing assembly.
3. Remove the cotter pin, nut retainer and wave washer. Discard the old cotter pin.
4. Remove the rear hub and bearing assembly retainer nut and washer. Remove the rear hub and bearing assembly from the spindle.
5. Remove the automatic adjuster spring from the adjuster lever.
6. Rotate the automatic adjuster starwheel enough so both shoes move out far enough to be free of the wheel cylinder boots.
7. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the actuating lever. Disconnect parking brake cable one side at a time.
8. Remove the both lower brake shoe to anchor springs.
9. Remove the 2 brake shoe hold-down springs from the brake shoes.
10. Remove the brake shoes, upper shoe-to-shoe return spring, automatic adjuster and automatic adjuster lever from the backing plate as an assembly.
11. Separate the brake shoes from the automatic adjuster mechanism.
12. Remove the brake shoe automatic adjuster lever from the leading brake shoe. To install:
    
13. Thoroughly clean and dry the backing plate. To prepare the backing plate, lubricate the bosses, anchor pin and parking brake actuating lever pivot surface lightly with lithium based grease.
14. Remove, clean and dry all parts still on the old shoes. Lubricate the starwheel shaft threads with anti-seize lubricant.
15. Assemble both brake shoes, the top shoe to shoe return spring, automatic adjuster and automatic adjuster lever before mounting on vehicle. Make sure the ends of the automatic adjusters are positioned above the extruded pins in the webbing of the brake shoes prior to installation.
16. Install the brake shoe assembly onto the brake support plate and install the hold-down springs.
17. Install the lower anchor springs and reconnect the parking brake cable to the park brake lever of the trailing brake shoe.
18. Rotate the serrated adjuster nut to remove the free-play from the adjuster assembly.
19. Install the automatic adjuster lever spring on the lead brake shoe assembly and the automatic adjuster lever.
20. Install the rear hub and bearing assembly. Install washer and retainer nut and torque to 124 ft. lbs. (168 Nm).
21. Install the wave washer, nut retainer and a new cotter pin onto the spindle. Install dust cap.
22. Adjust brake shoes so not to interfere with brake drum installation. Install the rear brake drum. NOTE: After installing the brake drums, pump the brake pedal several times to partially adjust the brake shoes. To verify proper operation of the self-adjusting parking brake, be sure that both rear brakes are not dragging when the parking brake pedal is released.
    
23. Install the rear wheels and lug nuts. Torque the lug nuts, in a star pattern sequence, to 95 ft. lbs. (129 Nm).
24. Road test the vehicle. The automatic adjusters will continue brake adjustment during the road test of the vehicle.

If this vehicle has rear drum brakes then make sure the rear shoes are adjusted properly.If this vehicle has rear disc brakes then check for adjustment screw at park brake handle and adjust as required. MOE

Rear brake's you can, front no self adjusting, rear,s some have a slot in back of wheel with screw driver you can adjust and some you have to remove rear brake drum to adjust, but yes you can adjust rear brake only.

On most cars the adjustments to rear brake shoes are done automatically using the parking brake. Once you install your drum, pull the parking brake lever up sveral times, there is a mechanism that rachets up the brake adjuster. You would have seen these if you took the shoes off to install the new cylinder. You have to do that until the parking brake can just pull the lever up in to locking position.

Check your rear brakes and their adjustment. If parking brake is seperate check them also. The brakes have to work and be adjusted properly then adjust parking brake.

Drum, Rear Brake System Standard Rear Brake

Item Part Number Description 1 2069 Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring Pin 2 — Rear Wheel Cylinder Retaining Bolt (2 Req'd) 3 — Washer (2 Req'd) 4 — Anchor Pin (Part of 2211) 5 — Wheel Cylinder 6 2028 Brake Shoe Anchor Pin Guide Plate 7 2A637 Parking Brake Lever 8 2296 Brake Shoe Retracting Spring (Short) 9 2296 Brake Shoe Retracting Spring (Long) 10 2200 Rear Brake Shoe and Lining (Secondary) 11 — Washer 12 2106 Parking Brake Lever Pin Retainer 13 — Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever Cable Guide 14 2A642 Primary Brake Shoe Parking Brake Lever Link 15 2A601 Parking Brake Link Spring 16 2068 Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring 17 2A176 Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever 18 2048 Brake Shoe Adjusting Screw Socket 19 2047 Brake Shoe Adjusting Screw Nut 20 2041 Brake Adjusting Screw 21 2049 Brake Shoe Adjusting Screw Spring 22 2200 Rear Brake Shoe and Lining (Primary) 23 2A178 Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever Cable 24 2211 Brake Backing Plate
Heavy Duty Rear Brake

Item Part Number Description 1 — Rear Wheel Cylinder Retaining Bolt 2 00538 Lock Nut 3 2212 Rear Brake Backing Plate 4 2262 Rear Wheel Cylinder 5 2A642 Primary Brake Shoe Parking Brake Lever Link 6 2A601 Parking Brake Link Spring 7 2A637 Parking Brake Lever 8 2106 Parking Brake Lever Pin Retainer 9 — Parking Brake Lever Bolt 10 — Secondary Shoe Assembly 11 2A179 Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever Cable Guide 12 2068 Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring 13 — Adjusting Lever Pin 14 — Adjusting Lever Return Spring 15 2A176 Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever 16 2047 Brake Shoe Adjusting Screw Nut 17 2049 Brake Shoe Adjusting Screw Spring 18 2041 Brake Adjuster Screw 19 — Primary Shoe Assembly 20 2068 Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring 21 2200 Rear Brake Shoe and Lining 22 2035 Brake Shoe Retracting Spring 23 2A178 Brake Shoe Adjusting Lever Cable 24 2092 Brake Adjusting Hole Cover 25 2069 Brake Shoe Hold-Down Spring Pin
The rear drum brakes:

• Have internal shoes that expand against the brake drum (1126).
• Are a single-anchor type.
• Are actuated by one rear wheel cylinder (2262).
• Have two pistons in the rear wheel cylinder (2261). One exerts force against the upper end of the primary shoe; the other exerts force against the upper end of the secondary shoe.
• Adjust rear brake shoes and linings (2200) automatically.
• Need manual brake adjustment if the adjusters are not operating properly or after the rear brake shoes and linings have been replaced.

When the brake pedal is applied, hydraulic fluid pressure forces the pistons in the rear wheel cylinder outward, moving the rear brake shoes and linings against the brake drum.
The rear drum brake system includes the parking brake mechanism. Refer to Section 206-05 .