brakes

Parking Brake Cable

for 2017 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote · RWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

2.0 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

Replace the parking brake cable assembly on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 5.0L V8, including removal of the old cable from the rear brake assemblies and installation of the new cable with proper tension adjustment.

Warnings

⚠️SAFETY-CRITICAL: The parking brake is essential for vehicle safety. Errors in installation or adjustment can result in parking brake failure, vehicle rollaway, injury, or death. If you are uncertain about any step, have a professional mechanic complete this repair.

⚠️Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands rated for the vehicle weight and place wheel chocks at the opposite wheels.

⚠️After completing this repair, the parking brake MUST be tested on a slope before putting the vehicle into normal service. Failure to properly tension the cable can result in parking brake failure and vehicle rollaway.

⚠Parking brake cables are under tension. Use caution when disconnecting the cable from the equalizer to prevent sudden release and injury.

ℹ️This procedure covers replacement of the rear parking brake cable. The F-150 uses a cable-actuated drum-in-hat style parking brake within the rear disc brake rotor assembly.

Tools required

Jack and jack stands rated for vehicle weightEssential

Wheel chocksEssential

Socket set (10mm-19mm)Essential

Ratchet and extensionsEssential

Torque wrench (10-200 Nm range)Essential

PliersEssential

Flat head screwdriver

Wire brush

Penetrating oil

Brake cleaner

Cable cutters (if cutting old cable)

Parts

Parking brake cable assembly (left or right side as needed) × 1 — Use OEM specification - Motorcraft BC3Z-2A632-A (left) or BC3Z-2A633-A (right)
Cable retaining clips × 2 — Replace any damaged clips

Preparation

Park vehicle on level ground and place transmission in Park (automatic) or 1st gear (manual)
Place wheel chocks at the front wheels
Release the parking brake pedal fully
Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
Raise rear of vehicle using a floor jack at the rear differential or frame jacking points
Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at manufacturer-specified frame locations
Remove both rear wheels completely
Spray penetrating oil on cable mounting points and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes if working on a vehicle with rust or corrosion

Procedure

1
Access parking brake cable at pedal assembly
From inside the vehicle cabin, locate the parking brake pedal assembly. Remove the driver's side lower dash trim panel if necessary to access the cable connection point. The parking brake release handle is located to the left of the steering column.
2
Disconnect cable from equalizer
Locate the parking brake cable equalizer under the vehicle, typically near the transmission or transfer case area. Note the cable routing before removal. Loosen the equalizer nut to create slack in the cable system. Disconnect the cable end from the equalizer bracket by compressing the cable retainer tangs and sliding the cable housing out of the bracket.
⚠Cable may be under residual tension even with parking brake released. Control the cable during disconnection to prevent sudden movement.
3
Remove cable brackets along frame
Trace the cable routing from the equalizer to the rear axle. Remove all cable bracket bolts securing the cable to the vehicle frame and axle housing. Note the exact routing and bracket positions for reinstallation. Use a wire brush to clean bracket mounting points if corroded.
Torque spec
Bracket Bolts127 Nm (94 lb-ft)
4
Remove rear brake caliper (side being serviced)
Remove the brake caliper mounting bolts and carefully slide the caliper off the rotor. Support the caliper with a wire or bungee cord - do NOT let it hang by the brake hose. This provides access to the drum-in-hat parking brake assembly inside the rotor.
⚠Do not let the brake caliper hang by the brake hose as this can damage the hose internally and cause brake failure.
Torque spec
Caliper Bolts110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
5
Remove rotor and access parking brake shoes
Remove the rotor to expose the internal drum-style parking brake assembly. If the rotor is stuck, use the threaded holes in the rotor face to press it off with bolts. Once removed, you will see the parking brake shoes and hardware inside the hat section of the rotor.
6
Disconnect cable from parking brake actuator
Locate where the parking brake cable connects to the actuating lever on the parking brake shoe assembly. Remove the cable retaining clip or spring clip securing the cable to the actuator lever. Disconnect the cable end from the lever by rotating and unhooking it. Note the cable routing through the backing plate.
7
Remove cable from backing plate
The cable passes through the backing plate via a retainer. Compress the retainer tangs or remove the retaining clip that secures the cable housing to the backing plate. Pull the cable assembly rearward through the backing plate to remove it completely from the brake assembly.
8
Remove cable from vehicle
With the cable disconnected from the brake assembly and all frame brackets removed, carefully extract the entire cable assembly from the vehicle. Pay attention to how the cable routes through any crossmembers or around the exhaust system for proper reinstallation of the new cable.
9
Install new cable assembly
Route the new parking brake cable assembly along the same path as the original, ensuring it does not contact the exhaust system, driveshaft, or any sharp edges. Feed the cable end through the backing plate first, then route forward to the equalizer location. Ensure proper clearance throughout the cable run.
⚠Verify cable does not contact exhaust components. Heat from exhaust can damage the cable housing and cause parking brake failure.
10
Connect cable to parking brake actuator
Insert the cable housing through the backing plate and secure with the retainer until it clicks or seats fully. Connect the cable end to the parking brake actuator lever by hooking it onto the lever and installing the retaining clip. Verify the cable moves freely and the actuator operates smoothly.
11
Reinstall rotor and caliper
Reinstall the brake rotor onto the hub, ensuring it seats fully. Clean the caliper mounting bracket and apply fresh thread locker to the caliper bolt threads. Reinstall the brake caliper over the rotor and torque the caliper bolts to specification in a cross pattern.
ℹ️Thread locker is required on caliper bolts to prevent loosening during operation.
Torque spec
Caliper Bolts110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
12
Secure cable brackets to frame
Working from rear to front, install all cable brackets along the frame and axle housing. Ensure the cable is properly seated in each bracket before tightening. Torque all cable bracket bolts to specification. Verify cable routing matches the original configuration and has proper clearance from all moving and hot components.
Torque spec
Bracket Bolts127 Nm (94 lb-ft)
13
Connect cable to equalizer and adjust tension
Route the cable through the equalizer bracket and secure the housing with the retainer. Connect the cable to the equalizer mechanism. Thread the equalizer nut onto the cable tensioner and hand-tighten initially. Adjust the equalizer nut to achieve proper cable tension: the parking brake should engage firmly within 3-5 clicks of the pedal. Torque the equalizer nut to specification once proper adjustment is achieved.
⚠️CRITICAL: Improper cable tension can result in parking brake failure. Too loose and the brake will not hold the vehicle. Too tight and the brake may drag or not release fully, causing brake overheating and potential fire.
Torque spec
Equalizer Nut15 Nm (11 lb-ft)
14
Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
Reinstall both rear wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

Verify all cable brackets are securely fastened and cable routing is correct with no contact to exhaust or driveshaft
Confirm brake caliper bolts are properly torqued with thread locker applied
Double-check that wheel lug nuts are torqued to specification in star pattern
Verify parking brake pedal releases fully and returns to rest position

Verification

Start engine and verify no brake warning lights are illuminated on the instrument cluster
Apply and release the parking brake pedal several times. It should operate smoothly and engage within 3-5 clicks
With the vehicle still in Park/gear and parking brake released, verify the rear wheels rotate freely by hand with no dragging
CRITICAL TEST: On a slight incline with the engine off, apply the parking brake and shift to Neutral. The vehicle must remain stationary without rolling. If the vehicle moves, the cable tension is insufficient - DO NOT drive the vehicle
Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and apply the parking brake while moving slowly (under 5 mph) to verify it engages both rear wheels evenly
After test drive, check that rear brake rotors are not excessively hot, which would indicate dragging parking brake shoes
Perform final parking brake hold test on the steepest safe incline available before returning vehicle to service

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