MY BACK DRUMS ON MY 1997 F- 150 GRAB SO BAD IN THE MORNING THAT ONE TIME I GOT A NOSE BLEED FROM HIT THE
STEERING WHEEL BUT AFTER I STOP A FEW TIMES IT GOES AWAY
DOES ANY BODY KNOW WHY!

 

Most if not all 97's with the rear drums do this.

I'm not aware of a fix but if you use the brakes to make one complete slow-speed stop as you pull out of the driveway they should be fine after that.

 

My 98 4x4 with rear drums does it on rare occasion.

Open up your brakes and use "brake-kleen" or similar and get rid of all the caked on brake dust. Pull off your shoes and lubricate the friction points to the backplate. Adjust everything up.

This usually occurs because moisture in the air (nothing you can do about that) turns the brake dust into kind of a brake dust cake batter and it sticks. One application heats them up enough to get rid of the moisture, thats why they work great after you lock your back tires & hit the steering wheel.

Ride your brakes for two seconds lightly before your first stop helps too.

It's basically a design defect of ALL drum brake assemblies. The drums should be cross-drilled to expell dirt & foreign matter.

 

Chamfer the leading edge of your brake pads - this will greatly reduce the problem.

 

sounds like something is prohibiting the auto-adjust mechanism in the rear of your truck from loosening fast enough (sounds like it's tightening just fine).

As p_ferlow, clean out your rear drums, pay particular attention to the auto-adjust mechanism.
Does it spin freely both ways? (you'll have to hold the locking tab off of it)
Does it look like it should be functioning properly?

When you leave your driveway, do you back out?
Do you back in the night before? Do you tap the brakes multiple times when going in reverse? Hiting the brakes, in reverse, will tighten up those rear drums a lot.

 

I thought there was a TSB and Ford redesigned the rear brake shoes? mine do this and I read about that here a year ago or so I think.

 

i have had about 3 sets of pads, and mine still does it. I plan to upgrade to the $14.95 brake pads from crappy tire from the front & their shoes for the rear. fixed the problem with most vehicles i have seen, and it fixed my friends race car :P

 

Had that problem with my '97. After a couple of times, learned to ride the brake pedal while backing down the driveway.

 

My 98 2WD does it. Especially after rain. The moisture seems to take forever to get out of the shoe. The only thing that seems to help is the self ajustment, meaning I back up about twenty feet doewn my street and pump the brake.

I find these brakes to be $**** compared to other trucks I have driven (Chev, Superduty, Ranger, Econoline, etc)

 

Here is the TSB for the issue...

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Article No.01-19-2
BRAKES - REAR DRUM - GRABBING DURING FIRST FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHILE BRAKES ARE COLD

Publication Date: SEPTEMBER 18, 2001

FORD: 1997-2000 F-150


This article is being republished in its entirety to update the Model Year coverage.

ISSUE:
A grabbing condition from the rear brakes during the first few brake applications after extended humidity exposure may occur on some vehicles. This may be caused by a rear brake lining that is sensitive to humidity exposure.

ACTION:
Replace rear brake linings with revised Rear Shoe Brake Kit (F85Z-2200-AA). Refer to the appropriate model year F-150 Workshop Manual, Section 206-02 for service details.


PART NUMBER PART NAME
F85Z-2200-AA Rear Shoe Brake Kit


OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES:
NONE

SUPERSEDES:
99-10-7

WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under The Provisions Of Bumper To Bumper Warranty Coverage

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
011902A Replace Rear Brake Shoes 1.2 Hrs.

DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
2200 49

OASIS CODES:
301000, 702200

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Mine do the same thing every time it is cold or moist outside until they get warm.

 

I wish mine did. Sometimes i gotta really stand on the pedal.