Parking Brake Rivets
 

Does anyone know what the function of the two rivets on the rear differential backing plates are? What effect would leaving them off Have? Thanks.

What is this on?

2004 F150 Lariat

I've been thinking about this all day. Two pop rivets cannot be anything structural. The two rivets are to keep the plate from rattling, noise reduction.

I read your post this morning, and I still, for the life of me, why you are trying to pop rivets off.

I don't know why, but I thought the 2004-2008 Lariats had 4-wheel discs. I guess I didn't consider they were still making Lariat models with rear drums.

Those rivets are to hold the backing plate on until the hardware is added on the production line.

It does have 4 wheel discs. That's the parking brake, drum is inside the rotor.

If I would have read the thread title correctly, it would have explained it to me, lol.

I remember when the NBS trucks came out, some folks thought the parking brake was integrated into the caliper. Meaning the disc brake caliper was acting as the parking brake. Low and behold, not the case, there's a mini-drum assembly within rotor hub. I think it's a good idea for e-brake purposes...

I don't think so. I bought new backing plates from Ford and they came with new rivets. So do the Parking Brake Lever Kits which have a new rubber boot. The rivets need to be removed so the backing plate can be slid outboard and the new boot inserted.