Intermediate Parking Brake Cable Help

[02 GMC 2500HD]

Hi All,

 

I'm a new member and hoping to use all of your vast membership resources to help me out.

 

I bought a 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab with the 6 liter a few months ago and am trying to get it ready to pass inspection now that he weather seems to be getting a bit less frigid. It's got 130,000 miles and seems to still run strong.

I had some codes when I got it and traced the cause to the leaking intake manifold gaskets, which I replaced on my own with the steel fel-pro gaskets - no more codes.

 

My current problem is that the intermediate parking brake cable was snapped, so I bought a replacement cable. Was able to take off the old cable and attached it to the front cable, but I don't understand the how it attaches to the rear cables. It looks like there are 2 cables, one going to the rear left, and one going to the rear right parking brakes, but it looks like only one of the cables can attach to the back of the intermediate cable.

The truck has the HVY RPO code (2 inch lift), which I understand (or am completely wrong) does not have an "equalizer."

 

I can't seem to find any diagrams/schematics/pictures of what this connection looks like - could anyone who has a similar truck please take a few  pictures of what that connection looks like and post it here?

 

Thank you for your help.

[Formulabruce]

These two rear cable join along the DS just behind the door on exterior of the frame. This part, If the rest is hooked up, you do last. To get it hooked, youll need to drag the front cable back ( make sure pedal inside is UP, may have to release and pull up on pedal, or bungie it up ) Pull back on the front cable with vise grips and slide the combined cable holder on to that front cable.

 I have had these E brake set ups and rear bearings, seals, backing plates apart many times.

[02 GMC 2500HD]

Hi Formulabruce,

Thank you for your reply.

I can see what you're describing - the intermediate cable only attaches to a single rear parking brake cable? How does the other parking brake get activated?

 

The picture below is what would make sense to me (I believe this is the equalizer, and not included in the cable I bought because it said this was for trucks without RPO code HVY).

 

If it's just the single connection, then I think I'm good - I then just need to figure out how to get some of the front cable to spool out from the parking brake pedal mechanism...

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

 

[Formulabruce]

It has that, of sorts, under the Drivers door, on the frame. The main cable has a sort of hood on it with a slice, where the other cable joins it. That "hood" is then pulled by the front cable.  I will post a pic tomorrow

[davester]

When I did it on my '04 Sierra 3500, it amounted to "pull hard" on the cable coming from the cab.  I used vise grips around the cable (not clamping it, as I didn't want to damage the coating), to be able to pull, and then a friend could slide the cable from the rear brakes (the single cable) into the clip used to join them.

[02 GMC 2500HD]

Hey guys,

Thank you for all your helpful comments!

 

"The main cable has a sort of hood on it with a slice, where the other cable joins it. That "hood" is then pulled by the front cable.  I will post a pic tomorrow"

Formulabruce - your description sounds just like what I'm seeing - your pic will be very helpful!

 

Thanks again!

[newdude]

This is what the equalizer looks like on 2500/3500 from 1999-2007:

 

 

 

The right rear cable goes through the large hole and connects to the intermediate cable.  The left rear cable hooks into the smaller hole with that groove at the bottom of the equalizer.  

 

The cable adjustment is done as part of the pedal assembly and the adjustment of the rear park brake shoes adjusts the rear cable actuation.

 

 

Quote

 

Parking Brake Cable Adjuster Disabling (w/Rear Disc)

Before any components of the parking brake system are serviced, the following procedure must be followed. Two technicians are required to perform this procedure, one inside the vehicle and one outside the vehicle.

1.  
2. Raise and support the vehicle. 
3. Hold the pedal in the FULL upward position.
4. Pull rearward on the front park brake cable until the pedal drum (2) reaches its full reset position.
5. Insert a scribe or the shaft of a thin screwdriver (1) on an upward angle through the hole in the front of the pedal assembly, past the retracted pedal drum, and into the hole in the back of the pedal assembly (3).
6. Slowly release the cable.
7. Remove the component that requires service.

Parking Brake Cable Adjuster Enabling (w/Rear Disc)

If the park brake automatic adjuster has been disabled, the following two person procedure must be performed.

1. Hold the park brake pedal in the FULL upward position.
2. Pull rearward on the front park brake cable until the tension is released from the scribe or nail (1) installed through the holes in the pedal assembly.
3. Remove the scribe or screwdriver (1).
4. Slowly release the park brake cable until it returns to its original position.
5. Release the park brake pedal.
6. Lower the vehicle.
7. Apply and release the park brake pedal to ensure that there is no binding or sticking.

 

Parking Brake Adjustment (w/Rear Disc)

Park Brake Shoe Adjustment

Tools Required

J 21177-A Drum-to-Brake Shoe Clearance Gauge

 

Caution: Refer to Brake Dust Caution.

Important: The park brake shoes must be adjusted before the park brake pedal is adjusted.

 

1.  
2. Set the J 21177-A so that it contacts the inside diameter of the rotor.
3. Position the J 21177-A over the shoe and the lining at the widest point.
4. Turn the adjuster nut until the lining just contacts the J 21177-A.
5. Repeat steps 1–3 for the opposite side.
6. The clearance between the park brake shoe and the rotor is 0.6604 mm (0.026 in).

Park Brake Pedal Adjustment

Important: Before you adjust the park brake, verify that the park brake shoes are adjusted to provide a clearance of 0.6604 mm (0.026 in).

1. Verify that the self adjuster lock-out pin has be removed.
2. Fully apply and release the park brake pedal 3 times, with the rotor in place.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2021 by newdude

[02 GMC 2500HD]

newdude,

 

Thank you - that's the piece I was talking about that I didn't understand.

And thank you for the procedure!

 

I'm going to tackle it this weekend.

 

Thank you to all of you who replied - this is a great site and I'm glad I joined!

[02 GMC 2500HD]

Hi All,

 

It worked (I think)!

I was able to get the intermediate cable attached to the right rear cable. I just have not been able to get the parking brake pedal to return to the fully up position when releasing it yet. But I still need to check for the parking brake shoe clearance, which should be fun with all the rust... Gotta love upstate NY snow!

 

Thank you again for all who replied to my questions. I hope to return the favor!

[02 GMC 2500HD]

Hi All,

 

It worked (I think)!

I was able to get the intermediate cable attached to the right rear cable. I just have not been able to get the parking brake pedal to return to the fully up position when releasing it yet. But I still need to check for the parking brake shoe clearance, which should be fun with all the rust... Gotta love upstate NY snow!

 

Thank you again for all who replied to my questions. I hope to return the favor!

[Quadrasteer]

Old thread but still helpful. My issue on my '02 SD is that the 2 cables coming from the rear into the intermediate cable are of different lengths, the top one is almost an inch and half shorter that the lower one. I put a new intermediate cable in, tightened up the nut and stepped on the pedal several times, it's still the same.  What would cause that one cable to be that much shorter or longer? 

Edited November 25, 2025 by Quadrasteer
add info