parking/emergency brake

siume99 · August 14, 2002

Sorry that I haven’t been around lately (3months). Job responsibilities and marathon training have both increased…..and its either sleep or being online. I’m still battling my parking brake problem. I used to use my parking brake every time when I parked. (My driveway slants down under my house.) My parking brake went to the floor (or nearly so). I began to notice that my parking brake wasn’t holding after I let off the service brake, and the truck would roll against my transmission pin. I took it to the dealer and they didn’t notice any problems – except for brake dust build up. I said this doesn’t sound right, a parking brake is to last the life of the vehicle….and there should only be dust if there was wear. (I wasn’t bright enough at the time to ask whether they could tell if it was from the parking brake or the disk brakes). How can my “parking” brake wear if it is stopped. They mentioned that I probably didn’t release the brake. Yeah! Right! I think I’d notice how far my foot is on accelerator and how fast I’m not going. They said that I didn’t even need to use the parking brake. It was there for “additional” parked stopping if I was loaded with something or a trailer. How am I to expect it to help when I have MORE load, than when I have NO load? I wasn’t satisfied with the answers.

So here I am 3-4 months later, and I stumbled on a lead. Can someone help explain to me how the self-adjust mechanism on the brake works and/or is “recalibrated.” Also, I’d like to know more about the transmission parking “pawl”/pin.

Oh, btw when I first started noticing this, I think I had around 25,000-30,000 miles.

Thanks

Blazer · August 14, 2002

the parking break is just your rear brakes on a cable.. So either your rear drums are out of adj, or you need to take in the slack of the cable

Is the truck "driving" when you brake?

Or you can start by looking under the truck and see how much slack is on the cable...

Blazer...

mcali17 · August 14, 2002

I wouldn't go back to that dealer. If you read your owners manual it tells you exactly how to set your parking break. 1) Step on the brakes 2) Set the parking brake 3) Then put the truck in park and do the opposite to release. This takes the pressure off of the pawl pin and prevents lockup. I usually set the e-brake, put the truck in neutral and let the truck "rest" on the e-brake, then shift to park. I always thought you just needed the rear brakes adjusted, or if the shoes / drums are warn, replaced?

MarkD · August 14, 2002

the parking break is just your rear brakes on a cable.

Dont think so...

The fullsize truck have seperate drum shoes in the hub of the rear disc brakes on the 99+ fullsize trucks.

MountaineerTom · August 14, 2002

the parking break is just your rear brakes on a cable.

Dont think so...

The fullsize truck have seperate drum shoes in the hub of the rear disc brakes on the 99+ fullsize trucks.

Correct. Here is some info on them that i scanned from my haynes manual. http://tommy3z71.homestead.com/hayne_manual_stuff.html

Blazer · August 14, 2002

the parking break is just your rear brakes on a cable.

Dont think so...

The fullsize truck have seperate drum shoes in the hub of the rear disc brakes on the 99+ fullsize trucks.

sorry for the bad info, I didn't know it had disc in the rear.

Blazer

siume99 · August 14, 2002

the parking break is just your rear brakes on a cable.

Dont think so...

The fullsize truck have seperate drum shoes in the hub of the rear disc brakes on the 99+ fullsize trucks.

sorry for the bad info, I didn't know it had disc in the rear.

Blazer

Thanks Blazer for your attempt. When I was at the dealer they showed me the "top hat" disc/drum brake. I can't believe they have such a small separate parking brake. I asked the service guy how I was suppose to have a backup braking system. I think through my research I've found out that there are two seperate brake "lines/cylinders" (I don't think I'm using the correct terminology.) The front right and back left are connected, and the front left and back right. I also found out about the transmission parking pawl ratchets. (I think I heard this was because someone had an "emergency" situation and slammed their transmission into park. Well this tore the transmission apart and also sent the vehicle into a spin or something.) Does anyone have a new bodystyle truck that they are planning to get rid of?

Anyway.....has anyone heard of backing up at walking pace and applying the parking brake? I've heard on some GM vehicles this is done to re-adjust the brakes. (source follows)

www.autosite.com/garage/encyclop/ency14e.asp

Has anyone heard of this?