Parking Brake

Big T · May 21, 2004

I was wondering if anyone knew how to tighten the parking brake cable. I set the brake in neutral every night, then put it in park. My driveway is very slanted, and I would rather put the strain on the brake not the tranny. But now in neutral it slowly rolls down. Any help?

JimWilson · May 21, 2004

I've never done it on this truck, but on my previous one there was a piece that looked like a turn-buckle on the brake cable that ran under the truck. A few twists of that was all it took.

496Cubes · May 21, 2004

It was easier on older trucks, but it's more complicated now. I asked the dealer about it and they said it had to be adjusted at the rear brake assembly. I just had them do it and they found a rear axle seal that was leaking. They attributed the parking brake not holding to the oil leak. They replaced the seal and adjusted the cable under warranty. Adjusting the brake normally wouldn't have been covered under warranty.

tmf6902 · May 21, 2004

It was easier on older trucks, but it's more complicated now. I asked the dealer about it and they said it had to be adjusted at the rear brake assembly. I just had them do it and they found a rear axle seal that was leaking. They attributed the parking brake not holding to the oil leak. They replaced the seal and adjusted the cable under warranty. Adjusting the brake normally wouldn't have been covered under warranty.

Holy crap...the same exact thing happened to me.......except even when they were done, my P-brake still doesn't work worth a darn...what side seal was leaking....mine was the passenger side

496 CUBIC INCHES · May 22, 2004

Holy crap...the same exact thing happened to me.......except even when they were done, my P-brake still doesn't work worth a darn...what side seal was leaking....mine was the passenger side

Double holy crap! Same thing happened with mine.

C/K Man · May 22, 2004

This is why they are going back to rear drum brakes.

Mort · May 22, 2004

This is why they are going back to rear drum brakes.

Say it ain't so.

Thats a step backwards if you ask me.

Sorry for the hijacking.

GMC2500HDCC · May 23, 2004

Guys, Mine leaks on the passenger side as well. Could be a problem. The parking brake is a drum brake. So going back to a drum over a disc is mute. Take a look at your rear rotors as I have seen several just fall apart. The outside machined surface seperates from the rest of the rotor. Maybe this is why they are changing styles.

n8huntsman · May 28, 2004

Under the driver side of the body there is a cable with an adjustment. Just tighten the nut down and it will tighten the breaks up.

lrymal · May 29, 2004

Under the driver side of the body there is a cable with an adjustment. Just tighten the nut down and it will tighten the breaks up.

That method no workie for '03s and upwards.... Totally different design.

n8huntsman · June 1, 2004

Oh sorry. Didnt know they changed that. Are the new ones hydraulic or something?

TXD · June 1, 2004

where abouts under the drivers side body can you find this adjustment?

n8huntsman · June 2, 2004

Mine is a 2001 so this should work on yours too, its directly under the drivers door, on the outside of the frame. The cable comes through the firewall then runs parallel to the frame. UNder the door there is a bracketwhere the single cable goes to double. There is an adjustment there.