Parking brake floored?

MLipert · July 31, 2004

New to the forum - Every GM truck i've driven has had a useless parking brake that just hits the floor when you put it on. I just bought an '04 silverado 1500 and it does the same thing? Is there some adjustment I can do without taking it to the dealership, or are they all just non-functional? Does it have anything to do with rear wheel disc brakes?

MLipert · August 1, 2004

ok, does anyone else even have this problem?

03GMCinBC · August 1, 2004

No problem here. In fact, mine will hold the truck on an downhill while the truck is in drive/neutral.

I would let the dealer fix it if it is still in warranty....

asepgrad98 · August 1, 2004

there is no problem with the brake. It was designed like that because it is not 'fair' that men can apply the brake better than women so it goes to the floor.

RAYS B4U · August 1, 2004

My '03 SS does the same, but it holds.

dannyukonxl · August 1, 2004

every gm truck ive driven does that, even my friends tahoe with 75000 miles and the original pads

GMCTech · August 1, 2004

Adjust the parking brake shoes for better hold.

Hope this helps.

Markeaux · August 1, 2004

It's designed to to go all the way to the floor - called something like EZadjust. However, that said, the earlier models (like my 01) could develop the common problem where the parking brake components would not seat/unseat properly causing constant drag and premature wear ... in some cases ruining the hub assembly.

Even though my 01 brake held fine (yes all the way to floor) and did not exhibit the excessive wear problem, about a year ago I proactively changed my parking brake components to the newer design which prevents those problems. I would assume the 04's would have the newer design components.

And for those that do not know, here is the TSB on the pbrake problem:

Scraping Noise From Rear of Vehicle (Replace Parking Brake Shoe Kit and

Clean Drum in Hat Rotor) #02-05-26-002A - (01/28/2003)

Scyry · August 1, 2004

My 2001 2500HD has not held at all since I have had the truck, the dealer adjusted it 3 times and then it was "out of warranty" at 7k miles. My truck will roll with a 3 inch drop from one tire to the next. It is really annoying since it is a manual and I now carry blocks so I can warm up the truck on cold days.

MLipert · August 1, 2004

it barely holds right now, and it seems like there would be a big load on the tranny if I was towing a boat and parked on a hill. My parents GMC has the same problem and when you pull it out of park on a hill, you can feel and hear the whole thing SNAP out.

Rapiti · August 7, 2004

My 2001 2500HD has not held at all since I have had the truck, the dealer adjusted it 3 times and then it was "out of warranty" at 7k miles. My truck will roll with a 3 inch drop from one tire to the next. It is really annoying since it is a manual and I now carry blocks so I can warm up the truck on cold days.

Mine never worked from new (7/01 pdn. Yukon XL) It was repaired under warranty at 2 yrs, but Svc. Mgr. said he had to fabricate a story to get it covered under warranty. I understand that the e-brake is a drum brake, beside the disc rear. Why they don't cable-actuate the rear calipers like almost every other rear disc design is beyond me. Luckily (?) I am in a flat part of Texas with an auto tranny.

OUMike · August 7, 2004

... in some cases ruining the hub assembly.

Yea, I've heard of this as being more common in 99+ generation.

When I changed my pads on the rear a while a back I had same problem. Pedal go all the way to the floor. I'm not sure what I did, because with later use it adjusted it self. Now it feels normal. I don't think its so much the fact that your pedal going to the floor thats a big deal, but the amount of effort that it takes to get there. After I had my rear brakes disconnected it would engauge with little effort at all. It later adjusted somehow.