Blasted parking brake!

kdm101 · February 25, 2005

Got home today and went to apply the parking brake. About 1/2 way down, there was a sudden metallic pop, and the pedal went to the floor with zero resistance (way less than what most here would call "zero" resistance). Anyway, with the pedal to the floor (and the truck in park), I got out and sure enough, when I pulled on the parking brake cable underneath, it was loose. I haven't bothered yet to determine if it's the main cable from the pedal, or one of the links to each wheel. I would think though, that if even one wheel popped, that there'd be some tension in the cable.

So, anybody change theirs out, and what kind of headaches involved, costs, etc?

I'm in no rush to get this back in action, as I can live without it until I have some nice weather here in which to work.

Thanks for any help on this.

asilverblazer · February 26, 2005

You are concerned with fixing that useless thing. Leave at least you will have a dummy pedal for your left foot.

larry arizona · February 27, 2005

Used to work for Dura Automotive who makes that park brake system for your truck.

Honestly I am suprised a cable broke. Pretty robust park brake system.

None the less, The two rear cables are easy to replace and fairly self explanatory.

There is a front cable thatcan be a little tricky because it has an auto adjust system that has to be rewound. You need to unbolt the Pedal from the kickpanel and rewind this and then the cable is easy to replace.

There is also an intermediate cable between the front cable and the rears and this is also easy to replace.

It may not be the cables.

If the torsion spring broke in the pedal mechansim you would lose all force.

Also if something broke in the rear brake mechanism the system would lose force.

Take a good look and see if you can figure out what is broke and I will try and help you fix it.

sky-raptor · February 27, 2005

I think I heard about something like this being re-called ... or was that something else?

kdm101 · February 27, 2005

Larry,

Did a quick check yesterday. Turns out the cables are fine. Looks like something with

the pedal itself broke. The pedal does not return to the full upright position when pulling on the release handle. I have to pull it up manually, but the brake does hold (minimally) when I do apply it. It definitely makes sense about the pedal too, since the snap I heard was definitely felt on the foot. I don't think I'd fee it so much if it were one of the cables.

Thanks for the help.

Scyry · February 28, 2005

I had a spring on the back of the pedal break on my 90 and it had similar symptoms to what you are saying, see if there is a broken spring back there. I replaced it with a spring from the hardware store.

carguru · February 28, 2005

I had to go in and adjust the parking brake on the Silverado a couple weeks ago because it wouldn't hold. Everything is fine now. It sounds like you might have 2 problems. One with the park brake out of adjustment and the second with the self adjusting return spring on the pedal itself.