Parking Brake

heavy4x4 · June 17, 2005

Just got my truck about 3 weeks ago.

I NEVER used my parking brake on previous vehicles, but I figured I'd try it out on this truck in case I need to use it in an emergency. In park, I put the pedal to the floor with relative ease. Then I put it in drive and took my foot off the brake. I heard a groan like the shoes were contacting the drum, but the vehicle moved forward pretty easily. Is there an easy adjustment on the parking brake? I don't have a Hayne's manual for this truck...yet.

Thanks.

-Steve

Indy · June 17, 2005

You don't say which truck you have but on my '99 nbs GMC there is an adjuster nut where the one cable becomes two, underneath on the drivers side about half way back. You can take up the slack that way.

heavy4x4 · June 17, 2005

2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 Extended Cab Short Bed (that's a mouthful!)

Thanks for the hint...I'll take a look in that area.

-Steve

GM-Tech · June 17, 2005

2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 Extended Cab Short Bed (that's a mouthful!)

Thanks for the hint...I'll take a look in that area.

DO NOT attempt to adjust the parking brake by tightening that "adjustment". It's not really an adjustment. The parking brake mechanism is self-adjusting. Most likely, your parking brake shoes are totally worn out due to a clip that doesn't hold too well, allowing the shoes to constantly ride against the drum, even if you've never applied the parking brake.

sparky0484 · June 18, 2005

I have a 2002 Silverado like yours and had the same problem. I wish I had some pictures, but inside the drum there's a cyliner that pushes the shoes apart. On that cylinder is a star nut that adjusts those shoes. You turn the nut and it pushes the shoes farther out, the Chiltons manual I said claimed that they shouldn't touch the rotor when you install it. However mine had to be touching the rotor in order for it to work. I adjusted mine and now it works great, however, I'm wondering if mine has this clip problem as well because the shoes were worn. But I haven't been able to find anymore info out on it or what to do to fix it so for now I'll see how long my adjustment lasts.

shiden_kai · June 18, 2005

I have a 2002 Silverado like yours and had the same problem. I wish I had some pictures, but inside the drum there's a cyliner that pushes the shoes apart. On that cylinder is a star nut that adjusts those shoes. You turn the nut and it pushes the shoes farther out, the Chiltons manual I said claimed that they shouldn't touch the rotor when you install it. However mine had to be touching the rotor in order for it to work. I adjusted mine and now it works great, however, I'm wondering if mine has this clip problem as well because the shoes were worn. But I haven't been able to find anymore info out on it or what to do to fix it so for now I'll see how long my adjustment lasts.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any of the trucks before...I believe...2003..had the old style clip that

held the park brake shoe in place. The problem with the old style clip

was that it actually held the shoe in place "too well". Instead of allowing

the shoe to float and center itself, the clip would hold the shoe against

the drum surface and wear the shoes out quickly. If you buy new shoes

from the dealership now, they will automatically come with the new style

clips that allow the shoe to float and center itself properly. Any of the newer

trucks that I've had apart with the new style clip, do not exhibit the premature

wear of the older style clip.

Ian

larry arizona · June 22, 2005

Being that I worked on the park brake system for this truck when I worked at Dura Automotive, this is in fact a self adjusting system.

A couple things that you may want try, apply the brake and release the pedal a few times. Second you can grab the intermediate cable and tug on it a few times.

Lastly you can adjust the "star" adjuster through the back plate of the on the rear brake backing plate. Do this until the wheel just starts to drag on the parking brake shoes then back off a 1/4 turn.

Once the system is adjusted properly do yourself a favor and do what is called a brake burnish. Simply apply the partially and drive forward slowly for about 100 feet. This will improve hill holding capability significantly.

Please understand that GM dictates the park brake design and the suppliers have to make it the best they can with the system that GM gives. Although not the worst system on the GMT 800, it could be better. After the burnish process it ups performance a good 30-40%.

The worst thing about this sytem is when applied it feels like there is no brake being added. Second is the pedal is a shin banger and cramps your foot room and third is the release lever looks like an afterthought.

But this system works on every GMT800 configuration and wheel base. Man different cable lengths to contend with. Not an easy task.

CapitalTruck · October 4, 2008

Sometime the search feature of this board works quite well, like this string. I will be working on my ebrake this week. This previous post is particularly interesting.

satori · October 4, 2008

Since this thread is from 3 years ago, is there a statute of limitations on hijacking?

My '05 Tahoe has this problem too. I push the pedal all the way down and it binds it and keeps it from moving while idling in gear, but if I give it gas it'll move.

I don't have self-adjusting drum brakes though, it has rear disk brakes. I've been meaning to look up on here how to adjust it, but since this thread provided a hijack opportunity......