2002 Silverado Emergency Break

[Smitty00Z71]

Just got this truck and noticed today When I press the emergency break it just goes to the floor with no tension. Also the break light doesnt come on. Is there something easy I can check or do... really want to have the emergency break when at the boat ramp.

[Spurshot]

Climb under the truck at the rear. Have a helper push and release the E-brake (sp) and look for the cable to go in and out of the conduit. It should also be hooked up to the E-brake arm on the backing plate. This should all move when the pedal is cycled. If it's all hooked up and moving, your problem is internal to the E-brake or adjustment.

[george.underwood]

Just got this truck and noticed today When I press the emergency break it just goes to the floor with no tension. Also the break light doesnt come on. Is there something easy I can check or do... really want to have the emergency break when at the boat ramp.

 

If you go thru the procedure in the other post and dont see a cable or adjustment problem, then your e-brake shoes and/or drums are worn. This is a common problem as GM screwed the design on these. Last summer I had same symptom on wife's 2002 Suburban. I removed the drums and the shoes were worn pretty bad and had touched metal in one place. I picked up new shoes, which were over $80 a set but then found the drums also were significantly worn down with a groove - no way to adjust without replacing the drums (which are also have discs outside for the regular rear brakes). You also need a special inside/outside gauge tool like this one:

http://www.etoolcart.com/brakedrumtoshoeclearancegauge.aspx

to measure and make the final adjustment. You can find it cheaper than there. I found it cheaper on ebay.

 

I elected not to replace drums as i had to get them back together for the wife to drive next day. I tried to tighten the adjuster but there is no way to adjust out to compensate for a groove of about 1/8". So still have same symptom but $80 worth of new shoes waiting on new drums.

 

Also there is a tsb out where a retaining clip can break or fall off, causing a problem. But my clips were in place.

 

As i said, GM design is bad here. The shoes are apparently harder and can wear the drum out quickly if you drive with the ebrake left partially on. I've done it and i know my wife has driven miles and miles with it on. So after a while, you can drive with the ebrake fully on! GM should have put a transmission interlock or at least a beeper/flashing light in for ebrake-on warning. ARE YOU LISTENING GM????