GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Park Brake System Diagnosis w/Rear Disc

Step

Action

Yes

No

DEFINITION: This diagnostic table is designed to diagnose ONLY the components of the PARK brake system in order to determine if the PARK brake system is operating properly. You will be directed by the appropriate Symptom Table to go to other brake system diagnostic tables as appropriate.

1

Were you sent here from a Hydraulic Brake Symptom Table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 2

2

Were you sent here from a Park Brake Symptom Table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Is the symptom related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release?

Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Park Brake

Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Hydraulic Brakes

4

  1. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
  3. With the park brake RELEASED, attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
  2. Apply the park brake.
  3. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Release the park brake.
  2. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction in the amount of drag.

Did the rear brakes exhibit a significant reduction in the amount of drag?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 11

7

Visually check the park brake cable connections and the cables that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle for disconnections and/or damage.

Were any or the park brake cables disconnected and/or damaged?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

8

Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. Refer to the following procedures as necessary:

Did you complete the repair and/or replacement?

Go to Step 9

--

9

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 11

11

Notice: Do not depress the brake pedal with the brake rotors and/or the brake drums removed, or with the brake calipers repositioned away from the brake rotors, or damage to the brake system may result.

  1. Remove the rear brake rotors. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement .
  2. Inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components.
  3. Check the park brake actuators for a seized condition.

Does the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators require replacement?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 13

12

  1. Replace park brake hardware components as necessary. Refer to Parking Brake Shoe Replacement .
  2. Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. Refer to Parking Brake Actuator Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 13

--

13

Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement.

Did the park brake cables move freely?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 17

14

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 15

15

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 27

16

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Did the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 29

Return to Symptom Table

17

Disconnect the park brake cable connections that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle one at a time and check each cable for free movement.

Do any of the park brake cables accessible on the underside of the vehicle require replacement?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 19

18

Replace any of the park brake cables that do not have free movement (not releasing properly). Refer to the following procedures as necessary:

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 19

--

19

  1. Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible INSIDE the vehicle at the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement.
  2. Replace the front park brake cable if it does not have free movement. Refer to Parking Brake Front Cable Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 20

20

  1. Disconnect the park brake release handle assembly cable connection from the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement.
  2. Replace the park brake release handle assembly if the release cable does not have free movement. Refer to Parking Brake Release Handle Assembly Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 21

21

Replace the park brake pedal assembly (not releasing properly). Refer to Parking Brake Lever Pedal Assembly Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 26

--

22

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Is the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 23

23

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 24

24

  1. Remove the rear brake rotors, if they have not yet been removed. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement .
  2. Check the park brake actuators for a seized condition.
  3. Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. Refer to Parking Brake Actuator Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 27

25

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 27

26

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Return to Symptom Table

27

  1. Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. Refer to Park Brake Cable Equalizer Replacement .
  2. Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Did you complete the replacement and adjustment?

Go to Step 28

Return to Symptom Table

28

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Did the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 29

Return to Symptom Table

29

Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis.

Did you complete the operation?

Park Brake System OK

Return to Symptom Table

--

Park Brake System Diagnosis w/Rear Drum

Step

Action

Yes

No

DEFINITION: This diagnostic table is designed to diagnose ONLY the components of the PARK brake system in order to determine if the PARK brake system is operating properly. You will be directed by the appropriate Symptom Table to go to other brake system diagnostic tables as appropriate.

1

Were you sent here from a Hydraulic Brake Symptom Table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 2

2

Were you sent here from a Park Brake Symptom Table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Is the symptom related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release?

Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Park Brake

Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Hydraulic Brakes

4

  1. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
  3. With the park brake RELEASED, attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
  2. Apply the park brake.
  3. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

Do the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Release the park brake.
  2. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction in the amount of drag.

Did the rear brakes exhibit a significant reduction in the amount of drag?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 11

7

Visually inspect the park brake cable connections and the cables that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle for disconnections and/or damage.

Were any or the park brake cables disconnected and/or damaged?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

8

Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. Refer to the following procedures as necessary:

Did you complete the repair and/or replacement?

Go to Step 9

--

9

Inspect the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 11

11

Notice: Do not depress the brake pedal with the brake rotors and/or the brake drums removed, or with the brake calipers repositioned away from the brake rotors, or damage to the brake system may result.

  1. Remove the rear brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. If equipped with drum brakes, inspect the park brake for looseness, damaged, broken or missing lever return spring.
  3. Inspect the park brake lever for a seized condition.

Does the park brake lever require replacement?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 13

12

Replace park brake lever, if necessary. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 13

--

13

Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement.

Did the park brake cables move freely?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 17

14

Inspect the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 15

15

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 27

16

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Did the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 29

Return to Symptom Table

17

Disconnect the park brake cable connections that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle one at a time and inspect each cable for free movement.

Do any of the park brake cables accessible on the underside of the vehicle require replacement?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 19

18

Replace any of the park brake cables that do not have free movement (not releasing properly). Refer to the following procedures as necessary:

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 19

--

19

  1. Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible INSIDE the vehicle at the park brake pedal assembly and inspect for free movement.
  2. Replace the front park brake cable if it does not have free movement. Refer to Parking Brake Front Cable Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 20

20

  1. Disconnect the park brake release handle cable connection from the park brake pedal assembly and inspect for free movement.
  2. Replace the park brake release handle assembly if the release cable does not have free movement. Refer to Parking Brake Release Handle Assembly Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 21

21

Replace the park brake pedal assembly (not releasing properly). Refer to Parking Brake Lever Pedal Assembly Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 26

--

22

Inspect the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Is the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 23

23

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 24

24

  1. Remove the rear brake drums, if they have not yet been removed. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. Inspect the park brake lever or return spring for a seized condition.
  3. Replace the park brake lever and spring. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 27

25

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 27

26

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 28

Return to Symptom Table

27

  1. Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. Refer to Park Brake Cable Equalizer Replacement .
  2. Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Did you complete the replacement and adjustment?

Go to Step 28

Return to Symptom Table

28

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Did the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 29

Return to Symptom Table

29

Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis.

Did you complete the operation?

Park Brake System OK

Return to Symptom Table

--