GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

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. 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 9

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Apply the park brake.
  2. 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 19

Go to Step 6

6

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 of the park brake cables disconnected and/or damaged?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 8

7

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 19

--

8

Check the adjustment of the park brake and adjust if necessary. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 9

9

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 10

Go to Step 11

10

  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 19

--

11

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 12

Go to Step 14

12

Check the adjustment of the park brake and adjust if necessary. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment .

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 13

13

  1. 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 19

Go to Symptoms - Park Brake

14

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 15

Go to Step 16

15

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

--

16

  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 19

Go to Step 17

17

Inspect the park brake pedal assembly for proper operation and replace the park brake pedal assembly as necessary. Refer to Parking Brake Lever Pedal Assembly Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 18

18

  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 19

Go to Symptoms - Park Brake

19

  1. Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis.
  2. Verify the operation of the park brake system.

Does the park brake operate correctly?

System OK

Go to Symptoms - Park Brake