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Weird Parking Brake Issue

Avalacher

Full Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2021
Messages
34
So my 2008 LTZ has a strange Parking Brake Issue. A few weeks ago, it went into a local mechanic to get the brakes done, as it was insanely cold here in Toronto. I have a carport, but not a garage so I might as well be outside. Hahaha. Anyway, something funny is happening now.

The parking brake pedal is similarly stiff as before and when I step on it, I can hear the cable pulling on something, as before, but the parking brake is not even remotely engaging. It rolls quite freely, with maybe the slightest hint of friction. Now I looked at the factory service manual and it suggests applying the parking brake three times fully and disengaging to reset the tension, did that and nothing.

Is there anything I can do to investigate further without needing to completely disassemble the rear brakes, given its going to be extremely cold the next few days? Now before you say, take it back to the mechanic that did it, well, if they monkeyed around with it, I prefer to see for myself first. And if I can fix it myself that is fine too. The FSM implies I need to do a lot of disassembly, but if I can avoid it with a well known tip and trick, let's do that! Thanks everyone!
 
Nope you have to look at shoes that grab onto inside of rotor hat.

Gm Park brakes Stink!
I just removed my shoes as they were rubbing on wide of rotor internal and I if I did not catch it could have cut thru rotor hat.
 
As mentioned above, the parking brakes are basically a drum brake and not the best in the world.

It's been a while since I have changed mine, but I seem to remember there is an adjuster in there just like the old school rear drum brakes.

Perhaps your adjuster mechanism was not cleaned or is not functional.

That was certainly an issue back in the day of rear drum brakes on vehicles.

My parking brakes work as intended and will hold the truck while in Park on an incline like a boat ramp.

I can put the truck in Park and set the parking brake and the truck and trailer do not roll backwards and put the transmission in a bind making it harder to get out of Park.

I found one way to keep the parking brake functional is to use them every once in a while to keep them adjusted and all of the parts free and loose.
 
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