Park Brake System Testing
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Montana, 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and 2003 Chevrolet Venture. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Were you sent here from a Hydraulic Brake Symptom List? If so, go to step 4 . If not, go to next step.
- Were you sent here from a Park Brake Symptom List? If so, go to step 4 . If not, go to next step.
- Is the symptom related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release? If so, go to DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT - PARK BRAKE under TROUBLE SHOOTING. If not, go to DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT - HYDRAULIC BRAKE under TROUBLE SHOOTING.
- Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. 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? If so, go to step 11 . If not, go to next step.
- Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. Apply the park brake. 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? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 7 .
- Release the park brake. 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? If so, go to step 21 . If not, go to step 11 .
- 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? If so, go to next step. If not, go to 9 .
- Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. See FRONT PARK BRAKE CABLE , REAR LEFT PARK BRAKE CABLE & REAR RIGHT PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the repair and/or replacement? If so, go to next step.
- Check the adjustment of the park brake. See DRUM PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Was the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step 11 . If not, go to next step.
- Adjust the park brake. See DRUM PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake? If so, go to step 16 . If not, go to next step.
- Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums. See BRAKE DRUM or REAR BRAKE ROTOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If equipped with rear disc brakes, inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. If equipped with drum brakes, inspect the park brake hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. See PARK BRAKE HARDWARE INSPECTION under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Check the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition. Does the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators or adjusters require replacement? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 13 .
- Replace park brake hardware components as necessary. See PARK BRAKE HARDWARE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary. See PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR or DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTING HARDWARE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the replacement? If so, go to next step.
- 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? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 17 .
- Check the adjustment of the park brake. See DRUM PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Was the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step 16 . If not, go to next step.
- Adjust the park brake. See DRUM PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 26 .
- With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag. Release the park brake. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag. Did the park brake apply and release properly? If so, go to step 28 .
- 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? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 19 .
- Replace any of the park brake cables that do not have free movement (not releasing properly). See FRONT PARK BRAKE CABLE , REAR LEFT PARK BRAKE CABLE & REAR RIGHT PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the replacement? If so, go to next step.
- Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible INSIDE the vehicle at the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement. Replace the front park brake cable if it does not have free movement. See FRONT PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you find and correct a condition? If so, go to step 24 . If not, go to next step.
- Replace the park brake pedal assembly (not releasing properly). See PARK BRAKE PEDAL under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the replacement? If so, go to step 25 .
- Check the adjustment of the park brake. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Is the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step 28 . If not, go to next step.
- Adjust the park brake. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step 27 . If not, go to next step.
- Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums, if they have not yet been removed. See REAR BRAKE ROTOR or BRAKE DRUM under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Check the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition. Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary. See PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR or DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTING HARDWARE . Did you find and correct a condition? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 26 .
- Adjust the park brake. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step 27 . If not, go to step 26 .
- Adjust the park brake. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system? If so, go to step 27 .
- Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. SeePARK BRAKE CABLE EQUALIZER under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Adjust the park brake. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT or DISC PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Did you complete the replacement and adjustment? If so, go to next step.
- With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag. Release the park brake. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag. Did the park brake apply and release properly? If so, go to next step.
- Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis. Did you complete the operation? If so, system is okay. If system is not okay, go to step 3 .
NOTE:
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.