Park Brake System Diagnosis
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE:
This test is designed to diagnose only the components of the park brake system in order to determine if the park brake system is operating properly.
- Were you sent here from HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM TEST under SYSTEM TESTS? If so, go to step 4. If not, go to next step.
- Were you sent here from PARK BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD OR RELEASE under SYMPTOM TESTS? 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, see PARK BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT under TROUBLE SHOOTING. If not, see HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT 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.
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- 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.
- 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 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? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 9.
- Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. See PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to next step.
- Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARKING 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 PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to adjust the park brake? If so, go to step 16. If not, go to next step.
- Remove the rear brake rotors. See REAR BRAKE ROTOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
- Inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components.
- Check the park brake actuators for a seized condition.
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- Replace park brake hardware components as necessary. See PARK BRAKE SHOE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
- Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. See PARK BRAKE SHOE ACTUATOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, 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 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 PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to adjust 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.
- 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 or are not releasing properly. See PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to next step.
- Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible inside the vehicle at the park brake lever assembly and check for free movement. Replace the front park brake cable if it does not have free movement. See 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 lever assembly for not releasing properly. See PARK BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
- Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Was the park brake adjusted properly? If so, go to step 28. If not, go to next step.
- Adjust the park brake. See PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to adjust the park brake? If so, go to step 27. If not, go to next step.
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- Remove the rear brake rotors, if they have not yet been removed. See REAR BRAKE ROTOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
- Inspect the park brake actuators for a seized condition.
- Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. See PARK BRAKE SHOE ACTUATOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you find and correct a condition? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step 26.
- Adjust the park brake. See PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to adjust the park brake? If so, go to step 27. If not, go to step 26.
- Adjust the park brake. See PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to adjust the park brake? If so, go to step 27. If not, go to SYMPTOM TESTS .
- Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. See PARK BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Adjust the park brake. See PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Did you complete the replacement and adjustment? If so, go to next step. If not, go to SYMPTOM TESTS .
- 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.
- Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis.
NOTE:
DO NOT depress the brake pedal with the brake rotors removed, or with the brake calipers repositioned away from the brake rotors, or damage to the brake system may result.