Park Brake System Diagnosis

If you were sent here from a hydraulic brake symptom test, go to step 4. If you were not sent here from a hydraulic brake symptom test, go to step 2.
If you were sent here from a park brake symptom test, go to step 4. If you were sent here from a park brake symptom test, go to step 3.
If the symptom is related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release, see PARK BRAKE SYSTEM under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS. If the symptom is not related to the ability of the park brake system to hold and/or release, see HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM under GENERAL DIAGNOSIS.
1. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands.
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.
If the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag, go to step 11. If the rear brakes DO NOT have a significant amount of drag, go to step 5.
- 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.
If the rear brakes have a significant amount of drag, go to step 6. If the rear brakes DO NOT have a significant amount of drag, 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. If the rear brakes exhibit a significant reduction in the amount of drag, go to step 22. If the rear brakes DO NOT exhibit a significant reduction in the amount of drag, 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. If any or the park brake cables were disconnected and/or damaged, go to step 8. If any or the park brake cables were not disconnected and/or damaged, go to step 9.
Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. See PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If the repair and/or replacement was completed, go to step 9.
Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the park brake was adjusted properly, go to step 11. If the park brake was not adjusted properly, go to step 10.
Adjust the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the adjustment of the park brake was attainable, go to step 16. If the adjustment of the park brake was not attainable, go to step 11.

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. Damage to the brake system may result.

Remove the rear brake rotors. See BRAKE ROTOR in REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. Check the park brake actuators for a seized condition. If the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators require replacement, go to step 12. If the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators DO NOT require replacement, go to step 13.
Replace park brake hardware components as necessary. See PARK BRAKE SHOES under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. See PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to step 13.
Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement. If the park brake cables moved freely, go to step 14. If the park brake cables did not move freely, go to step 17.
Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the park brake was adjusted properly, go to step 16. If the park brake was not adjusted properly, go to step 15.
Adjust the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the adjustment of the park brake was attainable, go to step 16. If the adjustment of the park brake was not attainable, go to step 25.
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. If the park brake applied and released properly, go to step 27. If the park brake did not apply and release properly, return to symptom tests.
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. If any of the park brake cables that are accessible on the underside of the vehicle require replacement, go to step 18. If any of the park brake cables that are accessible on the underside of the vehicle DO NOT require replacement, go to step 19.
Replace any of the park brake cables that DO NOT have free movement and/or are not releasing properly. See PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to step 19.
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 PARK BRAKE CABLE under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If the condition was found and corrected, go to step 25. If the condition was not found and corrected, go to step 20.
Disconnect the park brake release handle assembly cable connection from the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement. Replace the park brake release handle assembly if the release cable does not have free movement. See PARK BRAKE RELEASE HANDLE ASSEMBLY under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. If the condition was found and corrected, go to step 25. If the condition was not found and corrected, go to step 21.
Replace the park brake pedal assembly that is not releasing properly. See PARK BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to step 25.
Check the adjustment of the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the park brake was adjusted properly, go to step 27. If the park brake was adjusted properly, go to step 23.
Adjust the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the adjustment of the park brake system attainable, go to step 26. If the adjustment of the park brake system is not attainable, go to step 24.
1. Remove the rear brake rotors, if they have not yet been removed. See BRAKE ROTOR in REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
2. Check the park brake actuators for a seized condition.
3. Replace the park brake actuators as necessary. See PARK BRAKE ACTUATOR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
If the condition was found and corrected, go to step 25. If the condition was not found and corrected, return to symptom test.
Adjust the park brake. See PARK BRAKE ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. If the adjustment of the park brake system was attainable, go to step 26. If the adjustment of the park brake system was not attainable, return to symptom test.
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. If the park brake applied and released properly, go to step 27. If the park brake did not apply and release properly, return to symptom test.
Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis. If the operation was completed, park brake system okay. If the operation was not completed, return to symptom table.