Emergency Brake Adjustable?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
If it's the same on a C6 as it was on a C5, you can tighten the cable up a tad by letting the car slowly drift backwards and pull up on the brake a few times. If it's not the same as a C5, disregard my last.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
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The backing up thing doesn't do anything- didn't on the C-5 either(same system). Pulling up hard on the handle can take up some slack in the cable if the cable was VERY loose. Otherwise, there is an adjuster in the rear assembly, but a PITA to do. Remember, the PARKING brake is not real good, even when correctly adjusted. If it still holds well enough, I'd leave it alone. It's a PARKING brake, not an EMERGENCY brake.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Lake Worth Florida
According to the service manual, it states:
Important: Park brake adjustment is not necessary after replacing the park brake lever or park brake cables. The park brake cables are tensioned automatically by cycling the park brake lever 3 times.
If you feel the parking brake is not holding correctly, the cable may have stretched beyond what the tensioner can compensate for. In this case you will need to replace the cable.
The other issue could be the brake shoe inside the drum has worn down. The brake shoes can be adjusted, but this is a little more involved and you need a special tool, J 21177-A Drum to Brake Shoe Clearance Gage.
Here is the procedure for adjusting the shoes.
Important: Park brake adjustment is not necessary after replacing the park brake lever or park brake cables. The park brake cables are tensioned automatically by cycling the park brake lever 3 times.
If you feel the parking brake is not holding correctly, the cable may have stretched beyond what the tensioner can compensate for. In this case you will need to replace the cable.
The other issue could be the brake shoe inside the drum has worn down. The brake shoes can be adjusted, but this is a little more involved and you need a special tool, J 21177-A Drum to Brake Shoe Clearance Gage.
Here is the procedure for adjusting the shoes.
- Apply and fully release the parking brake 3 times.
- Verify that the parking brake lever releases completely.
- Turn ON the ignition. Verify that the red BRAKE warning indicator lamp is off.
- Turn OFF the ignition.
- Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle (See: Maintenance) .
- Remove the rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation (See: Maintenance\Wheels and Tires\Service and Repair) .Important: Do not operate the park brake lever with the rear disc brake rotor removed.
- Remove the rear disc brake rotors. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement (See: Disc Brake System\Brake Rotor/Disc\Service and Repair\Removal and Replacement\Rear Brake Rotor Replacement) .
- Place the inside measurement contacts of the J 21177-A at the widest point of the drum portion of the brake rotor (1).
- Tighten the set screw on the tool in order to ensure the proper measurement when removing the tool from the drum.
- Position the outside measurement contacts of the J 21177-A over the park brake shoe (1) at the widest point. Important: If the gap between the adjuster nut and the adjuster screw exceeds 5 mm (0.25 in) during the adjustment procedure, the park brake shoe must be replaced.
- Adjust the park brake shoe-to-drum clearance by rotating the adjustment nut on the park brake actuator. 0.38 mm (0.015 in)
- Install the rear brake rotors. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement (See: Disc Brake System\Brake Rotor/Disc\Service and Repair\Removal and Replacement\Rear Brake Rotor Replacement) .
- Install the rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation (See: Maintenance\Wheels and Tires\Service and Repair) .
- Apply and release the park brake lever 3 times .
- Apply the park brake lever. Inspect the rotation of the rear wheels:
- The wheels should not rotate forward.
- The wheels should drag or not rotate rearward.
- If the rear tire and wheel assemblies rotate forward or do not exhibit drag rearward, repeat the adjustment procedure.
- Release the parking lever. Verify that the wheels rotate freely
- Lower the vehicle
