Emergency Brake Adjustment? - Chevy TrailBlazer, TrailBlazer SS and GMC Envoy Forum

APDMC6008 · #1 01-04-2006, 12:37 AM

Has anyone noticed that their e-brake doesn't hold so well at times? Is there an adjustment or something? When I drove home to PA the driveway at home has a good slope on it, and I set the e-brake like I always to (I like to keep the weight of the car off the parking pins in the transmission, even on flat ground) and I notice the truck about lurched forward until the parking pins in the tranny caught...which is exactly what I didn't want to happen. It seems to happen more when the truck is facing downhill than when facing uphill. Does anyone have any input? Thanks...

ieatglue · #2 01-04-2006, 01:14 AM

My TB moves forward/backward about 2 inches before locking. It doesn't look like the handbrake does anything

ScarabEpic22 · #3 01-04-2006, 01:59 AM

I have had to readjust my handbrake a few times, they are almost worthless on the TBs. There is an auto adjustment procedure along these lines, pull the e-brake boot, push the lever on the front down 3x, and then cycle the e-brake 3x to readjust. It helped me a little, but unless I am on a steep grade I dont bother to set it anymore.

OurZoo · #4 01-04-2006, 10:54 AM

Mine lurches forward or backward about 2 inches as well. I always set the handbrake even at home in the garage. It's a habit!

APDMC6008 · #5 01-04-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OurZoo

Mine lurches forward or backward about 2 inches as well. I always set the handbrake even at home in the garage. It's a habit!

Yeah same here. I'd bet the farm that mine has its brake set right now in the garage and that's a completely level surface. My first car was a 5-speed, and of course I always set it on that thing, and when I got my first AT, I never set it. I figure I just set it to keep the weight off the parking pins in the transmission -it doesn't hurt anything to set it. I'll try that adjustment thing and see what happens.

itchyfishnv · #6 01-04-2006, 04:39 PM

mine didnt work well either until i changed my brakes, and now it works as it should, doesnt roll in neutral on any hill.

APDMC6008 · #7 01-04-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itchyfishnv

mine didnt work well either until i changed my brakes, and now it works as it should, doesnt roll in neutral on any hill.

Gah! Don't say that!!!

Of course, I'm at 67000 mi and still have (to my knowledge) factory pads and rotors on the truck... I bought it with 22K on it, but I doubt they would change them that soon, but who knows!!

I'm probably due for new brakes.

Guess I'll examine that route.

itchyfishnv · #8 01-04-2006, 08:43 PM

im not saying dont replace them if they dont need it, you can adjust it as they wear, but ull have re-adjust it when you put meatier pads and rotors on.

zamar · #9 01-04-2006, 08:56 PM

FWIW the parking brake does not use the rear pads. There is a set of shoes behind the rotor. So the rear brake is a disc (normal braking) and a drum (parkin brake).

At least on my '02.

03slt_soccal · #10 01-05-2006, 12:22 AM

there is an adjustment on the parking brake shoes you have to remove the rotor and caliper then you will see the star adjuster crank it up a little