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Park Brake System Diagnosis

Step

Action

Yes

No

DEFINITION: This diagnostic table is designed to diagnose ONLY the components of the PARK brake system in order to determine if the PARK brake system is operating properly. You will be directed by the appropriate Symptom table to go to other brake system diagnostic tables as appropriate.

1

Were you sent here from a Hydraulic Brake Symptom table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 2

2

Were you sent here from a Park Brake Symptom table?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Is the symptom related to the ability of the handbrake system to hold and/or release?

Go to Symptoms - Park Brake

Go to Symptoms - Hydraulic Brakes

4

  1. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by axle stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
  3. With the handbrake RELEASED, attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.

Do the rear brakes have a substantial amount of drag?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 5

5

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. 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?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Release the park brake.
  2. 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?

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 11

7

  1. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. 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?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

8

Reconnect or replace the handbrake cables as necessary. Refer to Handbrake Cable Replacement .

Did you complete the repair and/or replacement?

Go to Step 9

9

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 11

11

    Caution: Do not depress the brake pedal with the brake discs and/or the brake drums removed, or with the brake callipers repositioned away from the brake discs, or damage to the brake system may result.

  1. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. Inspect the park brake hardware for loose, damaged, broken or missing components. Refer to Park Brake Hardware Inspection .
  3. Check the drum brake adjusters for a seized condition.

Do the park brake hardware and/or the drum brake adjusters require replacement?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 13

12

  1. Replace park brake hardware components as necessary. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement .
  2. Replace the drum brake adjusting hardware as necessary. Refer to Drum Brake Adjusting Hardware Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 13

13

Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement.

Do the park brake cables move freely?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 17

14

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 15

15

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 25

16

  1. With the transmission still in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Does the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 27

Return to Symptom Table

17

  1. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. 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.

Did any of the park brake cables accessible on the underside of the vehicle require replacement?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 19

18

Replace any of the park brake cables that do not have free movement - not releasing properly. Refer to Handbrake Cable Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 23

19

Replace the park brake lever assembly - not releasing properly. Refer to Handbrake Lever Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 24

20

Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Was the park brake adjusted properly?

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 21

21

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 22

22

  1. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement .
  2. Check the drum brake adjuster for a seized condition.
  3. Replace the drum brake adjusting hardware as necessary. Refer to Drum Brake Adjusting Hardware Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 25

23

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 25

24

Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Were you able to attain adjustment of the park brake system?

Go to Step 26

Return to Symptom Table

25

  1. Replace the component that is used to adjust the park brake system. Refer to Handbrake Lever Replacement .
  2. Adjust the park brake. Refer to Parking Brake Adjustment .

Did you complete the replacement and adjustment?

Go to Step 26

Return to Symptom Table

26

  1. With the transmission in NEUTRAL, apply the park brake.
  2. Attempt to rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant amount of drag.
  3. Release the park brake.
  4. Rotate the rear wheels to check the rear brakes for a significant reduction of drag.

Did the park brake apply and release properly?

Go to Step 27

Return to Symptom Table

27

Install or connect any components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis.

Did you complete the operation?

Park Brake System OK

Return to Symptom Table

   


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