Park Brake System Description and Operation for Chevrolet Malibu 2001

System Component Description

The park brake system consists of the following:

Park Brake Pedal Assembly: Receives and transfers park brake system apply input force from driver to park brake cable system. Releases applied park brake system when depressed again.

Park Brake Cables: Transfers input force received from park brake pedal, through park brake cable equalizer, to park brake apply lever.

Park Brake Cable Equalizer: Evenly distributes input force to both the left and right park brake units.

Park Brake Apply Lever: Multiplies and transfers input force to park brake actuator/adjuster.

Park Brake Actuator/Adjuster: Uses multiplied input force from apply lever to expand drum brake shoes toward the friction surface of the brake drum. Threaded park brake actuators/adjusters are also used to control clearance between the drum brake shoes and the friction surface of the brake drum.

Drum Brake Shoes: Applies mechanical output force from park brake actuator/adjuster to friction surface of the brake drum.

System Operation

Park brake apply input force is received by the park brake pedal assembly being depressed, transferred and evenly distributed, through the park brake cables and the park brake cable equalizer, to the left and right park brake apply levers. The park brake apply levers multiply and transfer the apply input force to the park brake actuators/adjusters which expand the drum brake shoes toward the friction surface of the brake drum in order to prevent the rotation of the rear tire and wheel assemblies. The park brake pedal assembly releases an applied park brake system when it is depressed again.