For 1990-2009 cars

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 park brake system to hold and/or release? | Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Park Brake | Go to Diagnostic Starting Point - Hydraulic Brakes in Hydraulic Brakes
4 |

1. Raise and support the vehicle with the rear axle supported by jack stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. With the park brake RELEASED, 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 11

Go to Step 5

5 |

1. 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 21

Go to Step 11

7 | Visually inspect the park brake cable connections and the cables that are accessible on the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle for disconnections and/or damage. Were any of the park brake cables disconnected and/or damaged? | Go to Step 8 | Go to Step 9
8 | Reconnect or replace the park brake cables as necessary. Refer to the following procedures as necessary:

• | Parking Brake Front Cable Replacement

• | Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement

Did you complete the repair and/or replacement?

Go to Step 9

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9 | Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Was the park brake adjusted properly? | Go to Step 11 | Go to Step 10
10 | Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Were you able to adjust the park brake? | Go to Step 16 | Go to Step 11
11 | Notice: 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, or damage to the brake system may result.

1. Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement in Disc Brakes or Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
2. If equipped with rear disc brakes, inspect the park brake shoe hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components.
3. If equipped with drum brakes, inspect the park brake hardware for looseness, damaged, broken or missing components. Refer to Park Brake Hardware Inspection .
4. Check the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition.

Does the park brake hardware and/or the park brake actuators or adjusters require replacement?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 13

12 |

1. Replace park brake hardware components as necessary.

• | If equipped with rear disc brakes, refer to Parking Brake Shoe Replacement .

• | If equipped with drum brakes, refer to Park Brake Hardware Replacement .

2. Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary.

• | If equipped with rear disc brakes, refer to Parking Brake Actuator Replacement .

• | If equipped with drum brakes, refer to Adjusting Screw Replacement in Drum Brakes.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 13

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13 | Have an assistant apply and release the park brake, while you observe the park brake cables for free movement. Did the park brake cables move freely? | Go to Step 14 | Go to Step 17
14 | Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Was the park brake adjusted properly? | Go to Step 16 | Go to Step 15
15 | Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Were you able to adjust the park brake? | Go to Step 16 | Go to Step 26
16 |

1. 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 28

Return to Symptom Table

17 | 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. Do 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 the following procedures as necessary:

• | Parking Brake Front Cable Replacement

• | Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 19

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19 |

1. Disconnect the front park brake cable connection accessible INSIDE the vehicle at the park brake pedal assembly and check for free movement.
2. Replace the front park brake cable if the cable does not have free movement. Refer to Parking Brake Front Cable Replacement .

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 24

Go to Step 20

20 | Replace the park brake lever assembly - not releasing properly. Refer to Park Brake Lever Assembly Replacement . Did you complete the replacement? | Go to Step 25 | --
21 | Check the adjustment of the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Is the park brake adjusted properly? | Go to Step 28 | Go to Step 22
22 | Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Were you able to adjust the park brake? | Go to Step 27 | Go to Step 23
23 |

1. Remove the rear brake rotors or brake drums, if they have not yet been removed. Refer to Rear Brake Rotor Replacement in Disc Brakes or Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
2. Inspect the park brake actuators or adjusters for a seized condition.
3. Replace the park brake actuators or adjusters as necessary.

• | If equipped with rear disc brakes, refer to Parking Brake Actuator Replacement .

• | If equipped with drum brakes, refer to Adjusting Screw Replacement in Drum Brakes.

Did you find and correct a condition?

Go to Step 24

Go to Step 26

24 | Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Were you able to adjust the park brake? | Go to Step 27 | Go to Step 26
25 | Adjust the park brake. Refer to Park Brake Adjustment . Were you able to adjust the park brake? | Go to Step 27 | Return to Symptom Table
26 |

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

Did you complete the replacement and adjustment?

Go to Step 27

Return to Symptom Table

27 |

1. 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 28

Return to Symptom Table

28 | 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 | --