Jason PM

Hi all - the parking brake on my 2003 Suburban no longer works (like not at all - even with the pedal depressed to the floor, the truck still rolls freely). My local mechanic tells me it is already tightened to the max and is completely stretched. I understand there are multiple cables that connect from the pedal to the brake. If I wanted to replace all of them, does anyone know which cables I would need? Thanks!

repairman54

I would pull the rear rotors off and inspect the parking brake linings first. The brake linings like to come off backing plate giving you no parking brake as they get old. It's not like the linings wear out they just come ''unglued'' to their metal shoe.
I've seen it on a family members Impala and on my '11 Tahoe. One may have failed and adjusting the cable may have worked until the other one went.

Cusser

Mrs. Cusser has had 1988 and 1994 Suburbans and 2005 and 2011 Yukon XL Denalis and has never yet used the parking brake. I drive it rarely, and tend to use the parking brake though.

So our parking brake still works, but we're in Arizona.

73shark

Another problem with not using the parking brake if you live in the rust belt is that it'll eventually seize up due to rust inside the cable housing. While you can still apply the parking brake one time, the return spring will not be strong enough to overcome the rust and then it will burn up 🔥 the parking brake. 😟.