Good evening everyone. This is my first post in the forum and please excuse any rules I may have broken. I kind of ran into this problem today and need to get it fixed ASAP (by tomorrow evening - need it Tuesday).

Anyways, I was replacing the emergency brake shoe on my 2003 Suburban - 1500 4WD. This all started because the brake pressed to the floor and wouldn't return when I pull the release. However, it will raise if I grab on to the pedal and pull while the release is pulled.

So, I pull the wheel and the rotor off and the emergency brake pad falls all over the floor. Well, I thought, that must be the problem - I'll replace that and adjust the emergency brake and we'll be good (clue one to future problems).

Everything was going fairly well until I go to put the rotor back on - it doesn't slip on. I thought - oh I forgot to adjust that star wheel. So, I start to turn it, realize I'm going the wrong way, turn it the other way and bottom it out. So, it's as low as it can go. I go to slip the rotors on - still don't fit.

So, now I'm here with new emergency brake shoes and rotors that won't fit. Now I'm wondering if it has something to do with the release. When I have someone push the ebrake pedal, I see absolutely nothing happening at the wheel end.

Do I have a cable that needs to be replaced/adjusted?

 

is the release spring on the brake cable compressed? if yes, the brake is stuck applied. the levers that go into the backing plate must move freely. if they are seized...you gotta get them moving.

 

I'm not sure, so very good question. I guess that would make the most sense that it is stuck in the applied position. I will take a look at that.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Well, I'm not sure how much this helps the troubleshooting.

When I go to look at the parking brake pedal, I depress it a few inches. When I pull the release handle, it releases just fine. I notice that is does NOT release when I depress it all the way to the floor. I also noticed I can press it down with my hand - I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that easy.

Based on that, do you still think the cable is actuated? I'm wondering if the cable itself is stuck and I might need to cut the ends off.

 

I am referring to the apply levers that actuate the brake shoes. the foot pedal never seizes as its inside the truck.


slide under the truck...pull on the ebrake cable that runs along the left frame rail.....watch the levers in the backing plates...they should apply and release fully as you pull and release the cable.

 

Well, the e-brake is not actuated. I disconnected the cable and moved the lever in and out; it moved freely. I swapped out brake pads (thinking I may have distorted the other when installing), that did nothing. I verified that the star wheel thing (highly technical terms here) is retracted all the way. I still can not get the rotor on.

Is it possible that the brake pads are too thick? It appears as if the rotor goes on about half way and then stops. These are new rotors as well. Can AutoZone shave the inside down a bit?

 

to clarify:



does this set up use disc brakes with drum style ebrake shoes that rest in the hat of the rotor?
or
is this a full drum set up in which the service brake and ebrake apply the same shoe?


either you got wrong parted or its put together incorrectly. find a diagram of the proper set up to compare.