How to Replace Emergency Brakes in a Geo Tracker

The emergency brakes on your vehicle were originally used to stop it when the regular brakes failed. However, the brakes on a Geo Tracker now rarely fail, and the emergency brakes are more often used to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The most common source of failure for emergency brakes occurs when they not used for a period of time, causing the brake cable to rust and seize.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Geo Tracker will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for the Geo Tracker use the drum brakes on the rear wheels.

2

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts a half turn with a socket wrench and raise the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly and loosen the four brake drum retaining bolts with a socket wrench and while using a large pry tool to hold the drum steady.

3

Remove the four nuts from the brake drum with a socket wrench for 1989 to 1995 models. Remove the parking brake lever cover screws with a Phillips screwdriver and pull up on the cover. Loosen the parking brake cable lock nut with a socket wrench. Remove the plug from the backing plate and insert a brake spoon tool into the plug hole to release the parking brake shoe lever.

4

Install two 8mm bolts into the brake drum holes if you have a 1996 to 1998 Geo Tracker. Tighten each bolt uniformly with a socket wrench until the brake drum is removed from the vehicle. You may need to depress the brake shoe hold-down spring inside the drum with a brake spoon tool to provide sufficient clearance with the brake shoe to remove the drum.

5

Pull the brake drum off of the rear axle flange.

6

Install the new parking brakes by reversing the removal procedure. Use the star wheel and a caliper gauge to adjust the outside diameter of the brake shoes. It should be 8.637 to 8.639 inches for two-door models and 9.972 to 9.988 inches for four-door models. Use a torque wrench to tighten the drum retaining nuts to between 37 and 57 foot pounds for 1989 to 1995 models.