How to Replace the Emergency Brakes in a Chevy Silverado

The original purpose of emergency brakes was to stop your vehicle in an emergency. Fortunately, the brakes on a Chevy Silverado rarely fail and the emergency brakes are most commonly used to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The most likely type of failure for emergency brakes is when the brake cable rusts and seizes after being unused for a long period of time.

Instructions

1

Determine which type of emergency brakes your Chevy Silverado will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for the Chevy Silverado may use all four wheels or just the rear wheels depending on the drive option.

2

Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the tire and the wheel assembly with a socket wrench and disconnect the brake caliper and its mounting bracket as an assembly. Loosen the nut at the equalizer with a socket wrench to relieve the tension on the parking brake cables.

3

Remove the parking brake cable from its lever with a socket wrench and disconnect the brake rotor and axle shaft. Turn the adjustment screw in the notched adjustment nut to the home position with a flathead screwdriver. Slide the brake shoe assembly toward the retaining spring until the shoe disengages.

4

Align the slots in the adjustment screw and tappet so they are parallel with the backing plate face. Position the park brake shoe on the inboard side of the actuator and slide it into position until it seats into the retaining spring. Ensure the shoe assembly is centered on the backing plate with both tips in the slots.

5

Complete the installation by reversing the removal procedure. Tighten the nut on the equalizer to 31 inch pounds with a torque wrench.