How to Replace a Chevy Truck Parking Brake Cable
Replacing the emergency brake cable on any vehicle is a labor-intensive process that involves removing several pieces of the brake assembly to get to one end of the cable and removing other parts toward the front of the vehicle to get to the other end. If you fancy yourself a DIY pro, then no problem, think of this as a challenge. We seldom think about the emergency brake until we actually need it. You should replace your parking brake cable as soon as you notice difficulty in engaging your parking brake.
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Things You'll Need
- Concrete wedge
- Two jacks or hydraulic lift
- Screwdriver
- Goggles
- Dust mask
- Brake cleaner
- Vice grips
- Left parking brake cable
- Right parking brake cable
Instructions
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1
Loosen the lug nuts on the rear tires with the truck set firmly on the ground. If you attempt to loosen them while the truck is jacked up, the wheels will just move. Block the front tires of the truck to prevent it from rolling forward; a concrete wedge will work. Raise the back end of the truck from the ground with a jack or hydraulic lift. You will be working mainly in the rear of the vehicle to get to one end of the parking brake cable.
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2
Remove the lug nuts and tires from the rear of the truck. If the Chevy truck you are working on has drum brakes, remove the drums from both sides. Some drums will have a small space just big enough so that you can insert a flat-head screwdriver. Wiggle the screwdriver gently and work the drum off of the brake assembly. Others will come off with a couple of soft raps of a hammer. Put on goggles and a dust mask to keep from breathing in brake dust and rust. Set nuts, drums and tires aside and inspect the brake shoes behind the drum.
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3
Spray a can of brake cleaner into the assembly, being careful not to spray too much in the area between the brake shoes and the outer assembly. Let the cleaner dry, and then remove the brake shoes. Locate the pins that are holding the brake shoes. Hold the pin in the back and push forward on the lock washer to free the pin and remove the brake shoes. There will be one on each side of the brake shoes. Pull the brake shoes off gently off. If you need to unhook one or both springs to make this easier, you can do that now.
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4
Remove the spring clip that holds the parking brake cable; it is located behind the brake shoe. Insert a flat-head screwdriver and use caution in removing it, as the clip is the size of a fingernail and can easily drop into the brake assembly.
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Hold the parking brake cable in place with a pair of vice grips. The cable is what the clip was holding to the back of the brake shoe. Gently pull the lever off of the cable, with a firm grip on the cable. The lever applies pressure to the brake shoes when the parking brake is engaged. It often resembles an iron shoehorn.
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6
Unhook the parking brake cable from the rear brake area by removing the clips and bolts that hold it in place. Some Chevy models have three tabs that secure the cable. Use small vice-grips or a screwdriver to press the tabs firmly in and remove the cable.
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Insert the new parking brake cable into the areas where you removed the old one. This will allow you to "see" where the cable is clipped, bolted and secured along the underside of the truck. You will also be less likely to confuse the left and right emergency brake cables. Unhook the old cable from the front assembly. The parking brake cable will come together in a "Y" formation toward the front. This is sometimes called a "yoke." Unbolt the old cable from the yoke by removing the bolt. Sometimes the old cable is wrapped around the bolt on the yoke; if so, try to duplicate that with the new cable.
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8
Repeat this procedure on the other side of the truck. Replace the springs, lever, shoes and drum in the reverse order from which you removed them. Put the rear tires back on the vehicle and loosely screw on the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts firmly. Test your parking brake in a safe area, preferably your own driveway.
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References
- Photo Credit man working on car image by palms from Fotolia.com
