The Chevy Silverado boasts stable engine options with high-tech off-road capabilities for any outdoor enthusiast. The Chevy Silverado has agile handling, and the brake pedal provides firm and reassuring feedback.
The emergency or parking brake is essential for any vehicle, especially off-roaders like the Chevy Silverado model. If you park a Silverado and notice the vehicle rocking forward or backward. This is a sign of e-brake failure and needs to be adjusted.
Remove one of your rear tires to adjust your Chevy Silverado to access the braking mechanism. There are a variety of e-brake setups, and the designs vary with the brand. We have given you a step-by-step guide on adjusting the emergency brake on a Chevy Silverado.
But first, let’s explain if adjusting the e-brake is possible, how it works and why we make the adjustment.
Can you adjust the emergency brake?
Yes. Parking brake adjustment is a mandatory process that ensures your vehicle’s emergency brake has the correct tension to work properly. The parking brake, also called an emergency brake, e-brake, or handbrake, is an essential car system that keeps your vehicle stationary.
If your handbrake feels loose or is out of adjustment, parking on a slight incline can cause an accident.
There are three main parking brake systems in cars today;
- Centre lever parking
- Foot pedal parking brake
- Push-button or electronic parking brake
The Chevy Silverado lineup has two types of emergency brakes: electronic and manual handbrakes. The manual emergency brake is adjustable, while the electronic parking brake is either adjustable or non-adjustable. However, the electronic parking brake in the Chevy Silverado model is not adjustable.
GM introduced the electronic, push-button parking brake in the 2019 to 2022 Chevy Silverado models. This electronic parking brake uses a switch just below the driver-side AC vent and control panel that operates the motors on the rear calipers.
You press the button to engage the parking brakes, which sends signals to the motors, causing the caliper piston to push the brake pads against the rotor. Pressing the button again disengages the parking brake. One of the pros of the electronic parking brake is that it does not need manual brake cable adjustment.
So before skipping to adjusting the e-brake on a Chevy Silverado, it’s imperative to understand how the manual emergency brake mechanism works on this model.
How the emergency brake works on a Chevy Silverado
The e-brake or emergency brake on a Chevy Silverado is a mechanical lever that ensures your vehicle doesn’t move when parked. Although it’s different from the hydraulic brakes(disc or drum brakes), the e-brake can also stop the car in case the hydraulic ones fail.
The emergency brake system integrates into the drum brake system and works with levers and cables. So when you pull a handbrake lever, the steel cables will transmit the necessary force to a pair of brake shoes which expand in the drum and wedge themselves in place.
This wedging creates a strong force that keeps the car in place. Over time, these parking brake cables age from frequent use and stretch, so they require the occasional adjusting. The rule of thumb is you need to adjust your emergency or parking brake every two years or change it every 75,000 miles, depending on how often you use it.
In other cases, someone can overtighten the cables, which results in a very heavy e-brake handle that only allows 1-2 clicks before it engages. Ideally, you want around 3-4 clicks because the brake’s resistance increases with the number of clicks.
So, too tight, and the brakes won’t fully release when you disengage the parking brake, but too loose, and they won’t engage enough when you apply it.
How do you adjust the e-brake on a Chevy Silverado?
Most GM parking brakes are located on the rear wheels only. So if the Chevy Silverado handbrake is not grabbing, it’s time to readjust it. You can adjust the e-brake of your Chevy Silverado by yourself. But note that adjusting it inaccurately can lead to premature brake shoe failure and damage to the drum and rotor. So get your tools and follow the procedure below to adjust the e-brake on a Chevy Silverado.
Things you’ll need
- Ratchet wrench
- Wrench
- Car lift
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Parking brake adjustment tool or large flat head screwdriver
Directions
Raise your Chevy Silverado
- Partially loosen the lug nuts in case you must take off the wheel later if necessary.
- Park your car on a firm, level ground.
- Set the jack in the front of the rear wheel, lift the rear side of your car and place it on a car lift or jack stands to access the e-brake adjuster at the rear wheels of your Chevy Silverado. Although you can use a jack to raise your car, it is too unstable to support a car properly and bulky as a Silverado, and you should reinforce it with safety stands.
- Take off the lug nuts completely and then dismount the rear tire completely.
Remove the brake assembly.
- You should be able to see the rotor and brake calipers.
- Use a ratchet wrench to remove the three bolts holding the brake calipers in place.
- Slide the brake calipers with your hand and dismount them.
- Then remove the rotor too to see the handbrake mechanism.
Adjust the emergency brake
- You should see the rotary turn dial connected to a bolt. This bolt pushes the braking shoes closer to the rotor, and the braking shoes apply pressure on the rotor for the e-brake to work. So, you must adjust the turn dial until it pushes the braking shoe closer to the rotor.
- Using the flat head screwdriver or parking brake adjustment tool, adjust the turn dial until the shoe is higher than its current setting.
- Return the rotor to its position and check if the friction between the pads and rotor is sufficient.
- If you’re not satisfied with the level of tightness, remove the rotor and adjust the turn dial again. Adjusting the manual parking brake is usually trial and error.
Reassemble the braking mechanism
- Once the braking shoes are close enough, mount the rotor and check if the friction is sufficient.
- Finally, take your truck off the car lift or jack stands.
- Try lifting your emergency brake and gently push the car to see if it moves. Your car should not move, so it’s safe to park on a slope.
Note: The parking brake adjustment of your Chevy Silverado is a temporary solution. After successfully adjusting your emergency brake, take your car to a service center for wheel alignment. Also, have the professionals check if there was something more serious causing the e-brake failure. General Motors recommends adjusting the parking brake of the Silverado line every three months to ensure it works properly, especially if you regularly drive on rough surfaces.
Conclusion
Adjusting the emergency brake of your Chevy Silverado ensures the parking brake cables can provide enough stopping power to prevent your vehicle from rolling when it is parked.
Although the process is quite simple, do not attempt to do it if you have no previous experience maintaining a vehicle. Instead, take your truck to a certified service center for proper adjustment.