GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Table 1: Not Enough Braking Force
Table 2: Uneven Braking
Table 3: Dragging Brakes After Pedal is Released
Table 4: Excessive Pedal Travel
Table 5: Braking Noise or Vibration
Table 6: Poor Braking Force of Parking Brake

Refer to a symptom diagnostic procedure from the following list in order to diagnose the symptom.

    • Not Enough Braking Force
    • Uneven Braking
    • Dragging Brakes After Pedal is Released
    • Excessive Pedal Travel
    • Braking Noise or Vibration
    • Poor Braking Force of Parking Brake

Not Enough Braking Force

Checks

Actions

Badly worn brake shoe lining

Replace the lining.

Lining stained with oil

Check the wheel cylinder leaks and then replace the wheel cylinder or the lining, if needed.

Wheel cylinder condition faulty

Replace the wheel cylinder.

Malfunctioning self-adjustment feature

Repair the self-adjustment feature.

Uneven Braking

Checks

Actions

Lining stained with oil

Check the wheel cylinder leaks and then replace the wheel cylinder or the lining, if needed.

Wheel cylinder condition faulty

Replace the wheel cylinder.

Malfunctioning self-adjustment feature

Repair the self-adjustment feature.

Dragging Brakes After Pedal is Released

Checks

Actions

Weakened brake shoe return spring

Replace the brake shoe return spring.

Wheel cylinder condition faulty

Replace the wheel cylinder.

Excessive Pedal Travel

Checks

Actions

Excessively worn lining

Replace the lining.

Malfunctioning self-adjustment feature

Repair the self-adjustment feature.

Braking Noise or Vibration

Checks

Actions

Foreign material stuck to drum

Clean the rear drum brake.

Loosen brake plate bolt

Tighten the brake plate bolt.

Damaged drum

Replace the drum.

Poor Braking Force of Parking Brake

Checks

Actions

Lining stained with oil

Check the wheel cylinder leaks and then replace the wheel cylinder or the lining, if needed.

Damaged self-adjustment feature

Repair the self-adjustment feature.

Poor adjustment of parking brake cable

Adjust the parking brake cable.