Noisy brakes create complaints

Jan. 19, 2010

SUBJECT VEHICLE: 2002-2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 Series Models; 1999-2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 Series pickups; 2000-2003 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe 1500 and GMC Yukon, Yukon XL 1500 Series Models.

COMPLAINT: Intermittent scraping noise from the rear of the vehicle while driving.

CAUSE/SOLUTION: This condition may be due to the parking brake shoe contacting the drum-in-hat rotor without the parking brake being applied. To correct the condition, replace the parking brake shoe and install a redesigned spring clip retainer.

The driver of a Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Avalanche or other GM truck may complain of a “scraping” noise intermittently coming from the rear of the truck while driving. This condition may be due to the parking brake shoe contacting the drum-in-hat rotor without the parking brake being applied, causing premature wear on the shoe lining.

Following the repair procedure outlined here, replace the parking brake shoe(s), and install a newly designed spring clip retainer from the parking brake retainer spring clip kit.

Parts information

Part number                         Description

88982875                             Parking brake shoe kit

88982879                             Parking brake retainer spring clip kit

12346139    

(Canada: 10953463)         Brake parts cleaner

12345493

(Canada: 10953488)         Red Loctite 272TM or equivalent

Tool information

Part number                        Description
J46277                                  Rotor removal tool*
J6125B                                  Slide hammer*
J41013                                  Rotor resurfacing kit*

*or equivalent

Repair procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle following appropriate safety precautions.

2. Remove the tire and wheel.

3. Relieve the tension on the parking brake cables by loosening the equalizer nut.

[PAGEBREAK]4. Mark the relationship of the rotor to the hub.

5. Remove the brake caliper bracket mounting bolts.

6. Remove the brake caliper and brake caliper bracket as an assembly and support with heavy mechanic’s wire or equivalent. Do not disconnect the hydraulic brake flexible hose from the caliper.

7. Remove the rotor retaining push nuts from the wheel studs (if applicable). NOTE: Do not use a hammer to remove the rotor from the hub; it may cause damage to the rotor.

8. Remove the rotor from the hub. If the rotor cannot be removed from the hub by pulling on the rotor, use a rotor removal tool.

9. Using removal tool on a slide hammer, remove the rotor by placing removal tool in the vent section of the rotor at the twelve, three, six and nine o’clock positions, not necessarily in that order.

NOTE: Do not place tools on the back side of the rotor surface; they may damage the rotor surface.

10. Clean the rust ridge from the drum portion of the rotor using a grinding stone and rotor resurfacing kit.

11. Remove the spring clip bolt (3) and retainer (2) and discard (see Figure 1).

12. Measure the parking brake shoe thickness in multiple spots. Replace if the thickness is less than 1.5 mm (0.06 in.). Continue with Step 14.

13. If the parking brake shoe lining is greater than 1.5 mm (0.06 in.), continue with Step 19.

14. Rotate the parking brake shoe (1) out from the bottom and pull it out of the adjuster. Discard the shoe (see Figure 1).

15. Remove the park brake shoe assembly from the vehicle by placing one of the open ends of the shoe over the axle flange and rotate the shoe until it has cleared the flange.

16. Turn the adjustment screw (1) to the fully home position in the notched adjustment nut.

17. Install the new park brake shoe assembly from the parking brake shoe kit, to the vehicle by placing one of the open ends of the shoe over the axle flange and rotating the shoe until it is behind the flange.

18. Slide the shoe into the adjuster and position the shoe to the backing plate. Install the retaining spring clip and bolt from the parking brake shoe kit. If using parking brake service kit, skip Step 19.

19. Replace the retaining spring clip and bolt. Tighten to 5 N.m (44 in.-lb.).

20. Set a drum to shoe clearance gauge so that it contacts the inside diameter of the rotor.

[PAGEBREAK]21. Position the gauge over the shoe and the lining at the widest point. Important:

A. The parking brake adjustment screw threads should not exceed 5 mm (0.2 in.) of exposed thread.

B. The clearance between the park brake shoe and the rotor is 0.6604 mm (0.026 in.).

22. Clean all rust and contaminants from the inside diameter of the hat section of the rotor and mating surface of the hub flange. Failure to do this may result in increased lateral runout of the rotor and brake pulsation.

23. Align the mark on the rotor with the mark on the hub and install, slowly turning the rotor while pushing the rotor towards the axle.

24. Install the caliper and the bracket as an assembly.

25. Perform the following procedure before installing the caliper bracket mounting bolts:

A. Remove all traces of the original adhesive.

B. Clean the threads of the bolt with brake parts cleaner and allow to dry.

C. Apply threadlocker, such as Red Loctite 272TM, to the threads of the bolt.

26. Install the caliper bracket mounting bolts and tighten to 175 N.m (129 ft.-lbs.).

27. Repeat procedure on the other side of the vehicle.

28. Tighten the intermediate cable equalizer nut to 3.5 N.m (31 in.-lbs.).

29. Install the tire and wheel.

30. Lower the vehicle.

31. Verify that the self adjuster lock-out pin has been removed.

32. Fully apply and release the parking brake three times.    ■

Eric Seifert is a technical editor for ALLDATA LLC. Seifert is an ASE-certified Master Technician and Engine Machinist. He is a graduate of the De Anza College Automotive Technology Program, with 20 years of independent shop and parts store experience. The database is provided by ALLDATA, a registered trademark of ALLDATA LLC. ALLDATA is a corporate division of AutoZone Inc. The company’s Web site is www.alldata.com.