Emergency brake (also known as Hand Brake) plays an important role in keeping a car stand still while parking. Nowadays, most cars don’t come with a hand brake but a system switch symbolized as “P” called emergency brake.
If it happens to be you wondering how to adjust the emergency brake on a Chevy Silverado, you’ve come to the right place & this article is for you. In this article, I’ll be discussing the potential solutions.
Honestly, there are not many solutions available other than tightening the braking shoes, and I will try my best to make you understand the solution. So, without further ado – let’s get started:
What Does Emergency Brake Means?
Emergency brake or hand brake stops the vehicle from accidentally moving while parked. Sometimes, drivers use this brake to avoid a severe accident when their main brake isn’t working right.
On the whole, an emergency brake is something crucial for a car owner/car driver. Whether you use the emergency brake feature or not, you should always check if it is working before hitting any new trip.
How To Adjust Emergency Brake On Chevy Silverado: 7 Steps Guide
Adjusting emergency brakes is classified as a primary toughness level DIY (Do It Yourself) job. This means anybody with little to no prior technical knowledge can perform this task.
Here are the things you will need:
- 22mm Lug Nut Wrench
- Jack & Jack Stand
- Owners Manual
- 18mm Ratchet Wrench & ⅝ Inch Open Wrench
- Flat Head Screwdriver
Note: Remember, the wrench size might be slightly different on your vehicle & that’s why an owner’s manual is a must to have first.
Assuming you have everything in hand, let’s get started with the step-by-step procedure for fixing the emergency brake of a Chevy Silverado. Here we go:
Step 1: Loosen The Lug Nuts
Firstly, you’ll need to loosen the lug nuts – the nuts that hold the wheel with the rotor. Most Chevy Silverado comes with the 22mm lug nuts & that’s why you need a 22m lug nut wrench.
Check your owner’s manual first to understand which lug nut size your car has. It’s a must to check the owner’s manual before getting started with the emergency brake fixation.
Step 2: Lift Your Vehicle By 6 inches or So
As you have loosened the lug nuts, gently lift the vehicle by 6 inches (or so). Here, you’ll need the owner’s manual to tell you where the ideal jack point is. Use the jack along with the jack stand.
You’ll also need to use a jack stand to conduct the fixation work safely. You might have to work under the vehicle for a couple of minutes & that’s why a perfectly balanced jack point & jack stand is needed.
Step 3: Remove The Lug Nuts & Wheel Completely
As you’ve already lifted the car high enough to work under it, remove the lug nuts altogether. Then gently pull the wheel & it will be out – no hassle, no nothing. Yes, here you only need the lug nut wrench discussed in step_1.
Step 4: Remove The Brake Caliper
After removing the wheel, the brake caliper & rotating rotor will be slightly seen. First, you’ll have to remove the brake caliper from the rotor. To remove/pull out the brake caliper, you can use the 18mm ratchet wrench and the ⅜ inch open wrench.
Step 5: Remove The Rotor
Rotate the rotor upwards & downwards while pulling it. You can give one or two mild strokes so that it easily comes out. After trying for some moment, you’ll eventually remove the rotor just like the brake caliper.
Step 6: Adjust The Emergency Brake
At this point, the emergency braking mechanism is exposed. Take a deep look & note what things you’re seeing. You should see a spring-type something that is connected with an adjuster.
The adjuster, also known as the toothed wheel, will do the job of adjusting/tightening the emergency brake. Take your flat head screwdriver to push the toothed wheel upward & it will cause the brake shoes to expand.
One or two turns will make a huge difference. Check if you can still rotate the structure while the emergency brake is released. Also, check if the structure is stuck while the emergency brake is engaged. If yes, then you’re all set.
Step 7: Wrap Up
Congratulations! You’ve successfully adjusted your emergency brake perfectly. Now all you have to do is reverse everything so you can use your vehicle again.
That was it & that’s how one can easily adjust their Chevy Silverado without paying the professional a single penny.
Things To Consider While Adjusting Chevy Silverado Emergency Brake
You should ensure the safety measures first before trying to solve the problem. For example, you should have gloves, goggles & the jack stand right in place.
On top of everything, keep the owner’s manual in hand. If you ever feel it’s being very much overwhelming, consider calling any professional to help you.
How Often Should I Adjust My Chevy Silverado Emergency Brake?
There is no exact timetable for adjusting the Chevy Silverado emergency brake. Whenever you feel the emergency brake isn’t’ performing as it should, adjust it as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Yes, the parking brakes are self-adjustable, but they often fail to adjust on their own. That’s why you need to adjust the emergency brake or parking brake by yourself despite being a self-adjustable system.
The brake adjustment should cost around $55 to $85, depending on where you’re getting the service. If you are hiring an individual mechanic, you’ll have to spend less than a dealership or auto shop.
You can drive with a broken emergency brake, but you should never do it. Driving with a broken emergency brake will affect not only the emergency braking system – but the whole braking system.
Conclusion
I hope this article was informative enough on the topic of how to adjust emergency brakes on Chevy Silverado from an educational & DIY point of view. Now you know how to adjust the emergency brake without going to the professionals.
However, if you fear doing wrong while adjusting the brake – don’t force yourself to do so. You can call your nearby professional mechanic & he will do it for you in exchange for some money.
