NHTSA Complaint #10066044 — 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE - 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DURING STATE INSPECTION (TEXAS) APPARENT CAUSE OF PARKING BRAKE FAILURE IS DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF PARKING BRAKE SHOE. CHEVROLET HAS REDESIGNED THEIR THE RETAINING CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE IN PLACE. THE REDESIGNED CLIP DOES NOT ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE TO FLOAT OR MOVE INSIDE THE ROTOR OF THE REAR PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY. IN THIS CASE THERE WAS ABNORMAL WEAR TO THE INSIDE OF THE PARKING BRAKE ROTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE. THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE WEAR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE ROTOR OF PARKING BRAKE SHOE. CHEVROLET HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS WHICH ADDRESSES THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED OR SET. THE FIX IS THE REDESIGNED CLIP WHICH REPLACES THE OLD CLIP. IN OUR CASE, WE DO NOT USE THE PARKING BRAKE ON A REGULAR BASIS (IF AT ALL) AND THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING A NORMAL ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION (TEXAS) - AS IT FAILED TO PASS THE TEST DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE NOT HOLDING.