NHTSA Complaint #10217769 — 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN PARKING BRAKE FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS 1999 THROUGH 2003 GM VEHICLES. MOST OWNERS ARE PROBABLY UNAWARE THEIR VEHICLE HAS THIS DEFECT, SINCE THE TRANSMISSION PREVENTS VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHEN IN PARK. THE PARKING BRAKE ON THESE GM VEHICLES IS A DRUM BRAKE ON THE REAR WHEELS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DRUM, AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR IS COMBINED INTO A SINGLE UNIT ON THESE VEHICLES. PARKING BRAKE PADS ARE MOUNTED ON A CIRCULAR METAL RING, WHICH HAS ABOUT A 2 INCH GAP AT THE TOP. THE RING EXPANDS WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED. UNLIKE TYPICAL DRUM BRAKE PADS, THE CIRCULAR RING IS NOT WELL SECURED TO PREVENT UNDESIRABLE MOVEMENT WITHIN THE DRUM. USUALLY, DRUM BRAKE PADS ARE SECURED BY HEAVY SPRINGS TO KEEP THEM CENTERED WITHIN THE DRUM. ON THESE GM VEHICLES, HOWEVER, THERE IS JUST A SLIDE-IN CLIP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCULAR METAL RING TO WHICH THE PADS ARE ATTACHED. THIS ALLOWS THE BRAKE PADS TO MOVE WITHIN THE DRUM WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT IN USE. ON MY VEHICLE, THE CIRCULAR RING WAS PULLED DOWN BE GRAVITY, RESULTING IN IT CONTINUALLY RIDING AGAINST THE DRUM. THIS WORE OUT THE PADS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCULAR RING TO THE POINT WHERE METAL WAS CONTACTING METAL. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE WEAR TO THE DRUM, REMOVING OVER 1/16 INCH OF METAL. IN FEBRUARY 2003, GM RELEASED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 92-05-26-002A, WHICH CALLS FOR INSTALLATION OF A SPRING CLIP RETAINER TO PREVENT PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON THE FOLLOWING MODELS: 2002-2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE 1999-2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 2000-2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, TAHOE 1500 2002-2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1999-2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 2000-2003 GMC YUKON 1500 GM SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO HOLD WHEN PARKED ON A STEEP SLOPE. A DRIVER COULD PLACE A RUNNING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, SET THE PARKING BRAKE, AND TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, RESULTING IN HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. *TR