NHTSA Complaint #10320605 — 2000 GMC SIERRA

I HAVE A 2000 GMC SIERRA PICKUP WITH DISC BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE PARKING BRAKE IS A HORSESHOE SHAPED BRAKE SHOE THAT IS TO GRAB A BRAKE DRUM DESIGNED INTO THE REAR WHEEL ROTOR. I HAVE USED THE PARKING BRAKE ABOUT FIVE TIMES( EXAGGERATED) IN THE LIFE OF MY TRUCK. WHEN THE BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, AS I RARELY USED IT. RECENTLY ON AN UNRELATED REPAIR I HAD OCCASION TO REMOVE AND INSPECT MY REAR ROTORS. THE BRAKE SHOE FOR THE PARKING BRAKE REPOSITIONED ITSELF AND HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE BRAKE DRUM PORTION OF THE ROTOR CAUSING IT TO WEAR THE LINING OF THE DRUM . VERY LITTLE WEAR OCCURRED TO THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE. THE DESIGN OF THE SHOE ITS POSITION ON THE DRUM CREATED A BASIN WEAR PARTICLES ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE WORN AREA OF THE DRUM CREATING EVEN FASTER WEAR TO THE SURFACE. AFTER 180000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DISC BRAKE PADS IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE AND IF I HADN'T HAD THE OTHER REPAIR TO PERFORM I WOULD NOT HAVE REMOVED THE DIC BRAKE ROTOR ON THE REAR WHEELS TO LEARN THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE DRUM MATERIAL HAD BEEN WON THROUGH ON ONE SIDE AND LESS SO ON THE OTHER SIDE. I WAS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL 05042B (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA04011) AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE PARKING BRAKES. IF I CONTINUED TO USE THE VEHICLE IN UNADULTERATED MANNER MY WHEEL ROTOR WOULD WEAR THROUGH AND THE WHEEL FALL OFF AT A TIME OF ITS OWN CHOOSING.. I SPOKE WITH MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT APPLICABLE RECALLS REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE ON THE PICKUPS AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW OF NO SUCH ISSUES. *TR