2001 GMC SIERRA Parking Brake Problems

SIRS/MADAM; SINCE NEW THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SPONGY. THEY WORK BUT, I AM ALWAYS ON ALERT. THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS WITH GROOVED AND RELIEVED WITH DRILLED HOLES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINING ALL AROUND. WITH NO DIFFERENCE. MY PICKUP IS EQUIPPED WITH ROTORS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE PICKUP. WAS TOLD THE IS/WAS NO WARRANTY IMPLIED FOR BRAKING SYSTEMS. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE FLUID FLUSHED, STILL NO DIFFERENCE. I AM VERY EASY ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANS AND I USE IT LIKE A STANDARD. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES THAT I COULD THINK OF, MIGHT BE THE EQUALIZER VALVE. I AM ONLY A NOVICE WITH THESE BRAKES EVEN THOUGH I AM A MECHANIC BY TRADE. PERTAINING TO THE PARK BRAKE. AFTER A FASHION AND $246 SPENT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE...

STATE INSPECTION, FAILED DUE TO ROTTED FUEL FILLER NECK. WAS TOLD FOR AWHILE IT WAS DUE TO GAS CAP, REPLACED THAT, LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF. WHEN IT WOULD NO LONGER GO OFF TOOK BACK TO DEALERS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FUEL FILLER NECK, ALONG WITH VALVE/SENSOR AT A COST OF OVER $500. GM WILL NOT HELP AS THEY CLAIM IT WAS DUE TO "ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS" (WE LIVE IN MA). ALSO, PARKING BRAKE BACKING PLATES RUSTED OUT, E-BRAKE CABLES FROZEN, HAD TO REPLACE THOSE AT ANOTHER $850. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE, DEALER REPAIRED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING AN INSPECTION PERFORMED, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V161000, REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE. THE RECALL WAS FOR VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND WHILE UNLOADING A BOAT FROM A TRAILER, THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. AFTERWARDS THE CONTACT INITIALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE BRAKE SHOES OF THE PARKING BRAKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (APRIL 4, 2006): THE COMPLAINANT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HAD INADVERDENTLY LEFT THE SHIFTER BETWEEN 'P' AND 'R'. WHEN HE SAW HIS PICKUP STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE RAMP, HE IMMEDIATELY JUMP BACK IN AND HIT THE SERVICE BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK.

MANY PROBLEMS: 4 WHEEL DRIVE SENSOR, FRONT END SUSPENSION, PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, SPEED SENSORS, RADIO, CENTER CONSOLE, ENGINE NOISE RAPPING WHEN STARTING, TAILGATE CABLES, ANTI-THEFT SENSOR, AND NOW THE BATTERY VOLTAGE GAUGE NEEDLE EXCESS DROPPING WHEN STOPPING, ENGINE IDLING TO LOW WHEN STOPPING. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS NORMAL. LET'S TEST DRIVE A NEW TRUCK AND SHOW ME IT IS NORMAL. THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON IN MY EYES!*JB

I HAVE A 2001 SIERRA PICKUP WITH AUTO TRANS AND THE PARKING BAKE IS NOT WORKING. THE OTHER DAY I SET THE BRAKE IN THE DRIVE WAY AND NOTICED THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (IT WAS IN NEUTRAL). I ADJUSTED THE BRAKE TO ITS MAXIMUM SETTING AND IT STILL WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE PULLED THE WHEEL ROTOR TO INSPECT THE PARKING BRAKE. IT IS A ONE PIECE SHOE DESIGN. THE LINING IS WORN FUNNY. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM THAT IS BEING RECALLED IN THE MANUAL TRANS VERSION OF THIS TRUCK. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE LINING, HOWEVER I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WORE OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE

I HAVE A 2001 GMC PICKUP. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED TWICE. JUNE 2003 AND AGAIN THIS MONTH. BOTH TIMES REQUIRING A $650 FIX. SOMETHING ABOUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE/DISC BRAKE SYSTEM BUT THE DEALER WAS VAGUE.

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION AGENCY FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *LA

PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD.*AK