Parking Break Light On

GMCon22s · 12-10-2008, 09:51 PM

Let me start by saying I just bought my 95 Jimmy last month so I dont really know the history. Anyway I just replaced one of the wheel cylinders and now my parking break light is on. I dont know if its something to do with the cylinder replacement or if it has something to do with the parking break directly because I used it for the first time after replacing the cylinder so I could bolt up my rims. I checked the fluid, it looks good, took the drum back off and adjusted the self adjusting screw a little to make sure it was where it needed to be. I've been driving it with the light on and the breaks seem to work but I cant tell if they're working at their full potential because I'm still just getting use to the vehicle. Any help is appreciated, sorry for the long paragraph.

terryl · 12-10-2008, 09:59 PM

Got the same problem on the wifey's Solara.

ls1s10onair · 12-10-2008, 10:02 PM

ur brake fluid is probably low...... it also would go on if the ground for the e-brake is off, or there is a lot of air in the brake system
probably low fluid imo

***orangesonoma*** · 12-10-2008, 10:58 PM

did you bleed the system?

Hoss · 12-10-2008, 11:27 PM

I don't know how the newer systems work, I've fortunately never had to dive in that deep on a newer system yet, but this may help you:

Check and see if there is a bleed screw on your ABS valve. Try bleeding it from that, I do know that a RABS valve on an older GM will throw on a BRAKE light if it senses a pressure loss (from a bad wheel cylinder) so I have to believe that the newer ones work the same. That should re-center your valve and make the light go out. Then you can try pulling the ABS fuse and resetting the system. Also check your other cylinder and caliper seals very carefully, make sure they are not seeping.
Hopefully this helps you. My grandpop fought with a recurring BRAKE light on his 89 GMC for a couple years that I found to be due to a pressure loss from a bad wheel cylinder. After I replaced it and did the above it seems to have cleared the light problem up.

GMCon22s · 12-11-2008, 12:13 AM

Fluid is good, checked that when I first saw the light was on. Yes I did bleed it but only at the line where I replaced the wheel cylinder. Do I have to go through each one or just the one I changed?

My other question is how do you remove a drum that is stuck on? I did one side and when I went to replace the other I couldnt get the drum off.

ls1s10onair · 12-11-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s

how do you remove a drum that is stuck on? I did one side and when I went to replace the other I couldnt get the drum off.

if you can turn it, hit it with a good size hammer..... it'll break it loose.... unless you maean it starts to come off and gets stuck.... then you need to back up the adjusters to compensate for what is probably a rust ridge on the drum

GMCon22s · 12-11-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by lt1s10onair

if you can turn it, hit it with a good size hammer..... it'll break it loose.... unless you maean it starts to come off and gets stuck.... then you need to back up the adjusters to compensate for what is probably a rust ridge on the drum

no, i couldnt get it to budge. I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night. Thanks for the advice, ill try that and then blead the whole system.

Hoss · 12-11-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s

I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night.

Yeah, that would pretty much be a guaranteed way to piss off the neighbors! Trust me, you're gonna be making some noise. And at a minimum I would bleed at least the opposite side. To be honest with you I always replace wheel cylinders in pairs. They're cheap enough, and usually by the time one goes the other one's not too far off. Plus once they go bad and end up contaminating your brake shoes then you have to spend more for new shoes too, and Murphy's law always seems to have it's way with me in situations like that.

Ians10 · 12-11-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s

no, i couldnt get it to budge. I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night. Thanks for the advice, ill try that and then blead the whole system.

heat the drum up around the center part of the hub with a propain tourch then hit it with the hammer..

12-10-2008, 09:51 PM	#1
GMCon22s Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 Location: User is: OffLine	Parking Break Light On Let me start by saying I just bought my 95 Jimmy last month so I dont really know the history. Anyway I just replaced one of the wheel cylinders and now my parking break light is on. I dont know if its something to do with the cylinder replacement or if it has something to do with the parking break directly because I used it for the first time after replacing the cylinder so I could bolt up my rims. I checked the fluid, it looks good, took the drum back off and adjusted the self adjusting screw a little to make sure it was where it needed to be. I've been driving it with the light on and the breaks seem to work but I cant tell if they're working at their full potential because I'm still just getting use to the vehicle. Any help is appreciated, sorry for the long paragraph.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-10-2008, 09:59 PM	#2
terryl Thanks For Your Support Age: 52 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,461 Location: Kingston Springs, TN. User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Got the same problem on the wifey's Solara.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-10-2008, 10:02 PM	#3
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,241 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On ur brake fluid is probably low...... it also would go on if the ground for the e-brake is off, or there is a lot of air in the brake system probably low fluid imo
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-10-2008, 10:58 PM	#4
*orangesonoma* forum idiot Age: 31 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46,856 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: Online	Re: Parking Break Light On did you bleed the system?
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-10-2008, 11:27 PM	#5
Hoss GM junkie Age: 29 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432 Location: Dayton, MD User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On I don't know how the newer systems work, I've fortunately never had to dive in that deep on a newer system yet, but this may help you: Check and see if there is a bleed screw on your ABS valve. Try bleeding it from that, I do know that a RABS valve on an older GM will throw on a BRAKE light if it senses a pressure loss (from a bad wheel cylinder) so I have to believe that the newer ones work the same. That should re-center your valve and make the light go out. Then you can try pulling the ABS fuse and resetting the system. Also check your other cylinder and caliper seals very carefully, make sure they are not seeping. Hopefully this helps you. My grandpop fought with a recurring BRAKE light on his 89 GMC for a couple years that I found to be due to a pressure loss from a bad wheel cylinder. After I replaced it and did the above it seems to have cleared the light problem up.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-11-2008, 12:13 AM	#6
GMCon22s Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Fluid is good, checked that when I first saw the light was on. Yes I did bleed it but only at the line where I replaced the wheel cylinder. Do I have to go through each one or just the one I changed? My other question is how do you remove a drum that is stuck on? I did one side and when I went to replace the other I couldnt get the drum off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-11-2008, 12:30 AM	#7
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,241 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s how do you remove a drum that is stuck on? I did one side and when I went to replace the other I couldnt get the drum off. if you can turn it, hit it with a good size hammer..... it'll break it loose.... unless you maean it starts to come off and gets stuck.... then you need to back up the adjusters to compensate for what is probably a rust ridge on the drum
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-11-2008, 12:36 AM	#8
GMCon22s Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Quote: Originally Posted by lt1s10onair if you can turn it, hit it with a good size hammer..... it'll break it loose.... unless you maean it starts to come off and gets stuck.... then you need to back up the adjusters to compensate for what is probably a rust ridge on the drum no, i couldnt get it to budge. I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night. Thanks for the advice, ill try that and then blead the whole system.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-11-2008, 08:14 PM	#9
Hoss GM junkie Age: 29 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432 Location: Dayton, MD User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night. Yeah, that would pretty much be a guaranteed way to piss off the neighbors! Trust me, you're gonna be making some noise. And at a minimum I would bleed at least the opposite side. To be honest with you I always replace wheel cylinders in pairs. They're cheap enough, and usually by the time one goes the other one's not too far off. Plus once they go bad and end up contaminating your brake shoes then you have to spend more for new shoes too, and Murphy's law always seems to have it's way with me in situations like that.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-11-2008, 08:16 PM	#10
Ians10 I dont know what I'm doin Age: 28 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 486 Location: hudson Ma User is: OffLine	Re: Parking Break Light On Quote: Originally Posted by GMCon22s no, i couldnt get it to budge. I thought about smacking it with a hammer bit it was like 11 at night. Thanks for the advice, ill try that and then blead the whole system. heat the drum up around the center part of the hub with a propain tourch then hit it with the hammer..
	[Reply w/Quote]