EDIT: SHORT ANSWER, nothing to do with the parking brake, everything to do with the calipers.

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Just replaced the rear rotors and pads on my 2003 Blazer LS -- rear wheels also have the drum/pad parking brake setup.

After replacing, if the vehicle is in neutral on a sloped driveway, it doesn't roll (it would have prior to the replacements). Also, vehicle seems to slow down too fast when taking foot off the brake.

I've only taken it around the block a couple of times and something smells "hot" when I get it back in the driveway -- so I don't want to go "old school" and take it on the highway to "work things in"

Is it possible the parking brake needs readjustment? Can the parking brake be adjusted without removing the wheels (instructions seem divided on this when researching)?

My plan is to try and adjust the parking brake first -- loosen -- and see if that frees things up. If so, will readjust.

If above doesn't help, I'll disassemble and reassemble everything that was replaced.

If that doesn't help, will probably replace calipers as that can seem to be an issue.

Just looking for some insight regarding the possibility of the parking brake causing the problem, and how difficult it is to adjust.

 

The parking brakes are set up using adjusters on the parking brake shoes. They are basically drum brake self-adjusters that must have the initial adjustment done by you.

You cannot adjust the parking brake by changing the length of the cable(s).

I'm on my phone now, but if you want pdfs from the service manual on how to do theset up, reply to this and I'll post them for you.

 

No panic, but the pdf's would be nice to take a look at and keep on file (hope to keep the Blazer running for a few more years)

Any idea if changing the rotor and pads (not the e-brake pads) could affect the parking brake?

Thanks again, take care!

 

I can't imagine how changing only the brake pads for the rotors would affect the parking brake shoe adjustment.

So, re-reading the instructions, attached, there is an adjustment for the cable, but I would argue it is secondary to the the one for the parking brake shoes.

For my own use and now yours, I've bookmarked the two parts where the adjustments are described.

Good Luck!

 

Thank you very much!

The weather is turning to crap here (Manitoba) tomorrow and my garage is full of stuff, so will have to see how it goes.

May take a few days.

Will post a follow-up though.

 

BTW, when I do my initial adjustment on my parking brake shoes, I do it with the wheel and caliper off. I would set the adjuster, reinstall the rotor and wheel with two lug nuts and then manually pull on the cable to center the shoes. I then would spin the tire to try to hear for any rubbing. Once I did hear some rubbing, I'd back off the adjuster just enough so that there is no more rubbing. Then I'd reinstall the caliper and wheel then repeat on the other side.

This would be an awful job to do in nasty weather.

What I described is basically how I first figured out how these dang things worked before I had the GM Service manual. The Haynes one was of no help and even had the picture of the shoes upside down. I had taken it to a dealer to fix for me. It came back worse! It was the last time I ever went to a dealer.

The reason I worked so hard on this was that I use this truck to tow and launch a sailboat and the last thing I want to do is have it roll down the boat ramp!

Here's a picture of my truck parking brake being tested:

The boat and trailer are about 2,200 lbs. I measured this slope to be at least as steep as a boat ramp.

 

hokey dokey...

Got up early to race the weather. Took everything apart. When I removed the new rotor on the left rear, the parking brake pad fell off. "Hmmm," says I, "that must have been the problem." The retaining clip for the pad had completely corroded,so I assumed the pad had slipped and was jamming up the brake. Left it off and checked the right rear. Pad was in place, secure, and adjusted properly.

Reassembled everything. Took a test drive. Brakes were still dragging.

Took everything apart again. Got my wife to press the brake pedal for me (even though that was never in the vows) and could see the caliper pistons were jamming and not retracting.

The faulty pistons explains why the pads and rotors wore out.

Installed new calipers and everything is ticketyboo, except for the missing left parking brake pad. I never use the parking brake, but I'll end up installing a brand new pair -- probably in spring -- just because I like to have everything complete.

Pulled into the driveway just as the first snowflakes started to fall, so... yay?`

Thanks christine_208 for the links. They did, and will, come in handy. And yeah... the upside photos in Haynes is a major screw up.