How do you adjust the parking brake on a 2002 Chevy Suburban?

Answer 1

The below answer is incorrect if you have rear disc brakes. Do not adjust the cable. The parking brake is adjusted inside the rear wheel assembly similar to a drum brake. Must be adjusted with the tire and wheel removed. Tighten the adjuster just as you would a drum brake till you cannot turn the axle then back it off just a bit.

The "parking brake" on some later model GM vehicles is not an emergency brake as in the past. It is only meant to hold the vehicle when parked and it does not do a very good job even when properly adjusted.

Adjusting the parking brake cable can cause the parking brake to be applied when the pedal is not depressed leading to early parking brake shoe wear and failure.

Underneath your vehicle, Left side along frame rail
a steel cable comes from front to back to a threaded end with an adjuster nut on it---(this is the equalizer bar)--you'll see it towards the
rear left wheel, outside of frame rail.

You might have to jack-up the left side of the vehicle.

Push the parking brake all the way to the floor then release it. Push the parking brake lever to the second click and leave it there. You're looking for a slight drag of the brake shoes when you spin the wheels. To increase the drag, get under at the equalizer bar and turn the adjusting nut to take up the slack in the cables. Get out and spin the rear wheels if you think it's to tight. I will say don't be afraid to crank on it for a while as in this case, a little adjustment really does not go a long way. When you think you have the drag right, go back in the car and pull the brake up the the fourth click. At this point the wheels should be locked and you should not be able to turn them even when trying hard. If you can, tighten them up a little more. Once you've done this, release the brake and make sure the wheels spin freely. If they are still binding due to the parking brake, back off the adjustment a little. And that's basically the whole adjustment procedure.