To release the emergency brake on a 1992 GMC Jimmy with a broken cable, locate the emergency brake lever inside the vehicle. Use a pair of pliers or a wrench to manually pull the release mechanism or lever, which is usually found near the base of the lever itself. If the lever doesn't release, you may need to access the brake assembly under the vehicle and manually disengage the brake shoes by adjusting the star wheel or using a pry bar. Be cautious and ensure the vehicle is securely supported to avoid any accidents.
If the cable is broken and parking/emergency brake is still ON, then they are rusted in place ! - Your emergency brake system needs urgent work.
Fix the emergency brake
Your GMC Suburban emergency brake release cable is held in place with a swivel nut on each end of the cable. Loosen the swivel nut to remove the cable. Reverse the process to install the new emergency brake release cable.
It depends which cable is broken. If the main cable is broken under the truck, the brakes should release on their own. If the brakes dont release, the cables are frozen from rust and need to be replaced. If the release cable from the handle to pedal assemdly is broken reach under the dash above the pedal and find the small release arm. Pull the arm toward you [ the rear of vehicle ] and the emergency brake pedal will release.
I don't know about Silverado trucks but all of the emergency (parking) brakes I'm familiar with use the brake cable to "pull" and hold the brake against the drum (or disk), so if the cable breaks you simply cannot apply the emergency brake. That is, it is automatically released if the the cable breaks.
Look at the two cable going to each drum to see if just one is stuck on or both. IS it drum or disc? It is the emergency brake cable. It happened to me once before and the tow truck driver said the release is the same as in a Cadillac, but that doesn't help me and I can't afford another tow truck driver. In a caddilac you put it in drive to release the parking brake. But when the cable is broken you can't engage the parking brake.
Replace emergency brake cable Secure emergency brake pedal in its upper most position (released)
There is a small metal lever back by where the foot lever rotates (normally the release cable is hooked into it) Pull it forward and the foot lever will release - careful it doesn't smack you in the face!
My car's emergency brake is not functioning. I think the brake's cable may be broken.
The emergency brake cable is held in place with swivel nuts on each end of the cable. Turn the swivel nuts to the left. The emergency brake cable will come off.
If you can't access the release lever on the brake pedal (where cable connects to emergency brake mechanism), you may have to go under vehicle and access the adjusting nut (where main cable from interior of vehicle connects to the individual wheel cables) and disconnect the main from wheel cables.
My 2002 Yukon XL emergency brake cable just shredded this week. The cable is only a couple feet long and connects the release latch to a lever just above the emergency brake pedal (while depressed). The lever can be manually released by hand but be careful to guard your face as it could be in the path of the rising brake pedal. It may require 2 or 3 manual trips of the lever to get the brake pedal released to the highest position.I am still trying to determine where I can buy a replacement cable (other than GMC dealer) and whether I can replace it myself.