It's usually caused by a leak in your wheel cylinder. The part itself is around $10.00, but be careful when you remove the brake line, it is very easy to break.
It could also be:
the rear brakes were wrongly made by the manufacture and so were the specs dispersed to all other companies to it warps horribly
the wheel cylinder
master cylinder.
Drum
You probably have the brake pads reversed. There is one for the front side and another for the rear. The shorter one should be in the front.
Drum brakes.
how do you adjust rear brakes on a 1986 chevy silverado?
what type of rear brakes does a chevy malibu require
Yes it does. All modern vehicles have breaks on all the wheels. Your Cavalier has rear Drum Brakes. Check out: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/drum-brake.htm For a description on how they work.
You should suspect the rear brakes for this one...maybe at their wear limit and keeps the light on....Possibly the front brakes...This IS a 2000 model.
make sure your emergency brake is not on
On a 1996 Chevy Cavalier Z24, the brake proportioning valve is typically located on the driver's side of the vehicle, mounted on the frame near the rear axle. It is usually positioned close to the brake lines that lead to the rear brakes. This valve helps to regulate the brake fluid pressure between the front and rear brakes for optimal braking performance.
Frozen caliper? if disc brakes Broken or disconnect return spring if drum brakes? Brakes not adjusted properly? Parking brake cable frozen and not releasing?
Instructions on how to change the rear hub wheel bearings on a 1996 Chevy cavalier
my 2002 never has ...I know there is a "height sensor-proportioning valve" located above the rear axle which should prevent the rear brakes from locking... when you brake the weight of your Tracker goes forward and the rear actually lifts... this device lessens the pressure to the rear brakes momentarily so they don't lock...