2019 Genesis G70 Parking Brake Problems and Adjustment

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2019 Genesis G70 uses two different parking brake designs: every automatic-transmission car has an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) switch, while the 2.0T with the 6-speed manual has a traditional mechanical parking brake. Most parking brake complaints on this car come down to a warning light that will not clear, a brake that will not release, or a weak hold caused by worn or glazed rear parking brake shoes inside the rotor hat.

Below is how the system works on the G70, what the warning lights actually mean, how the manual-transmission brake is checked and adjusted, and which parts get replaced when it stops holding.

How the G70 Parking Brake Works

The G70 does not clamp its rear brake pads to hold the car when parked. The Genesis OEM parts catalog lists a separate rear parking brake shoe and lining kit for the G70, which means the parking brake is a small drum brake built into the hat (center section) of each rear rotor. The rear pads and calipers do the service braking; the shoes inside the hat do the parking.

What changes between versions is how those shoes are applied:

The factory parts diagram for the 2019 G70 shows separate left and right "Parking Brake-Electronic" units for EPB cars and left and right parking brake cables for the mechanical versions. On an EPB car there is no cable running to a center lever, so there is nothing to adjust by feel at the switch.

The EPB also ties into Auto Hold. Genesis notes that if the engine is switched off while Auto Hold is holding the car, the EPB applies automatically, and other vehicle systems can request it as well.

Common G70 Parking Brake Problems and What They Mean

EPB warning light stays on

The EPB malfunction indicator should light for about 3 seconds at key-on and then go out. If it stays on, comes on while driving, or never lights at key-on, the owner's manual says the EPB may have malfunctioned and the system should be checked. One important exception: the EPB light can come on together with the ESC indicator when the stability control system has a fault. In that case the parking brake itself is not the problem, and diagnosis starts with the ESC and ABS system.

Parking brake light blinks or does not come on when applied

If you pull the EPB switch and the red parking brake light blinks or stays off, the brake may not actually be applied. The reset step in the owner's manual is to press the switch, pull it up, and repeat once more. If the warning does not clear, the car needs a scan-tool diagnosis. Do not rely on it to hold the car on a hill until it is fixed; use Park and block the wheels.

EPB will not release

The EPB releases only with the power ON and your foot on the brake pedal, or automatically when you shift from P or N into R or D with the engine running. Auto release also requires the seat belt fastened and the doors, hood and trunk closed, so a message telling you to fasten the belt or close a door is not a fault. If it truly will not release, the manual says to have the car transported on a flatbed rather than driven or dragged. The EPB can be applied with the car off, but it cannot be released that way.

Clicking or whirring noise

A clicking sound while the EPB applies or releases is normal and is the system working. A grinding sound, a burning smell, or a car that drags after release is not.

Parking brake frozen in winter

Genesis warns that the parking brake can freeze in the applied position when snow, ice or water collects around the rear brakes. When that risk exists, set the brake only while you shift into P and block the rear wheels, then release it.

Weak hold on a hill

If the car creeps with the parking brake set, the usual causes are glazed or oil-contaminated shoes, shoes worn thin, a seized adjuster inside the drum, or (on manual cars) stretched or seized cables. Driving with the parking brake partially applied glazes the shoes quickly, and the manual specifically warns that doing so can overheat the brakes and wear the rear pads and rotors early.

Checking and Adjusting the Manual-Transmission Parking Brake

For the foot or lever type, the G70 owner's manual gives a simple check: apply the parking brake with 44 lb (20 kg, 196 N) of force and count the travel. The specification is 3 notches. The brake alone should also hold the car securely on a fairly steep grade. If travel is more or less than specified, the brake needs adjustment.

Adjustment is done in two places, in this order:

1. Shoe clearance at each rear wheel. The shoes inside the rotor hat are set close to the drum surface first. If the shoes are worn or glazed, adjusting the cable will not fix a weak hold.
2. Cable tension at the lever. Only after the shoes are set is the cable adjusted to bring travel back to specification. Over-tightening the cable to make up for worn shoes causes the rear brakes to drag.

Always verify that both rear wheels spin freely with the parking brake released after any adjustment. Use the procedure and torque values in the factory service manual.

EPB cars do not use this lever-travel check. If the EPB holds poorly or the warning stays on, the fix starts with reading EPB fault codes with a scan tool that supports Genesis EPB functions.

Rear Brake Service on a G70

Because the parking brake lives in the rotor hat, rear rotor replacement disturbs it. The rotor slides over the parking brake shoes, so if the shoes are applied or the drum surface has a lip of rust, the rotor will not come off. The parking brake must be fully released before the rear rotors are removed, and the shoes should be inspected while they are exposed.

When you do a rear brake job, it is the right time to look at:

• Parking brake shoe lining. Check for thickness, cracks, glazing and contamination from a leaking seal. Replace shoes as a pair.
• Drum surface inside the rotor hat. A new rotor gives the shoes a fresh drum surface, which is one reason a new rotor often fixes a weak parking brake.
• Hardware and springs. Weak return springs let the shoes drag. Consider a brake hardware kit when the old parts are rusted.
• Brake fluid. The G70 manual calls for fluid meeting DOT 3 or DOT 4 and lists the parking brake and brake fluid as regular inspection items on the maintenance schedule.

For G70 2.0T cars with Brembo calipers, we carry EBC rear parts that fit, including the EBC BSD V-Slot rear brake rotors (BSD7794) and the EBC Bluestuff NDX rear pad set (DP52357NDX). For daily driving, the EBC Greenstuff 2000 rear pad set (DP22357) is the street-focused option. Genesis says to always replace pads as complete axle sets. Browse all brake rotors and brake pads for other fitments.

Check the ABS Recall Before Replacing Parts

Because the EPB warning can be triggered by an ESC fault, a G70 showing ABS, ESC and EPB lights together should be checked against open recalls before anyone replaces parking brake parts. Genesis recall 007G (NHTSA 21V-161) covers certain 2019 to 2021 G70s whose ABS module could short internally and cause an engine compartment fire, parked or driving. The remedy is a replacement ABS module fuse installed at no charge, and Genesis advised parking affected cars outside and away from structures until it is done. Enter your VIN on nhtsa.gov to confirm whether your car was included and whether the repair was completed.

How Hard Is the Job?

• Warning light diagnosis (EPB): Needs a scan tool that can read Genesis EPB and ESC codes. Not a guess-and-replace job.
• Manual-car cable adjustment: Moderate. Easy access, but the shoes must be right first.
• Parking brake shoes: Moderate to advanced. The rear caliper and rotor come off, and drum-in-hat springs take patience.
• EPB unit replacement: Advanced, and usually followed by a scan-tool check.

Never use the EPB to slow the car in normal driving. Genesis allows it only for emergency braking if there is a problem with the brake pedal: pulling and holding the switch slows the car, but stopping distance is longer than normal and the manual warns it can damage the brake system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2019 Genesis G70 have an electronic parking brake?

Yes, on every automatic-transmission G70. The 2.0T with the 6-speed manual uses a mechanical parking brake instead.

Why is my G70 EPB warning light on?

Either the EPB has a fault or the ESC system does. The EPB light can come on alongside the ESC indicator even when the parking brake itself is fine, so read the codes before replacing anything.

Why will my G70 parking brake not release automatically?

Auto release needs the engine running, your foot on the brake, the seat belt fastened, and the doors, hood and trunk closed. Press the brake and push the EPB switch to release it manually.

Can I adjust the electronic parking brake myself?

There is no lever travel to adjust on an EPB car. Weak holding is usually worn or glazed shoes inside the rear rotor hat, or a system fault that needs a scan tool.

Do I need to replace the parking brake shoes when I replace rear rotors?

Not always, but inspect them every time the rotors come off. If the lining is glazed, thin, cracked or oily, replace both sides while the rotors are already off.

Is it bad to drive with the parking brake on?

Yes. Genesis warns it can overheat the brakes and cause premature wear or damage to brake parts, and the car sounds a warning if you press the accelerator with the EPB applied.

Sources

1. Genesis 2019 G70 Owner's Manual - EPB operation, warning lights, auto release conditions, emergency braking, freezing, foot-type check (44 lb, 3 notches), DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid, maintenance items
2. NHTSA Recall 21V-161 / Genesis Recall 007G owner notice - 2019 to 2021 G70 ABS module short, fuse remedy, park outside
3. 2019 Genesis G70 Parking Brake System OEM parts diagram - left and right electronic parking brake units vs foot and hand type cables
4. Genesis G70 rear parking brake shoe and lining kit (OEM) - drum-in-hat parking brake shoes on the G70
5. MotorWeek road test: 2019 Genesis G70 2.0T - manual-transmission G70 uses a manual parking brake instead of the EPB switch