1997-2005 Cadillac Deville Parking Brake Problems and Adjustment

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Most parking brake complaints on a 1997-2005 Cadillac DeVille come down to three things: a pedal that will not release on its own, a brake that will not hold the car on a grade, or rear brakes that drag after the pedal is released. The fix is usually adjustment of the rear shoes, not the cable, and on 2000-2005 cars that means taking the rear rotors off to reach a small drum brake hidden inside each rotor hat.

How the DeVille parking brake works

Every DeVille in this range uses a foot-applied parking brake. GM's owner's manual tells you to hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot and push the parking brake pedal, which sits to the left of the main pedal near the door, with your left foot. The pedal pulls a cable system that runs back to both rear wheels.

Release is the part owners find confusing. The DeVille is designed to release the parking brake automatically: according to the owner's manual, when you move the shifter out of Park or Neutral with the engine running, the parking brake should release. There is also a manual release lever under the dash behind the pedal for the times it does not. GM warns to shift to Park before pulling that lever, because the pedal springs back quickly and can hurt a hand or arm in the way.

What the cable pulls on at the wheel depends on the year and the rear brake setup:

Because 1997-1999 DeVilles were built both ways, look behind a rear wheel before you buy anything. A caliper and a rotor means disc; a round drum with no caliper means drum. The front pads differ between them too, which is why we list front pads specifically for the 1997-1999 DeVille 4.6L rear drum models.

Symptoms and what they usually mean

• Pedal will not release when you shift into gear. The automatic release is not doing its job. The manual release lever will free it; the root cause is in the release mechanism at the pedal assembly, not at the wheels.
• Brake warning light and a chime while driving. The owner's manual says that if the parking brake is not fully released and you drive off, the brake system warning and parking brake indicator light comes on and stays on and a multiple chime sounds. Stop and release it fully; driving with it partly applied cooks the rear shoes.
• Pedal goes nearly to the floor and the car still rolls. Shoe-to-drum clearance has grown too large, the cable has stretched, or the linings are worn or contaminated.
• Car will not hold on a hill. Same causes as above, plus glazed or rusted parking brake linings on cars where the parking brake is rarely used.
• Rear drag, heat or a burning smell after release. A cable seized in its sheath, a shoe over-adjusted, or a return spring broken inside the drum.
• Grinding or scraping from the rear on 2000-2005 cars. Can be pad wear, but can also be a parking brake shoe lining that has separated or a loose hold-down spring rubbing inside the rotor hat.

Also check the red brake warning light with the key on. GM's manual says it should light when the ignition is on as a bulb check. If it stays on with the parking brake fully released, check brake fluid level and pad wear before assuming a parking brake fault.

Why adjustment goes wrong

Brake and Front End, the professional brake trade magazine, makes the point that cable adjustment depends on correct shoe-to-drum clearance first. If you tighten the cable to take up slack that is really caused by loose shoes, the levers inside the drum sit partly applied and the shoes drag. Adjust the shoes first, then the cable.

Cables are the second common failure. Brake and Front End notes that modern cables use a stainless inner wire inside a nylon sheath, that cables stretch over time, and that once the adjustment runs out the cable has to be replaced. The same article warns against spraying lubricants or solvents into the sheath: lubricants attract grime and solvents wash dirt deeper inside. A cable that is binding gets replaced, not flushed.

The third cause is simple neglect. On drum-in-hat systems, Brake and Front End reports that when the parking brake is not used, rust and corrosion build up inside the drum. That rust can make the rotor stick to the shoes and can glaze the linings so they barely grip. Using the parking brake every time you park keeps the drum surface clean.

How to adjust the parking brake on a 2000-2005 DeVille

On these cars the parking brake shoes live inside the rear rotor hats, so this is a wheels-off job. The general sequence:

1. Apply and release the parking brake a few times and confirm the pedal returns fully. Raise and support the car securely and remove the rear wheels.
2. Remove the rear caliper and caliper bracket and hang the caliper so the hose is not stretched. Remove the rotor. If it will not come off, do not force it over the shoes: Brake and Front End recommends backing off the adjuster through the access hole with a brake spoon or screwdriver while spinning the rotor, and says a few clicks is usually enough.
3. Inspect the parking brake shoes, springs and hardware, and look at the inside of the drum in the rotor hat for rust ridges, scoring or grease contamination.
4. Set shoe clearance to the drum. GM's procedure uses a drum-to-shoe clearance gauge: measure the drum at its widest point, then turn the adjuster until the shoes just touch the gauge. Without the gauge, Brake and Front End describes the common shop method of adjusting until the shoes drag on the drum, then backing off until the rotor turns freely.
5. Reinstall the rotor, caliper bracket and caliper, tighten the bolts to the values in the factory service manual, and repeat on the other side.
6. Only then check the cable. Apply and release the pedal several times, confirm the brake holds and that both rear wheels spin freely when it is released.

This is a moderate DIY job with normal hand tools, a torque wrench and a brake spoon. The pedal release mechanism and cable replacement are harder because of access under the dash and along the underbody.

1997-1999 rear drum cars

On DeVilles with rear drums, the parking brake uses the service shoes. Normal self-adjusters take care of shoe clearance as you drive and stop, so a low parking brake pedal usually points to worn rear brake shoes, a self-adjuster frozen with rust, or a stretched cable. When you are inside the drum, replace the springs and self-adjuster hardware along with the shoes; a brake hardware kit is inexpensive insurance against a repeat problem.

What to replace at the same time

Brake and Front End's advice on drum-in-hat systems is blunt: would you replace a drum without changing the shoes? If you are putting new rear rotors on a 2000-2005 DeVille, the parking brake drum is part of that rotor, so new parking brake shoes belong in the same job. Worn shoes against a fresh drum surface do not hold as well as they should.

A rear brake job is also the time to look at the pads front and rear. For 2001-2005 DeVille 4.6L cars with heavy-duty brakes we carry EBC Yellowstuff rear pads, plus EBC Redstuff ceramic front pads for daily driving and EBC Yellowstuff front pads for heavier use. For other trims, browse our full brake pads selection by vehicle.

Finally, check for open recalls on your VIN at NHTSA. NHTSA lists brake-related campaigns for this generation, including 97V064000 on 1997 models, where the electronic brake control module could cycle the ABS during a normal stop, and 00V114000 on 2000 models, covering internal fluid leaks in the brake hydraulic control unit. Neither is a parking brake campaign, but both are worth ruling out when the brakes feel wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my DeVille parking brake not release when I shift into Drive?

The DeVille is designed to release the parking brake automatically when you shift out of Park or Neutral with the engine running. If it stays set, use the manual release lever under the dash behind the pedal, with the car in Park, and have the automatic release mechanism checked.

Can I adjust the parking brake by tightening the cable?

Only after the shoes are adjusted correctly. Tightening the cable to make up for loose shoes leaves the brake partly applied and causes rear drag and overheating.

Do I have to remove the rotors to adjust the parking brake on a 2000-2005 DeVille?

Yes. The parking brake shoes sit inside the rotor hat, and GM's procedure measures the drum and sets the shoes with the rotor off.

Should I replace parking brake shoes when I replace rear rotors?

It is good practice. The drum is part of the rotor, so new rotors with old parking brake shoes often hold poorly.

My rear rotor is stuck. What do I do?

Back off the parking brake adjuster through the access hole while turning the rotor, then tap the rotor off. Forcing it over expanded shoes can damage the parking brake hardware.

How do I know if my 1997-1999 DeVille has rear drums or rear discs?

Look through a rear wheel. A caliper clamping a rotor means disc brakes; a closed drum with no caliper means drum brakes. Order pads, shoes and hardware to match.

Sources

1. 2003 Cadillac DeVille Owner's Manual, Parking Brake - foot-applied pedal location and how to set it
2. 2003 Cadillac DeVille Owner's Manual, Parking Brake release - automatic release, manual release lever warning, warning light and chime
3. Brake and Front End: Adjusting Parking Brakes - shoe clearance before cable, cable construction, stretch and lubricant warnings
4. Brake and Front End: Removing a Rear Rotor Stuck on the Parking Brake - rust from disuse, backing off the adjuster
5. Brake and Front End: Rear Rotor Parking Brake Service - replace parking brake shoes with rotors
6. NHTSA recalls, 1997 Cadillac DeVille - campaign 97V064000
7. NHTSA recalls, 2000 Cadillac DeVille - campaign 00V114000