I have a 2000 GMC Yukon XL (K2500) that I've owned since new. The parking brake was OK for the first couple of years and has given nothing but grief for about thirteen years. I've spent a bunch of money on the Parking/Emergency Brake, but it still won't hold the truck on an incline, much less with my 8,0000 pound trailer in tow.


Here's my question. Did GM ever improve the design of the parking brake on the GMT 900 or GMT K2XX series? I'm considering trading up to a something newer, and I'm wondering about this aspect of the newer trucks. Also, are there any aftermarket rear brakes that are improved over OEM?


Thanks,


Steve

 

I use my parking brake every single time I park my truck, even on flat ground. It's a habit but a good one because I park on the driveway that slopes downward (garage is highest point).

My 06 sierra had drums in the rear and had a great parking brake and my 2012 crew cab with rear drums never moves. It's not has heavy as yours but even when I had the trailer with the 4 wheelers on it, using the e-brake still held both just fine.

 

Thanks FFDP,
From 1999 until 2003, the 1500 series had four wheel disk brakes too (like the 2500/3500 trucks). However, those vehicles had lots of trouble with the parking brake. Then, in 2004, the 1500 series switched back to rear drums since they didn't need as much stopping power as the 8 lug vehicles. This fixed the parking brake problem for the half ton series, but not the bigger trucks.


All of the K2XX (2014 and after) vehicles (1500/2500/3500) have four wheel disc brakes with "hat" disc/drum combinations in the rear to have a similar design to my Yukon. I even think that all of the GMT 900 vehicles (2007 to 2013) had this setup.

 

99-2004 1500 series All had rear Disc Brakes with an internal parking brake.

In 2005 they went to rear drum except the AWD SS truck. When they went to drums in the rears, The upgraded the fronts on the 1500 series from a 12 in rotor to a 13 inch rotor on the front.