Parking brakes are emergency brakes to stop the vehicle in the parking area. In Silverado truck, it is present on the rear wheels only.
Silverado parking brake pedal goes to the floor due to low or leaking brake fluid in the reservoir. In addition, it can sink due to cracked brake lines and a damaged rubber seal of the master cylinder. Worn-out brake pads and brake booster valves can also cause this issue.
Brake pedals are adjusted in an upright position, and the driver applies pressure on them to stop the truck. Sometimes when you press it, it can go all the way down to the floor.
Leaking brake fluid
Silverado pickup trucks use hydraulic fluid to lubricate all the parts in the parking brake system. Usually, all the models of Silverado use DOT 3 oil.
After pressing the pedal, fluid runs through all the lines and assists in applying pressure to stop the vehicle.
Leaking fluid is responsible for low fluid levels in the system. Leaking fluid causes a drop in hydraulic pressure on the pedal and makes them go to the floor. Disc calipers that attach brake pads to the rotors slow down or stop the vehicle.
Over prolonged use, the rotors and brake disc also get rusty and, holes appear on them. The fluid leak through these holes causes the pedal to become soft.
The warning light will also turn on in this situation. To resolve this problem, check the fluid level in the reservoir and refill it with fresh oil. Seal all the cracks with a rubber seal to prevent leakage of oil.
Damaged brake master cylinder
The Master cylinder is the main component that stores fluid and pushes it in brake lines. It also converts the brake’s mechanical force to engage them to hydraulic pressure.
When it is malfunctioning, fluid will not run through the lines. It also will not be able to covert the mechanical force into pressure on the brakes. It will make these pedals saggy, and they will go down.
The Master cylinder is equipped with a specific seal to protect the fluid. Due to damage, these rubber seals will break and, dirt can enter the cylinder. The contaminated fluid is unable to build up pressure in the braking system.
You can replace the rubber seals with a new one to fix it. However, in case of severe wear and tear, install a new master cylinder.
Before installing a new cylinder, bleed fluid through it to remove entrapped air. Now fix it in its respective site and tighten up all the screws.
Faulty brake booster
Each parking brake system has a brake booster that amplifies the pressure applied on the brakes. It will help reduce the manual power and stop the Silverado pickup truck.
They have a vacuum inlet responsible for removing entrapped air in them. Due to wear and tear, these valves are damaged and, the air starts to accumulate in the booster.
The air bubbles can enter the master cylinder and travel to brake lines. Here they will reduce the pressure on the pedal.
They will become soft and sink to the floor of the vehicle.
It has a one-way vacuum valve connected to the engine vacuum with the help of a vacuum hose. It uses engine suction to create the vacuum inside the booster. Disconnected vacuum hose also causes entrapment of air.
To fix it, check all the parts and connect the vacuum valve correctly. Then, change the vacuum valves with the new one to improve its performance.
Fault in brake lines
Brake lines carry brake oil from the master cylinder to other parts. Therefore, it is essential to have functional and intact lines to maintain their upright position and function.
These are made from a different material, but Silverado has steel tubes. In addition, the tubes are coated with plastic to prevent corrosion.
These lines can get corroded due to the continuous fluid flow. In addition, the metallic frame gets damaged due to rubbing with other parts. Finally, these lines get cracks in different areas due to wear and tear.
Leaking brake lines can not provide enough fluid and pressure to rotors to stop the Silverado truck. In addition, inadequate fluid and pressure on the brake pedal make them sink to the floor.
You can make the lines leak-proof by adding flare to the ends. This will ensure a leak-proof connection of steel tubes.
You can make the lines leak-proof by adding flare to the ends. This will provide a leak-proof connection of steel tubes. In case of severe damage, you can go to a professional to repair or replace them.
Overheated brake fluid
Hot brake fluid can also cause the brake pedal to go down. The hot fluid affects the performance of these pedal in two ways.
First, the moisture from the atmosphere gets an entry into the master cylinder. The fluid gets hot due to excessive use of the braking system and, the water starts boiling in it.
Secondly, it depends on how you use your pickup truck braking system. When you roughly and unnecessarily press the pedal, the fluid in the reservoir gets hot and turns thinner.
To pump thinner fluid, you have to apply more force on these pedals. So ultimately, they will not be able to maintain an upright position and go to the floor.
Make sure to drive your vehicle carefully to maintain the function of parking brake pedals. Try to give rest to the braking system by taking short breaks while driving the truck. It will prevent the build-up of temperature in the fluid.
Faulty brake pads
The brake pad is a metallic part that is pressed to apply force to the braking system. When it is faulty, it becomes soft and sinks to the floor. In addition, it is connected to the rotors on the rear wheels and becomes loose due to friction.
The metal frame and nuts also make it go to the floor. Worn-out pads can not create pressure on the rotors to stop the Silverado. Instead, tighten up all the screws of the brake pedal or replace the worn-out pedal disc.
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