2000 SSEi Parking Brake Pedal Problem

[Toby Hanson]

Hello everyone,

I just bought a 2000 Bonneville SSEi to replace my 1997 LeSabre Custom. I like the Bonneville very much. It's a little faster and sportier than the Buick. I've discovered a problem with which I need some help. When I apply the parking brake it won't release the way it should. If I press on the parking brake pedal it will apply the brake but if I press a second time to release the pedal it won't release. On my Buick, the first time I would press the parking brake pedal it would engage the brake and the second time I would press it the ratcheting mechanism would release and the brake pedal would come up, releasing the parking brake. On the Bonneville, the second press of the pedal just pushes it further to the floor. The parking brakes apply and hold just fine. The cable isn't bound up and moves just fine. The problem seems to be with the parking brake mechanism itself. I have to release the pawl that holds the pedal down manually with a screwdriver to release the brake. I'd like to get the parking brake pedal working properly on this car. Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

[sseilmnop]

Get one from a junk yard if your sure its in the pedal mechanism. Never had the problem not be the cable or the rear calipers before.

[MKMike]

x2
Here's a post with instruction on removing it http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... c9282.html

Welcome to the forum!

[ddalder]

harofreak00 here on the forum will have one (he parts out Bonnevilles and has most things you may ever need). Send him a PM or visit http://www.bonnevillesunlimited.com. The park brake pedal assembly changed for the 2001 model year and I'm not sure exactly what the difference is so you may want to be sure to get one for a 2000. SE, SLE, SSEi - all the same.

I have had problems with the rear intermediate park brake cables but it doesn't sound like that's your problem.

[Toby Hanson]

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I'm going to remove the parking brake pedal assembly from the car today and take a closer look at it. That way I'll be prepared to install a replacement once I get one.

[Toby Hanson]

I got the new parking brake pedal assembly from Andrew last week and put it in. Now the parking brake works perfectly. The problem with the old assembly was that the spring that causes the ratcheting pawl to retract and release the pedal was missing. One little, tiny spring was the reason the parking brake was not releasing. Very frustrating, but it's all good now!