Chevy Suburban Brakes Not Working – How To Fix

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 01/20/23 •  3 min read

Chevy Suburban is one of the most popular and recognizable SUVs on the market. It’s been around for many years and has seen a lot of changes over that time.

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Chevy has always been a quality brand, and their SUVs are no exception. However, like any other cars, some Chevy Suburban owners have reported that their brakes aren’t working.

This can be a very scary situation, especially if you’re driving in traffic. If you notice that your brakes aren’t working, don’t panic. There are a few things that you can do to try and fix the problem.

Possible Reasons Why Chevy Suburban Brakes Not Working

Brake Fluid Low

There are several possibilities that cause your Chevy to have a leaking system, and that will cause the level of fluid to go lower.

It could be the result of a leaking brake system, or it could be the result of brake pads that are rubbing against the discs. If your car has a warning light on, it means that there is a leak in the system.

It is possible for your hydraulic system to fail if a leak occurs. If it appears to be a leak, replace the faulty parts by replacing the leaking components.

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Spongy or Soft Brake Pedal

Having a lot of air circulating in your system from a bad bleed can cause this problem. Sometimes when this problem occurs, there is a lot of air in the system, and because of improper bleeding, there is much less air in the system. Bleed your brake line as advised by Chevy to correct the problem.

If you have leaking brake hoses, you might have leaking brake fluid. If you notice any strange behavior in the brake hoses, replace them.

Excessive Brake Travel

When the linings on your brake shoes are wearing out, or the drum brakes are not functioning properly, the air in the lines that conduct brake fluid to your vehicle may cause your car to stop working properly. You could lose the power of your brake system if you run out of fuel when you are trying to apply the brakes. You may be able to use the brake pedal to cause a slight delay in the timing, but you still must have it repaired.

Grabbing Brakes

The pads will slide and then seize if there is oil, braking fluid, or grease on them. When you brake, your Chevy can jerk. If you notice any grease, oil, or liquid on them, replace them. Make that the system is in good working order to rule out any oil or caliper leaks. The brakes will grasp if a rotor or drum has significant cuts in it. They will require resurfacing.

Dragging Brakes

You may have to use additional fuel by dragging the brakes too hard, which causes your braking system to wear out faster and can wear out your tires faster.

These are usually caused by a bad or a weak spring in the brake system, a corroded and/or jamming caliper piston, loose or stuck bushings or pins on a caliper or an over-extended drum brake self-adjusting lever or an emergency brake cable stuck or stuck in place.

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.