Thread: Electronic park brake locked on - local scan tool Help, if possible..

Originally Posted by goldey

It seems the common response when you need to release the handbrake manual release is that you need a completely new brake actuator at $2k plus. I had to pull the release the other day when ours locked on after putting up with the occasional screech noise. Watching a youtube video I now understand the mechanism by which it unlatches and the only way to relatch it is to remove the unit, open it up and relatch it and install the unit back in (with new, frshly adjusted shoes). As long as there are no plastic gear fragments left floating in the actuator unit I assume I'd be good to go? Worse case scenario I suppose is I go through all that pain and find the actuator is stuffed and I need a new one .

It will relatch itself if it’s in working order. The fact you mention it screeching tells me it was well out of adjustment and on the limits of extension. Annual handbrake maintenance will stop it being an issue.

It does not necessarily need anything replaced. I've had to unlock mine (big effort and loud bang, as reported) but it just rewatched no problem. Used only minimally until adjusted.