So, what’s a parking brake release cable anyway?
If you’ve ever had your car parked up on Hillsborough Terrace or rolled down Peachgrove Road during the school pick-up, you know just how important your handbrake is. Most cars around Hamilton – whether you’re in a Toyota Corolla, a Mazda Demio, or a quirky old SsangYong Stavic – will use either a hand or foot-style parking brake. The cable we’re talking about, the parking brake release cable, is part of what lets you take the brake off properly so you can get going again. If this cable decides to pack a sad, you might end up stuck in place or unable to secure your car, which isn’t great if you’ve got an appointment in Cambridge or you’re out at the Te Awamutu Farmers Market.
Day-to-day, this cable lets you flick your parking brake off after you’ve been parked up – nothing flash, just a bit of honest Kiwi engineering doing its job. If you’re having trouble shifting the lever or the pedal feels weird (maybe it’s jammed up after a wet winter night in Huntly), there’s a fair chance it’s this cable having a moment.
What mucks up a parking brake cable?
Rust – Honestly, Hamilton weather is all over the show. Couple of foggy mornings, then a soggy spell, then back to blazing sun. We see heaps of cables rust out, especially on cars left out overnight in Rototuna or Tamahere. It starts to seize up and it’s only a matter of time before it won’t budge.
Frigid mornings – Every now and then, someone from Gordonton comes in after that classic Waikato frost. Not common, but sometimes cables go brittle and can actually snap if you’re unlucky. Seems to catch Euro cars a bit more – Skoda Superb, Fiat Punto, that kind of thing.
How do you know it’s stuffed?
If it’s on the way out, the usual tale is the parking brake gets stuck – either on or off. Had a customer last week, her Honda Fit wouldn’t let go at all after a stop at the Dinsdale shops. The handbrake just felt locked solid. If you force it, you’ll munch out other bits in your brakes, which can end up costing a heap more than just sorting the cable out.
Is it safe to keep driving?
If the brake is jammed “on,” you’ll feel it dragging big-time heading down Ulster Street. Brakes get toasty, you’ll stink out the car, and odds are you’ll damage the pads or drums. Bad news for both your wallet and your next WOF Hamilton check!
If it’s jammed “off,” you can still drive OK, but parking on Victoria Street or facing down Steele Park hill? Wouldn’t risk it. Plus, your parking brake is your backup if your main brakes fail. Not the sort of thing you want broken, eh?
Parking brake dramas fail WOFs – not worth the hassle
See this all the time. Someone comes in from Morrinsville, failed their warrant because the parking brake won’t hold. If it can’t be adjusted easily, it’s straight-out for a fail. You don’t want to get caught out, especially when it’s a super quick fix for us with the proper gear.
Parking brake release cable replacement in Hamilton
Got a brake sticking, or the release cable’s just snapped? No worries – we sort this all the time for all sorts of cars and owners, from Subarus heading back to Raglan after a weekend surf, to VW Polos hitting the school run. Here at Grimmer Motors, we’ve been getting Waikato cars sorted since 1934. Bring your car in, we’ll suss out exactly what’s jammed, tidy up any other brake issues while we’re at it, and get you safely back on the road – no dramas. That’s your car service Hamilton sorted.
Heads up – we’re a full workshop, not just a parts shop. If you bring your car in, we’ll track down the right cable, fit it, test it up and make sure you’re sweet for WOF and everyday running.