The parking brake, also known as an emergency brake or hand brake, is a mechanism used to keep a parked vehicle stationary and prevent it from rolling or moving. It operates independently of the regular foot-operated brake and typically uses a cable to apply force to the rear brakes.
Over time, the components that keep your parking brake working correctly can become worn, resulting in the brake losing effectiveness. Below are a common list of parking brake problems:
Symptoms of parking brake issues:
Parking / Hand brake has become stuck
Your car’s parking brake may become stuck in a certain position, limiting its functionality. Common causes of this include:
- There is corrosion or rust in the cable or surrounding components
- An adjuster screw is damaged or maladjusted, limiting the movement of your parking brake.
- The parking brake is applied too hard, resulting in the cable being stretched and the brake shoes or pads becoming stuck.
Car rolling with parking/hand brake engaged
If your car won’t stay still when the parking/hand brake is engaged, there may be a problem with your cable or the cable adjustment. The parking brake cable connects the hand brake lever with the brake shoes, allowing your brakes shoes or pads to clamp the brake drums or disc rotors to keep the car still (even on slopes). Over time this cable can become damaged and cease to function properly.
If your vehicle continues to move with the parking brake engaged, we recommend that you get it fixed as soon as possible. The malfunctioning parking brake could result in a safety hazard for you and others.
The Brake Warning light stays on
There are several things that can cause the parking brake to remain on while you are driving. These include:
- Low brake fluid – In many vehicles, the parking brake light also serves as a warning light for when your brake fluid is running low.
- Damaged switch – The light’s switch may be broken, causing the light to remain on.
- An electronic fault in the Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)
How important is a parking brake replacement?
Parking brake inspections and replacement are important for the safe operation of your vehicle. A functioning parking brake provides an additional level of security when the vehicle is parked, helping to prevent it from rolling or moving unexpectedly. If the parking brake is not working properly, the vehicle may roll away, especially on a slope, which could result in a collision or other dangerous situations. For this reason, we recommend that you get the parking brake services by a professional when possible.
Hand Brake Replacement & Inspections in Hamilton – Parking brakes, Foot brakes, and more
At Grimmer Motors, we can inspect, diagnose and fix your parking/foot/hand brake system. This will allow you to have peace of mind when parking your vehicle. We can service and replace all braking components including the following:
- Hand brakes
- Foot brakes
- Brake cables
- Brake shoes
- Disc brakes
- Drum brakes
- Brake Drums
- Disc Calipers
- ABS braking components
For reliable brake repalcement solutions in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!