What is the Emergency Brake Control all about?

Your vehicle is equipped with brakes on all four wheels to slow down and stop your vehicle while driving, and to hold your vehicle in position when you are engaged in gear. When your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, a parking pawl is engaged when you put your shifter in park. But when you are parked on an incline, or if your vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission, what prevents your vehicle from rolling? Every vehicle is equipped with a parking brake, or emergency brake, that is manually applied for those circumstances. An emergency brake pedal is pressed by foot and released by pressing a second time or pulling a release handle. A parking brake, or handbrake lever, is engaged by pulling up on it and released by pressing a button on the end of the lever and lowering the handle. In either situation, an emergency brake cable is attached to the mechanism and connects to the rear brakes. When the lever or pedal are engaged, the cable is pulled and the emergency brake shoes in the rear brakes are locked in place. The vehicle is not able to roll. If the emergency brake control lever or pedal will not hold in place, or will not engage the parking brake, it may require repairs.

Keep in mind:

• The emergency brake, or parking brake, is designed for safety, not for the purpose of performing automotive stunts, slides, or drifts.
• Driving with the emergency brake engaged can cause excessive wear or damage to your braking system.
• A parking brake which needs adjustment can simulate issues of an inoperative emergency brake control.

How it's done:

• The emergency brake control is verified it needs replaced
• The defective emergency brake control is removed
• The new emergency brake control is installed
• The engine is started and the emergency brake control is checked
• The vehicle is tested for proper operation of the emergency brake control.

Our recommendation:

The parking brake should be checked for proper operation at least once annually. If the parking brake lever will not engage, release, or has no tension when applied, your emergency brake control may need to be replaced by one of our expert technicians.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Emergency Brake Control?

• The hand brake lever or emergency brake pedal will not return to the disengaged position.
• The emergency brake pedal or lever will not engage.
• There is no resistance in the emergency brake pedal or lever when engaged or released.

How important is this service?

The emergency brake is a feature that needs to operate when braking in a panic, parking on a steep incline with any kind of vehicle, or simply parking with a manual transmission vehicle. If your parking brake control does not function properly and cannot be adjusted, it needs to be replaced immediately as a matter of safety.