E-Brake? - CarForum.net - Car Forums, Automotive News and Community

rx7racer · 03-13-2010, 02:43 AM

Ok, just wanted to get some opinions here. What is an E-brake good for?

Can you actually use it to stop a car for instance you lose brake fluid and have no hydraulic pressure?

Is it just a parking brake?

Thanks for the opinions all.

P.S. Please humor me. Seriously.

*Kenny McCormick* · 03-13-2010, 03:50 AM

An E-brake is what people are supposed to use when they park. A correct name would be parking brake, handbrake, park brake, something like that. In reality the only time 95% of them get touched is because the car is running away, most people being perfectly satisfied to ruin their park pawl in order to keep their car stationary. The other 5% are people who actually use it to park, people who are working on a car with a running engine, ricers trying to do drifts in FWD cars and people using their truck as an anchor to winch something out.

The parking brake is incredibly weak, and usually only operates on the rear wheels, so no it will not stop the car very well. It will, eventually, but not as well as the hydraulic brakes. I suppose it's better than nothing, but don't expect to be setting any stopping distance records with it. O, and you might spin the car using it if it simply locks the rear tires.

KSIMP88 · 03-13-2010, 04:37 AM

Don't use the e-brake to come to a stop, unless it's an emergency. (Emergency Brake). It's a failsafe if your main brakes give out (or if someone tampers with them.
It is also recommended to use it when parked on a slope. Not really necessary on a relatively flat road, with an automatic.

If you have a stick, always park with you parking brake/E-Brake.

*Kenny McCormick* · 03-13-2010, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSIMP88

If you have a car, always park with you parking brake/E-Brake.

Fix'd. EVen on level ground, don't trust the car to the park pawl. If it gets rear ended, it could snap that sucker off and cause it to roll away. Even just the cost of replacing it might be enough to total it after it got hit.

That is, assuming, it works. Mine doesn't...

legoman786 · 03-13-2010, 06:10 AM

Yeah, I was very surprised how weak looking the Park 'gear' looks and works compared to the rest of the transmission.

I always use my parking brake and my transmission is always in 2nd when it's parked.

I, also, encourage my mom to use the handbrake while she's using my car, until we get her another mom taxi.

cluffenstein · 03-13-2010, 11:28 AM

my dad never said use the parking brake when you park. I do on hills, but not on level ground.

**Mike** · 03-13-2010, 11:49 AM

You should use the parking brake when you park. But I will say, 70% of cars on the road have either no functional e-brake, or it's not functioning properly at all. Every 30k miles or so (or whenever i take off my rear wheels) i'll make sure to pull the drum, and service the star adjuster. I want my emergency brake to work in case of an emergency. Locking my rears up slows me about as fast as going easy on my hydraulic brakes, but it's better than nothing.

rx7racer · 03-13-2010, 11:55 AM

So you all have never had to use the E-Brake to stop or drive a car without brakes?

Dang, people really need to learn how to use an E-Brake then.

Like I said on OCN, I've driven a few cars with an E-Brake only. And yes it can be used to stop a car.

Nevermind, I thought people in a car forum would have actually used an E-Brake before besides parking. Guess I was wrong.

You all do at least know how to adjust an E-brake according to pad wear and cable fatigue/stretching right? That is key to having a usable e brake.

And I can't believe no one hit on the fact that with fully functional hydraulic brakes the front brakes are 70-80% of the braking. Or if you have disc all around it may be a closer 60% and rear can do 40%. And no one hit on the fact that if you ever do have to use an E-brake to actually stop which is what the failsafe is designed for you have to increase your stopping distance accordingly.

I can't believe so many people don't think you can actually use an E-Brake to bring a car to a stop.

As I said elsewhere, yea the floorboard peddle style is a pain especially the pressure release ones.

An E-Brake is manually cable connected to the rear drums or calipers depending on brake design for said car. With the caliper designed which is just referred to as disc brakes being the more efficient and easier from my experience to in an emergency(aka. no brakes) situation stop a vehicle.

Sorry I asked you guys here that question.

Except for Wierdo, he actually knew to adjust the star bit in the drum. Although most models also have an in-line adjuster as well.

legoman786 · 03-13-2010, 12:16 PM

I use the e-brake to stop sometimes, usually in conjunction with engine braking. The problem with my e-brake is that it's too stiff for how much it actually grips the rotors.

KSIMP88 · 03-13-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx7racer

So you all have never had to use the E-Brake to stop or drive a car without brakes?

Dang, people really need to learn how to use an E-Brake then.

Like I said on OCN, I've driven a few cars with an E-Brake only. And yes it can be used to stop a car.

Nevermind, I thought people in a car forum would have actually used an E-Brake before besides parking. Guess I was wrong.

You all do at least know how to adjust an E-brake according to pad wear and cable fatigue/stretching right? That is key to having a usable e brake.

And I can't believe no one hit on the fact that with fully functional hydraulic brakes the front brakes are 70-80% of the braking. Or if you have disc all around it may be a closer 60% and rear can do 40%. And no one hit on the fact that if you ever do have to use an E-brake to actually stop which is what the failsafe is designed for you have to increase your stopping distance accordingly.

I can't believe so many people don't think you can actually use an E-Brake to bring a car to a stop.

As I said elsewhere, yea the floorboard peddle style is a pain especially the pressure release ones.

An E-Brake is manually cable connected to the rear drums or calipers depending on brake design for said car. With the caliper designed which is just referred to as disc brakes being the more efficient and easier from my experience to in an emergency(aka. no brakes) situation stop a vehicle.

Sorry I asked you guys here that question.

Except for Wierdo, he actually knew to adjust the star bit in the drum. Although most models also have an in-line adjuster as well.

I hope you aren't saying the E-Brake is more effective than your standard brakes....

Brakes work a certain way for a reason. And E-Brakes aren't designed to be used all the time. You can get custom ones that last longer, but You can cause some serious damage if you try to use the E-Brake to stop the car all the time. It's an Emergency Brake, not a use-it-all-the-time-cause-its-a-brake brake.

03-13-2010, 02:43 AM	#1
rx7racer New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Rep: 10	E-Brake? Ok, just wanted to get some opinions here. What is an E-brake good for? Can you actually use it to stop a car for instance you lose brake fluid and have no hydraulic pressure? Is it just a parking brake? Thanks for the opinions all. P.S. Please humor me. Seriously. Last edited by rx7racer; 03-13-2010 at 03:00 AM.

03-13-2010, 03:50 AM	#2
Kenny McCormick Spah sappin' mah susp! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Earth...I think Posts: 3,271 Rep: 96	An E-brake is what people are supposed to use when they park. A correct name would be parking brake, handbrake, park brake, something like that. In reality the only time 95% of them get touched is because the car is running away, most people being perfectly satisfied to ruin their park pawl in order to keep their car stationary. The other 5% are people who actually use it to park, people who are working on a car with a running engine, ricers trying to do drifts in FWD cars and people using their truck as an anchor to winch something out. The parking brake is incredibly weak, and usually only operates on the rear wheels, so no it will not stop the car very well. It will, eventually, but not as well as the hydraulic brakes. I suppose it's better than nothing, but don't expect to be setting any stopping distance records with it. O, and you might spin the car using it if it simply locks the rear tires. __________________ Tired Iron ain't got no time to wear out... My rigs: 1985 Ford F150 \| 4x2 \| 300ci OHV inline six \| 4-speed OD manual \| 310K \| No power brakes \| Running 100% - It hasn't driven this good in 15 years! 1984 Ford F150 \| 4x2 \| 300ci six \| granny four \| 3.55 rear end \| 210K \| Brakes shot. Rear drums are doing most of the work. Not fit to drive due to that. 1997 Ford Explorer XLT \| 4.0L Vulcan V6 \| 5-speed automatic \| shift-on-the-fly 4WD \| 210,000 miles \| Running 95% - Needs brakes on all four corners + bald tires 1989 Ford F150 \| 300cid six...again \| 5-speed \| 4x4 \| 160K \| Needs brakes done as well. Oi!

03-13-2010, 04:37 AM	#3
KSIMP88 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas, OR Posts: 2,930 Rep: 39	Don't use the e-brake to come to a stop, unless it's an emergency. (Emergency Brake). It's a failsafe if your main brakes give out (or if someone tampers with them. It is also recommended to use it when parked on a slope. Not really necessary on a relatively flat road, with an automatic. If you have a stick, always park with you parking brake/E-Brake. __________________ 2001 Tahoe LT Autoride w/ third seat +25hp K&N air filter +50hp Custom Radio +15hp Soon to buy: Exhaust +50hp Lowering kit (2") +30hp

03-13-2010, 06:10 AM	#5
legoman786 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 886 Rep: 17	Yeah, I was very surprised how weak looking the Park 'gear' looks and works compared to the rest of the transmission. I always use my parking brake and my transmission is always in 2nd when it's parked. I, also, encourage my mom to use the handbrake while she's using my car, until we get her another mom taxi. __________________

03-13-2010, 11:49 AM	#7
Mike Community Director Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 7,603 Rep: 153	You should use the parking brake when you park. But I will say, 70% of cars on the road have either no functional e-brake, or it's not functioning properly at all. Every 30k miles or so (or whenever i take off my rear wheels) i'll make sure to pull the drum, and service the star adjuster. I want my emergency brake to work in case of an emergency. Locking my rears up slows me about as fast as going easy on my hydraulic brakes, but it's better than nothing. __________________ "He shouted: 'You've won! Didn't you know?' I didn't, and it's about the nicest thing I've ever been told" -Bruce McLaren, 1968 Belgian Grand Prix Read the rules! \| DO NOT REPLY TO SPAM 2009 Pontiac G8 GT - 6.0L, 6AT - 95k miles \| 1994 Chevy Blazer K5 - 350, 5MT - 140k miles \| 2006 Mazda 3 S sedan - 2.3L, 5MT - 130k miles Wife's Car: 2013 Chevy Volt - 70k miles Bikes: 1979 Yamaha XS 750 \| 1985 Honda Sabre 700

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E-Brake?

03-13-2010, 11:55 AM	#8
rx7racer New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Rep: 10	So you all have never had to use the E-Brake to stop or drive a car without brakes? Dang, people really need to learn how to use an E-Brake then. Like I said on OCN, I've driven a few cars with an E-Brake only. And yes it can be used to stop a car. Nevermind, I thought people in a car forum would have actually used an E-Brake before besides parking. Guess I was wrong. You all do at least know how to adjust an E-brake according to pad wear and cable fatigue/stretching right? That is key to having a usable e brake. And I can't believe no one hit on the fact that with fully functional hydraulic brakes the front brakes are 70-80% of the braking. Or if you have disc all around it may be a closer 60% and rear can do 40%. And no one hit on the fact that if you ever do have to use an E-brake to actually stop which is what the failsafe is designed for you have to increase your stopping distance accordingly. I can't believe so many people don't think you can actually use an E-Brake to bring a car to a stop. As I said elsewhere, yea the floorboard peddle style is a pain especially the pressure release ones. An E-Brake is manually cable connected to the rear drums or calipers depending on brake design for said car. With the caliper designed which is just referred to as disc brakes being the more efficient and easier from my experience to in an emergency(aka. no brakes) situation stop a vehicle. Sorry I asked you guys here that question. Except for Wierdo, he actually knew to adjust the star bit in the drum. Although most models also have an in-line adjuster as well. Last edited by rx7racer; 03-13-2010 at 12:09 PM.

03-13-2010, 12:16 PM	#9
legoman786 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 886 Rep: 17	I use the e-brake to stop sometimes, usually in conjunction with engine braking. The problem with my e-brake is that it's too stiff for how much it actually grips the rotors. __________________