E-Brake Alarm - Stretched Cable

[Mostly Harmless]

I use my ebrake anytime I park the truck. The cable has either stretched out or the boot of the ebrake has become too stiff because when I disengage it. There is enough play that the warning message comes up (it is pretty sensitive) and I have to physically hold down the handle for a while until it stays down. Do I need to adjust the cable? Is that done from the rear brakes?

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[airline tech]

I would lube the cables at the rear (where they split off) to both sides and also ensure the Park Brake Lever - on both calipers are fully returning. I do not think the cable is stretched; something is holding the cable from fully returning.

With that said - there is an adjustment (nut) at the parking brake handle itself - under boot but I would check the cables first, as one might be hanging up and this might also allow the park brake to hang up - burning down the pads.

So, I would jack up the rear and ensure you do not have a dragging brake.

 

[twk]

Thank you airline tech, it's a parking break.
It is not an e-(mergency) break. Why does nearly everyone call it that?

 

[got3fords]

Thank you airline tech, it's a parking break.
It is not an e-(mergency) break. Why does nearly everyone call it that?

Because you'll be using that brake (proper spelling) if you ever lose your regular brakes.

 

[RangerBill]

Thank you airline tech, it's a parking break.
It is not an e-(mergency) break. Why does nearly everyone call it that?

Because it is also used in an emergency situation to stop the vehicle if your hydraulic brakes fail.

See this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_brake

 

[twk]

All American made cars since about 1967, already have a backup breaking system. It's called dual circuit breaking, or something like that. One circuit for the front brakes, and one for the rear brakes. If one looses both of those, maybe one needs to put a little more thought into maintenance. Seeing a lot cars on the road today, I'd guess maintenance is not done at all.

Wikipedia is written by anyone who cares to contribute. It's not always accurate.

Look up pulling the parking break at speed on YouTube. You might be surprised at what could happen. I need to say that it seems like many of the really bad videos have been pulled in the last ten years. You'll still get the idea.

Check your owners manual and see what they call it, and how to use it.

It's a parking break. It's for holding the vehicle while parked. On many new cars it's electric, and doesn't engage above a slow crawl. It is NOT for emergency breaking.

 

[twk]

Well, a friend of mine just pointed out that electric parking brakes have come a long way in the last few years. They will slow you to a stop at speed... On a fully operational vehicle.
Still, the manual lever is not a wise choice for stopping your car.

 

[got3fords]

All American made cars since about 1967, already have a backup breaking system.

It's a parking break. It's for holding the vehicle while parked. On many new cars it's electric, and doesn't engage above a slow crawl. It is NOT for emergency breaking.

Perhaps 'emergency' is just a legacy term, maybe prior to '67, who knows and who cares. E brake, P brake, it's all the same.
And you are still not spelling it right. it's BRAKE.
https://knowhow.napaonline.com/parking-brake-vs-emergency-brake-whats-the-difference/

 

[Motorpsychology]

Thank you airline tech, it's a parking break.
It is not an e-(mergency) break. Why does nearly everyone call it that?

Up until the mid-30s, most cars had mechanical, rather than hydraulic brakes, and often only on the rear axle. No automatic transmissions, so you parked in gear. Up until the early 60s, hydraulic brake systems had a single fluid reservoir, so if there was a pressure malfunction, there was a total loss of brake fluid, hence the cable operated emergency brake.

 

[RangerBill]

Well, a friend of mine just pointed out that electric parking brakes have come a long way in the last few years. They will slow you to a stop at speed... On a fully operational vehicle.
Still, the manual lever is not a wise choice for stopping your car.

It is NOT for emergency breaking.

So, if your brakes fail while driving, you won't use your "parking brake" to stop because of the name that you use for it? Just saying.

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

OP - From your description, it sounds like you have a stiff boot keeping the lever from going all the way down - I'm sure winter in NY is worse than CA, and even I have this problem of it not going all the way down when it is cold/stiff. No light like you have though. One day when it has cracked enough I will replace with leather

 

[twk]

So, if your brakes fail while driving, you won't use your "parking brake" to stop because of the name that you use for it? Just saying.

You can do what ever you like.
Total brake failure happens all the time on The A-Team, Fall Guy, and the occasional B-Movie, but luckily rarely in real life.

Sorry about the spelling. I didn't notice and neither did my spell checker.

It's called a Parking Brake. I've never seen an auto manufacturer use the term Emergency brake. I'd like to see an example from NICOLE WAKELIN at knowhow.napaonline.com.

Okay, done here.

 

[got3fords]

Okay, done here.

Finally! Glad you decided to take a brake...

 

[Mostly Harmless]

OP - From your description, it sounds like you have a stiff boot keeping the lever from going all the way down - I'm sure winter in NY is worse than CA, and even I have this problem of it not going all the way down when it is cold/stiff. No light like you have though. One day when it has cracked enough I will replace with leather

A leather boot is high on my list. I already have some cracking on this one.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

Thank you airline tech, it's a parking break.
It is not an e-(mergency) break. Why does nearly everyone call it that?

It was always called the emergency brake in the old days when I learned to drive. Mostly used going off the mountain when people rode their brakes. Hot brakes didn’t work at all. They’d have a handful of ebrake in hopes!! No power brakes either!

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