What are the common faults of parking brakes?
3 Answers
Parking brake faults are as follows: 1. Parking brake failure: The main causes of failure are excessive clearance between the friction plate and brake drum, oil contamination on the friction plate or brake drum, or severe wear of the friction plate. Immediate repair is required. 2. Abnormal noise: Manually swing the parking brake to check for loose fixing screws, deformed operating lever, loose fixed pins, or damaged operating lever spring. Timely repair and adjustment are necessary. 3. Parking brake lever cannot be fixed: At the unfixed braking position, inspect the lever head. Grip and release the lever handle, perform up and down movement tests to check if the lever is bent, stuck, or if the spring is broken.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I've seen the most common causes of parking brake failure. Mainly, it's due to the lever rusting and getting stuck or deformed, aging and broken cables causing insufficient braking, faulty electronic sensors triggering dashboard warning lights, or improper adjustment making it too loose or too tight. Rainwater accumulation can easily corrode components, and parking on a slope becomes dangerous if the car slides. Once, my car rolled a few meters after parking on a slope—luckily, I discovered it was due to a broken cable in time. I recommend manually pulling and checking the brake monthly for smooth operation and applying some anti-rust oil as prevention. If you notice any malfunction or warning light, get it fixed immediately at a reputable shop—don't gamble with safety; it's more important than anything else.
After driving a new car for several years, I've learned that parking brake failures should never be taken lightly. Common issues include rusted and locked levers, broken wiring harnesses interrupting current flow, and sensor malfunctions triggering false warnings - all of which can render the parking brake ineffective and potentially cause accidents. Rust and sticking often occur after rain, so I always clean the lever area after washing my car. Once, a friend's car rolled on a slope, and the inspection revealed aged wiring. I recommend regularly testing the brake's pulling force manually. If problems are found, first secure the vehicle with gear position and seek immediate repair. Safe driving is the bottom line - don't delay repairs over minor issues.
