What are the common faults of parking brakes?
2 Answers
Parking brake faults mainly include: poor parking brake performance and inability to position the parking brake lever. The parking brake usually refers to the manual brake installed in motor vehicles, commonly known as the handbrake, which is used to stabilize the vehicle after it has stopped to prevent accidents caused by rolling on sloping roads. The parking brake device, commonly called the handbrake, has two main functions: 1. After the vehicle is parked, it applies a continuous and stable braking force to prevent rolling; 2. In emergency situations, it can be operated together with the service brake for braking control. The main reasons for poor parking brake performance are: 1. Excessive brake clearance, too small contact area between the brake shoe and drum, oil contamination or hardening of the brake shoe or lining, exposed rivets, severe deformation of the brake drum or disc; 2. Wear and looseness of various components of the operating mechanism, excessive clearance, or overly long cables.
I've been driving for over a decade. The main causes of parking brake failure are slack or broken brake cables leading to ineffective handbrake operation, and severely worn brake pads that can't grip the wheels properly - this is especially dangerous when parking on slopes as the car may silently roll away. Another common issue is maladjusted mechanisms, where pulling the handbrake feels loose and ineffective. Rusted or aged connection points are also prone to breakage. Electronic parking brake systems are even more troublesome - false sensor readings or software bugs can trigger random warnings. After personally experiencing a scary car rollaway incident, I now get annual inspections at repair shops. For those who frequently drive mountain roads, always check your parking brake status. The test method is simple: pull the brake tightly, then get out and try pushing the car to see if it moves. If you notice the handbrake isn't smooth or warning lights appear on the dashboard, never take it lightly - safety is more important than anything else.
