What Causes a Tight Handbrake to Fail to Stop the Vehicle?
2 Answers
Handbrake is tight but fails to stop the vehicle mainly due to poor braking efficiency or sensitivity of the handbrake. Here are relevant details: 1. Handbrake: Also known as parking brake or the parking gear in automatic transmissions, it is used to lock the drive shaft or rear wheels. The parking brake provides less force than the service brake and is primarily designed to prevent rolling on slopes. 2. Types of Handbrake: Parking brakes come in different types, mainly categorized as electronic parking brakes and traditional handbrakes. Traditional handbrakes, also known as mechanical handbrakes, are the most common type found in most vehicle models. Typically, the handbrake lever is located within easy reach of the driver's right hand for convenient operation.
Last time I drove my own car, the handbrake felt tight when I pulled it up, but the car still rolled downhill, almost causing an accident. Later, I found out that the handbrake cable had aged and loosened. Even though I pulled it up hard, the actual braking force was insufficient because the internal steel wire had rusted or stretched too much. This is common in older cars, especially those that haven't been maintained for a long time. Another possibility is that the rear brake pads are completely worn out, leaving only the skeleton. I once saw my neighbor's car—he drove it daily but neglected to replace the pads, resulting in zero braking effectiveness. Another scenario is oil contamination on the brake pads, such as differential oil leaking into the rear brakes of a rear-wheel-drive car, causing the surface to slip. I recommend first checking the brake fluid level and looking for oil stains under the car, then trying to adjust the cable tension—it's safer to have a professional shop handle it. Remember, regular maintenance is key. Don’t wait until an accident happens to regret it. My experience has made me develop a habit of checking every six months.
