What is the Difference Between a Cars Emergancy Brake and the Parking Brake?
There is no difference between the emergency brake and parking brake.
Same system just different names. BUT, if you don’t set the parking brake you could have an emergency with your car.
FOR EXAMPLE: A newish Subaru Outback Wagon, deluxe top of the line model was parked on a hill. The Owner ‘thought’ he had put the car into gear and set the emergency brake… only to later find his car missing from where he had parked. He finally found it down the hill SMASHED, CRASHED AND BASHED into a tree.
GOOD NEWS Mail Order Bride : As the car rolled down the hill, it did not hit anything else. No pets, people, cars, houses, not even a mailbox. Plus, it was not totaled.
OK, not totaled but as you can see there was a HUGE amount of damage.
1st it came to my shop, ‘Auto Craftsmen’ and we replaced damaged engine parts. Then it was towed off to “Majestic Auto” (244-5465) in Waterbury. Here is a picture of Tom Douglas owner of Majestic Auto. After he worked his magic the Outback looked as good as new.
Moral Of The Story: Use It Or Loose It!
1. You need to use your parking brake on a regular basis to keep it working properly.
2. When you park your car on a hill, turn the wheels so if the car does roll, it won’t go far. Put the car into gear and set the parking brake. Specially if you drive a manual transmission.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Ouch! I didn’t know that the brake has to be used periodically. Thanks!
And Majestic always does fantastic work for me!
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Because Vermont uses sooooo much salt on our snowy, slushy roads, it is imperative that you use the e-brake on a regular basis.
If I leave the parking brake on when I park in my driveway at home and at the shop which is totally level… I forget and drive away with it on. So, when I park the car, I put on the brake, then disengage it right away.