noka

Taking car in on Mon for minor things (e.g. replace passenger fog light ) and wanted them to check holding-ability of parking brake. I thought I'd get some comments before then. When I put the car into drive or reverse with the parking brake engaged, I expect it to prevent the car from moving when lifting my foot from the main brake. The only time it holds is if I practically stand on the parking brake when setting it to get to the last possible click (position). Is that normal, or should the parking brake hold e.g. with only 1/2 (or 3/4 or so) clicks engaged?

I'm wondering if it might have changed because when I had a wheel squeak a while back, before they changed the rear rotors and pads to solve it permanently, I think the tech tried adjusting the parking brake, thinking it might have been that,... perhaps touching slightly while driving.

Mixedfruits

Same e brake problem I think its normal just sucks lol

joshg1001

Mine does that too.

tanktube67

It's normal, parking brake has two little brake shoes inside the rear brake rotors (rotor drums) and they work mechanically no hydraulic system is involve, that why the p/b need more force applied to prevent the car for moving.

Carsy

This is not much of a system in my opinion.

Conventional wisdom says drum brakes are more suitable for parking brakes than discs.

My 1979 Peugeot uses its rear discs as a park brake & they work very well over 30 years!

The Germans should ask the French how they do it.

joshg1001

Also the position of the pedal is too close to the side of the car and is too small such that your shoe constantly grazes the plastic causing necessary scratches.

lamonsas

Lol the French should ask the Germans how to do EVERYTHING else!!

tanktube67

VW and Audi use the rear brake calipers for the P/B they have a screw type calipers

RLE

German car brand P has been using this design for 47 years now and it works fine if properly adjusted.

Much ado about nothing.

noka

Referring back to my original post, could you comment on what "properly adjusted" means?

tanktube67

P/B works great it does what suppose to do prevent the car for moving when is park, the emergency brake was invented 1904 and it was mandatory by 1930 in 1902 Louis Renault invented the drum brakes and that’s where the parking brakes came from.

noka

Perhaps I should have used the term "parking" instead of "emergency" brake. Unfortunately, I can't change the main title showing up in the forum, only the title in my first post.

In any case, trying to weed throught the responses with interesting history lessons and so forth , I am guessing my parking brake is about normal with sub-optimal holding power unless stepped on fairly hard.

encoder

Yeah you've got it. When you apply the brake you're stretching out a strong, tightly coiled spring that's hardly ever been used.

noka

Thanks for confirming. I use my parking brake whenever I park to keep it from seizing up. I do prefer the handbrake used in most of my other cars (VW, BMW), as I found that easier to operate with better grabbing. Although, it's only a minor complaint in an otherwise fine car.

Mikey52

This is what bothers me the most about the setup.

Carsy

Not so , the Frogs are good engineers & whats more, incorporate good design & flair into their products. They also have a sense of humour

RLE

I'm sure there is an official method for adjustment but I don't know what it is.

Checking my own car shows that the parking brake is fully engaged at five clicks. I was unable to depress the pedal further although I'm sure there is further movement available when the cable stretches a bit.

It is possible to stop the car using the parking brake but of course the stopping distance will be much longer.

My Porsche 914-6 (long gone) did not have the small drum brake in the hub but instead used a mechanical method to push the inside pad against the disc. It would hold the car on a grade but I never quite trusted it and always left the trans in 1st or reverse.

RLE

Hmmm. The American market has spoken in re: French cars. Most of them couldn't survive here.

On rare occasion one might see a tatty 404 Diesel limping along immediately preceding a large cloud of black smoke.

Sportstick

From self-destructing heater cores in Renault Alliances to seizure-prone electrical systems in Renault/Eagle Premiers, the French have certainly demonstrated their prowess in North America! I recall seeing a Renault Fuego standing at a red light. The next driver in line didn't stop in time and hit it at low speed by then, squarely in the rear, pushing it foward a bit. Then, after 1-2-3 seconds, with perfect comic timing, the spare tire dropped out on the ground and wobbled around until coming to a stop. Je vous remercie, mais, pas de

noka

They adjusted my parking brake today and now it holds on 5-clicks instead of 7.

New foglight also.

Carsy

Just maybe the USA car makers could learn a few things from Peugeot, Citroen & Renault. eg how to manufacture light, small efficient diesel engined vehicles , the type that are relevant in todays world.


You never know GM may not have gone broke .