I am in the process of finishing up my brakes. This will be another milestone in the completion of my 68 coupe. So, I have the front discs installed and ready to go and am in the process of cleaning up the rear drums and putting them back together. When I tool the car apart the parking brake cables were trashed so I got rid of them. Now I am wondering if I want to replace them.

Question is: How important do you think it is to have the parking brake working? All comments suggestions and critisims are welcomed.:cool:

If the car is an automatic, absolutely replace them. If you happen to get parked on a hill, using the parking brake will help stop the tranny from getting locked into parked. Even with a manual it's a must. What if you wanted to just get out of the car for a moment with the car running. I would be lost without my parking brake.

manual trans here, use the parking brake every single time I park the car.

manual trans here, use the parking brake every single time I park the car.

Yep...
Me to! A parking brake is a must no matter what. If you loose your brakes, they will help to stop you.




Kev

Me to, manual trans and always use the parking brake

manual trans here, use the parking brake every single time I park the car.

x2

It's a must! I can't imagine not having one.

You park the car, car rolls away and hits something or someone, Insurance co. investigates to find a cause :mad: no parking brake :noway: you pay.

I have an automatic and the only time I use my parking brake (I call it an "emergency brake") is trailering it. I would say you should fix it. Better safe than sorry.

The park brake on newer trucks ( 06 F-350 and 02 Duramax)is luxurious compared to old days.

I use mine in warm weather cuz it sucks to have to crawl under one in the winter and try to free a frozen muddy brake cable. But that's not as bad about happening as it was 10 years ago, global warming ya know:).
And if I get out of the truck and realize I forgot it, they are so good all I have to do is push them down by hand. The old ones weren't going to hold a work truck at 14,000# unless you reefed on em all the way down.

Cars with drum brakes they are a pain to fix and maintain sometimes, but worth it.

My car doesn't have a PB: rear disc conversion. And I am unaware of a way to add it. I should look into that someday.

My 2 cents

I use mine every time plus it has to work to pass state inspection.

I never used the ebrake on automatic transmissioned cars!.....The ebrake is best suited for manual tranny cars.....I would hook them up just in case you have a hydraulic brake failure!:yes::thumbsup:

By all means..hook up the park brake and use it.A must in a stick car and will lighten the load on the park pawl in an automatic if applied before going into park on a grade.

i never needed it, but wouldn't want to not have it there!

When I took my car apart for the restoration all the emergency brake pieces were there --- cleaned them up, put them back on the car and use the brake all the time

I use it every time on both cars. It's an especially good idea if you have kids.

I never used the ebrake on automatic transmissioned cars!.....The ebrake is best suited for manual tranny cars.....I would hook them up just in case you have a hydraulic brake failure!:yes::thumbsup:

Good point on why it's often refered to as the emergency brake instead of parking brake...

As for not using the hand brake (a 3rd name for it ;) ) with auto trans - If you ever park on a hill you may never get it out of park.

Good point on why it's often refered to as the emergency brake instead of parking brake...



I remember about 6 years ago, a front brake hose bursting on my 93 S10 Blazer, while arriving on a job site!.....At the end of the shift, while driving home, roughly 3-4 miles, I used that ebrake and it got me home safely!!:yes::thumbsup:

with a manual trans.... I always use the parking brake.
with an auto.... I rarely use it.

Note: some states will require it for any safety inspections