hello all. i was wondering if a parking brake is ever needed on a car with an automatic trans. in park, it won't move. when i set it (in every car, including the wifes honda *sic*), it doesn't seem to do much. the comedian mitch hedberg made a joke about it being not so much an emergency brake, but rather a 'make the car smell funny lever'. all of this stems from my contemplation of adding discs to the rear and not messing with whole e-brake to begin with. so, is it worth it? are my rears not properly adjusted? how many of you with autos really use it? in the garage i'll chock, but never touch that lever (and still alive to talk about it). should i try to have it re-installed with rear discs if go that route? thanks in advance for your collective wisdom!

If you want it to pass saftey inspection, you will have to have it.

If you have an auto, in most cases the e-brake is rarely used, so there is a good chance that there is dirt, rust or possible damage to the cables underneath the car. Or it could simply be that your rear drums are either out of adjustment, worn out or glazed over from overheating.

If I were to have a choice, I'd for sure have a parking brake.....aka.......an emergency brake. I just cringe at the fact that I would have no way of slowing down my car if the brakes completely failed.....like a pin came out of the brake pedal assy or somthing of that nature. Sure, I could downshift, but that can take a long time to stop.....plus, by the time you figure out that your brakes don't work, it will be most likely that it's too late to try and slow down the car by just using the trans.

Just somthing to think about.

And that my freind is my addition of my personal collective wisdom. :D:D:D

Joe

Ive gotten into the habit of always setting the parking/emergency brake, whether auto or manual. I figure if nothing else, it takes stress off of the park pawl in an auto.

Depending on which rear disc setup you use, it can be a real PITA on the e-brake.

RIP Mitch Hedberg

There is a big difference between not using and not having.
Your question gives away your youth.
An emergency brake is required on all cars.
It is your safety net. It is the only way you will stop your car if the brakes go out other than running it into a wall, car, building or ocean. I guess those could be considered quality e-brakes also. They actually will stop your car faster than the e-brake.
Maybe you are on to something.

Do you have a hole in your floor board (you thought I was going to say head, didn't you). Fred Flintstone could stop the car even without brakes.

Fred is not on TV anymore because he crashed into a woman and her 2 kids. After the law suit, he went to jail and lost his home and family. Dino has since passed away and Pebbles is still posing at auto shows while showing the new 2008 Camaro. It has an e-brake, but I have never heard her mention them. I will see if I can get her autograph and a picture the next time I see her. She is still hot, but sad. She never visits her dad in jail. Her and BamBam divorced after her dad went to jail.

I thought we need a little humor somewhere in this forum.

Yes!

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I'd put this under the heading "if it's there, it should work."
It really bugs me when stuff doesn't work, but maybe that's just me.

And yes, it's a required safety device, and an important one.

Ive gotten into the habit of always setting the parking/emergency brake, whether auto or manual. I figure if nothing else, it takes stress off of the park pawl in an auto.

x2 On my auto's I set it before I take my foot off the brake pedal if I'm only any incline.

The safety factor of brake falure and being able to use the emergency/parking brake is #1 important, it could save your life. Next, parking without setting the parking brake is just asking for trouble! First even on the slightest hill you may not be able to get the trans out of park with the weight of the car being held by the trans. Even with a friend or two it could be tough pushing the car a few inches uphill to free the shifter, try it when you are alone. I won't name names but a few weeks ago I was meeting a friend for some grub and as I pulled into the parking lot I see his car setting in the middle of the isle. My first thought was he stalled but I couldn't see him in the car, that made me think he was hurt or worse laying down on the seat. As I got closer I could see he was not in the car and started thinking someone might have been trying to steal his car. As it turns out he's been having trouble with his shifter cable and the car would jump out of park. He's not in the habit of using the parking brake but will be from now on! You can use your imigination to come up with all the "what if's" all I can say is it would sure be a shame to damage a car because it rolled down the street!

Don't even take on the rear brakes if you don't do the emergency/parking brake. It's an easy task with the right brake choice... Don't take this last part wrong but I never could understand not setting the parking brake, it's not like it takes much effort and if someone can't remember to release it before driving off I wouldn't want to ride with them driving for fear they will forget something else and kill us both.

About the only time I use it is when I crawl under the car to do some work... but in addition, I always make sure that there is something behind the tires... just in case. Plus, as pointed out, in an emerg situation, it could save your life... if you remember to use it,

capt

Ever drop a drive shaft ? E-brake works... Park doesn't :noway:

There is a big difference between not using and not having.
Your question gives away your youth.
An emergency brake is required on all cars.
It is your safety net. It is the only way you will stop your car if the brakes go out other than running it into a wall, car, building or ocean. I guess those could be considered quality e-brakes also. They actually will stop your car faster than the e-brake.
Maybe you are on to something.

Do you have a hole in your floor board (you thought I was going to say head, didn't you). Fred Flintstone could stop the car even without brakes.

Fred is not on TV anymore because he crashed into a woman and her 2 kids. After the law suit, he went to jail and lost his home and family. Dino has since passed away and Pebbles is still posing at auto shows while showing the new 2008 Camaro. It has an e-brake, but I have never heard her mention them. I will see if I can get her autograph and a picture the next time I see her. She is still hot, but sad. She never visits her dad in jail. Her and BamBam divorced after her dad went to jail.

I thought we need a little humor somewhere in this forum.


You failed to mention the tragic loss of poor Barney and Betty Rubble.....While venturing out for a walk, gathering rocks, for the upcoming rock festival, they were eaten alive by T-Rex and I don't mean the song "Get it on, Bang a Gong, Get it on"!.....This was an actual Tyrannosaurus Rex!.....It was rumored that the only thing remaining was Barney's big toe which was found on a huge boulder, not far from the scene!.....Also, another tidbit, after Bam Bam divorced, he turned gay! or at least as gay as one could be back in the stone ages!

LOL!!! I like you Ron. No one else seems to have a sense of humor! Keep it up. We need a few more laughs here. Keeps you young. Thanks! I was wondering what happend to Barney!

LOL!!! I like you Ron. No one else seems to have a sense of humor! Keep it up. We need a few more laughs here. Keeps you young. Thanks! I was wondering what happend to Barney!

Sometimes I just sit here and laugh my ass off!:yes::D.....It all depends on what I'm drinking and/or smoking!:beers::thumbsup:

This tragic story is enough for me. All from not having e-brake.
"I for sure will install my Emergency Brake and install it correctly, and even test it before I drive my car. Well, ok, understand that I will have to test it while driving my car." I hope nothing happens to me, Like Fred, during the test. That would suck!!

They also come in handy for slowing down when passing a cop if you were going slightly over the speed limit and not showing a brake lights.....as in guilty.

I was pulleed over once and the cop said he was going to give me a ticket for no brake lights and speed because I was slowing down and had no brake lights. After he saw the brake lights come on and I was pulling over he did not know if I was really even speeding or not when I passed him at an intersection. One less ticket!!

They also come in handy for slowing down when passing a cop if you were going slightly over the speed limit and not showing a brake lights.....as in guilty.

I was pulleed over once and the cop said he was going to give me a ticket for no brake lights and speed because I was slowing down and had no brake lights. After he saw the brake lights come on and I was pulling over he did not know if I was really even speeding or not when I passed him at an intersection. One less ticket!!


I have employed this very same devious tactic and it works! :thumbsup:

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