I have a 91 s10 blazer the parking brake needs to be replaced. I have worked on cars for a long time but i dont know an easy way to replace the parking brake. any suggestions??
What needs to be replaced on the parking brake? Is the cable broken, or is the mechanism bad. Is there a problem in the rear brake drum?
An emergency brake is a safety braking system that is specially designed to function in case of brakes totally fails. It is commonly referred to as a parking brake or e-brake. It only works through mechanical means and is independent of the hydraulic system that controls the brakes normally. Emergency brake is an important part of the motor vehicle’s safety systems. It can make a major difference in some emergency situations.
Besides using this in emergency situations, it is also used as a parking brake for preventing the car from rolling away if it slips into gear. The emergency brake should also be regularly checked like all parts of the braking system.
For activating the emergency brake, the driver simply pulls up a lever or pushes a pedal in the front of the vehicle. The setup of an emergency brake is simple, steel cables are attached to the emergency brake that run to the rear brakes of the car which are typical drum brakes. When the cables are tightened, the brake shoes are pulled into contact with the brake’s drum which eventually stops the car. Regarding the setup of disc brakes, the cables of the brake are connected to a small mechanism of screw that is meant for pushing a piston contacting the brake pads and forcing them to grip the brake rotor. The brake generally has a self-locking system and the driver has to lower the lever or move the pedal to take the brake off.
The emergency brake can be used by the driver to stop the car safely if there is an emergency situation of a total brake failure. The brake must be set slowly in this situation rather than quickly pulling. It will prevent the car from spinning or fishtailing. An emergency brake is deliberately used by some drivers for this purpose but this sort of driving must only be undertaken by drivers who are experts because it can be very dangerous.
A car which has a manual transmission uses the emergency brake as a parking brake on a regular basis. Some drivers also use it at stop signs. As the emergency brake is frequently used, it is kept in good working order. However the cables might need to be tightened periodically. Some drivers do not set the emergency brake as a parking brake in cars which have automatic transmissions. In addition to safety, this also can result in the rusting and corrosion in the emergency brake cable. This can lead to a cable failure in an emergency.
Parking brake must be used by drivers every time when they park; the emergency braking system must also be checked with periodic intervals. The condition of the cables should also be checked during an inspection; they should be tightened or moved if necessary. Additionally at this time, the wear of the brake pads can also be inspected for ensuring that they do not need to be replaced.
# camaroz2855on 20 Oct 2010 at 5:09 am
