JekyllandHyde

iTrader: (3)

Ok, I just had a quick question about the E-brake. Now, when I apply my E-brake and the car is in Neutral, the car will hold just fine. BUT, when I have the car in drive or reverse, the E-brake will not hold at all if it is moving already, but if I shift into neutral, and pull up, it will stop slowly. Is this normal?

nope

um...the e-brake wasn't really made to stop the car. it's really for holding the car steady when you're parked on a hill...

Apeiron

It's a "parking brake", not an "emergency brake".

JekyllandHyde

iTrader: (3)

So I take it I'm worrying about nothing then?

Apeiron

If it always holds when you're stopped then its fine.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

NO! The e-brake (or whatever people want to call it...), should hold the car. It SHOULD have the moxy to stop your car when driving JUST IN CASE, and it NEEDS to be able to hold the car. If it can't hold you car when in drive (not much torque when idling eh?) then it probably won't hold it on a hill.
Take your car to a nice steep hill, put it in neutral, and crank the e-brake. If that won't hold the car, it needs to be adjusted.

Under the dead center of the car there's a T joint. Tighten the nut, while holding the stud still. I think I use a 1/4" wrench to hold the stud still, then 13mm for the nut, or something like that. Tighten'er up good now.

Apeiron

Best of luck with that.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Mine will lock up my rear brakes... rear discs though...
Rear discs locking doesn't stop the car on a dime, but if somehow my reservoir went dry, i'd be happy having a decent e-brake...

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Sorry Apeiron, but Sonix is right on this one. The parking or e-brake is designed to serve 2 functions: holding the car on a hill, and stopping the car(albeit very slowly) if the main brakes should fail.

From the PA Vehicle Code:

Subchapter E, Section 175.64 Brake Systems
Paragraph C

Parking Brake System - A vehicle specified
under this subchapter shall be equipped with
a parking brake system. See 75 Pa. C.S.
§4502.
(1) A parking brake system shall be ade–
quate to hold the vehicle on a surface free
from ice or snow on a 20% grade with
vehicle in neutral.
(2) The parking brakes shall be separately
actuated so that failure of any part of the
service brake actuation system will not
diminish the vehicle’s parking brake
holding capability.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Somebody note the date and time....

I doubt mine has the moxy to hold my car on a 20% grade though, wowza...

Apeiron

Yes, notice that the wording of the PA regulation says that failure of the service brake won't diminish the holding capacity, but nowhere makes mention of the stopping capacity of the parking brake.

In the days of single hydraulic systems the hand brake was intended be a backup if the brakes failed. Later on people figured out that by the time you realize your brakes are failing and you remember that you even have a hand brake let alone deploy it, it's usually too late to save you even if it did stop the car as well as the service brakes. That's why they started putting redundant dual-hydraulic systems on.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

I guess it does say holding capacity. I always read it to mean it's ability to hold or grip the brakes, ie the strength with which it grabs the rotor/drum is not diminished so it can be used to stop the car.

I don't know of any mechanics that actually have a 20% grade to test them on at inspection time. All the ones I've talked to have said they just put the e-brake on and put the car in gear and rev it gently in drive/1st and reverse to see if it holds the car still. I've had a couple cars fail inspection because the e-brake couldn't hold the car still.

chevyracingrox

maybe this is comparing apples to oranges but my cavalier has an ebrake that can lock up the back brakes easily. in burnouts the rear axle drags so its pretty strong.

JekyllandHyde

iTrader: (3)

Well, the car will hold on a hill, and the E-brake will stop the car if I put it into Neutral while it's moving. BUT, it won't do anything if I have the car in drive and it's moving already. It only stops it when I put it into neutral. Ah well, I just wanted the thing to pass safety check. Looks like it's back to the old drawing board with these rear brakes.

Maybe I should just get rid of my thirdgen and get an LS1 Formula like I always wanted? LOL

chevyracingrox

so its weather your in drive or neutral dictating if you stop? thats just because f bodies are rwd

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

ok, that's weird.

If it'll hold the car on a moderate hill, you'll pass safety.

It sure should be able to hold the car in drive, unless you're in the gas..?

JekyllandHyde

iTrader: (3)

No, I'm not on the gas. The idle is correct too. I patk in an apartment building garage and the incline for the exit is pretty steep, so I pull up the E-brake and the car holds fine.

I pulled up the E-brake all the way it could go, and it will hold the car if it's in drive and not moving. However, tap the gas even lightly and off she goes. Maybe my cables are stretched a little?

I got under there and found no evidence of problems.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

ok, no no, that's completely normal.

You can drive around all day with your ebrake on, and just wonder why the light on your dash is on, why the car is so sluggish, and why it smells funny... But it'll do it no problem!

ie. you're fine, that's normal.