Parking Brake Failure
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Land of Sky Blue Waters
Parking Brake Failure
My car was parked in neutral with the parking brake on. (I didn't do this, as I always leave it in gear when parking... a mechanic did it at the dealership's.) A pickup backed up and went over the hood of the car. Yeah, just freaking great. 
At any rate, when he realized what he'd done, he pulled forward and the car rolled under his bumper again....he pulled forward more and the car kept rolling back under his bumper. All the while, I was trying to jump in the car to apply the brake.
What on earth would cause the parking brake to fail like this - particularly when it had been holding it before? Should the repair of this parking brake (which I'm assuming it requires?) be included in the claim?
At any rate, when he realized what he'd done, he pulled forward and the car rolled under his bumper again....he pulled forward more and the car kept rolling back under his bumper. All the while, I was trying to jump in the car to apply the brake. What on earth would cause the parking brake to fail like this - particularly when it had been holding it before? Should the repair of this parking brake (which I'm assuming it requires?) be included in the claim?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Ruskin Fl
Is your car under warranty? If so that resolves the repair for that.
Our cars are WEAK when it comes to the PB. Crappy design and inferior components. The 'catch/release/button' can fail in a heartbeat and the adjustment can pop so far out your brake's just dead weight.
Sue GM for all of us!
Our cars are WEAK when it comes to the PB. Crappy design and inferior components. The 'catch/release/button' can fail in a heartbeat and the adjustment can pop so far out your brake's just dead weight.
Sue GM for all of us!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Land of Sky Blue Waters
No, warranty came off in April. The dealer hasn't been ageeable about doing ANY repairs under warranty after that period, even though the car's got 20K miles on it. Jerks. If the parking brakes are this weak, there should be a recall on them: It's definitely a safety issue.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 7,230
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From: Land of Sky Blue Waters
Originally Posted by eddie44
Parking brake? I didn't know the Vette came with one of those??
Mine will only work if I stand over the console and pull up with both hands.
Mine will only work if I stand over the console and pull up with both hands.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Topsham Maine
Been There!
I've had the same issue with my parking brake suddenly giving up. After checking the easy stuff, (rear connections etc.) I finally pulled the center console and boot, kinda exposing the mechanism. Since the next step was removing the seat, and then the handle mechanism, I played around with what I could see first. Turns out that the lube they used on the ratchet/self adjuster had gathered enough lint and junk that the handle was pulling up/ratcheting fine, but leaving the actual brake cable behind. A little judiciously placed silicon spray lube followed by a small spritz of standard white grease cleaned up the mess and got 'er dun. As far as the body damage, that's a true bummer. Good luck to you.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Land of Sky Blue Waters
Well my husband just took it down the highway... said there's more wrong than just the body damage. Knocked out of alignment and front tire(s) seem way out of balance. Grrrrrr. That kind of stuff wasn't included in the estmate I got - plus the headlight door is no longer aligned. I hope that's something obvious they fix when they replace it. Yeah, bummer. Hood, nose, quarter panel all need to be repainted, some body work to the hood, replacement of headlight door thing. Thanks for your good wishes.
(By the way, thanks for the suggestions on the PB.)
(By the way, thanks for the suggestions on the PB.)
Last edited by Postergeist; Aug 14, 2005 at 12:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
From: Drivin' and Divin' in Seattle
My guess is the brake probably wasn't set very well to begin with as the mechanic didn't forsee your car being backed into and then dragged forward by some moron in a pickup. 
Based on this incident, I'd say your parking brake is the least likely of failures.
Based on this incident, I'd say your parking brake is the least likely of failures.
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