E-brake sticking after sitting
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 222
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From: Surrey BC
E-brake sticking after sitting
I noticed the e-brake sticking after the car has been parked for a while has anyone else had this problem ? It sounds like its still engaged when you start to go 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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It can happen, particularly if you put the car away with the rotors wet, pads can stick to them. It's no big deal. The cure is to apply enough power to break them lose and then apply the brakes a few times to clean off the rotors.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Virginia
Concur on wet rotors. In the beginning, I would wash my car then pull it forward in the garage. A few hours later, I would try to leave and my E-brake would be stuck. I would have to throttle through the gas to break it free. Now, I just pull it forward, place it in gear, then not use the E-brake (but only after washing the car). Hope this helps
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Naples, Florida
The C7 E-Brake is miles ahead of the C6 brake. That said, I use it when parking for a short time but always put the car in reverse while parking (M7). When parking for an extended period, though, just put the car in reverse. 
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Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
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I've not heard that it actually makes a difference on the C7.
For parking, you just want the steepest gear, and either first or reverse will work. I'll defer to the next pedant to go look up which one is actually steeper, I'm not sure, but it doesn't really matter.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
If you don't set the e-brake then when you return and start your car the memory seat position will not engage.
I've experienced times when the e-brake was stuck and you could not unstick it merely by hammering on the gas, rather you needed to step on the brake and push the e-brake down.
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9-22 Driving and Operating
Stopping the Engine
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, move the shift lever to
P (Park) and press and hold the
ENGINE START/STOP button on
the instrument panel, until the
engine shuts off. If the shift lever is
not in P (Park), the engine shuts off
and the vehicle goes into the
accessory mode. The DIC displays
SHIFT TO PARK. Once the shift
lever is moved to P (Park), the
vehicle turns off. If the vehicle has a
manual transmission, move the shift
lever to R (Reverse) and set the
parking brake after turning off the
engine by pressing and holding the
ENGINE START/STOP button.
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Nov 27, 2017 at 01:36 PM.
Team Owner
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Yes, that's the traditional way of being max safe against a roll-away, so it remains in the manual. However, I've never heard of an e-brake failing.
I was talking more about the battery drain issues on previous gens, which parking in reverse helped mitigate.
I was talking more about the battery drain issues on previous gens, which parking in reverse helped mitigate.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: NE South Carolina
E-Brake is operated by brake shoes in drums on the rear wheel rotor center hubs! However could still be caused by pads sticking to rotors but that has nothing to do with E-Brake.
However on my 2014 I found the “automatic release” by driving was inconsistent and would not release! Stopped using in 2014.
Have not tried with my Grand Sport. When backing out of the garbage, IF I forget to release it by pushing the button down it try’s to stall the engine. I stop, depress the clutch and release with the button.
On my 2014 I tried to force it and it popped with a loud noise! The E-Brake engaged light stayed on the dash for 15 miles all the way into town! Light went off when I restarted the car. Not worth trying again!
However on my 2014 I found the “automatic release” by driving was inconsistent and would not release! Stopped using in 2014.
Have not tried with my Grand Sport. When backing out of the garbage, IF I forget to release it by pushing the button down it try’s to stall the engine. I stop, depress the clutch and release with the button.
On my 2014 I tried to force it and it popped with a loud noise! The E-Brake engaged light stayed on the dash for 15 miles all the way into town! Light went off when I restarted the car. Not worth trying again!
Last edited by JerryU; Nov 27, 2017 at 03:25 PM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: NE South Carolina
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,041
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
Last edited by JerryU; Nov 27, 2017 at 03:29 PM.
Team Owner
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No, what I am saying is that it doesn't matter on the C7 M7. It did matter on the C6 M6, which needed to be parked in reverse to prevent battery drain.
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NO NO NO
The C5s had the software programmed such that it was MANDATORY to put the manual transmission into Reverse and the steps to shut down were laid in stone. If you failed to follow the procedure exactly or if you just left the stick in a gear other than reverse or in neutral, the electronics would not shut down properly and it would rape your battery quickly and you'd end up with a dead battery overnight. GM updated the software eventually and the reverse gear thing was removed and the batteries were much happier not to mention the owners. It did not happen in the C6 nor the C7.
In my flat garage, I'd leave it in neutral and set the brake. With my current car, I just put it in "P" and leave it. The only time I use the E-Brake is to park on a hill so as not to leave the hill pressure slammed on the tranny.
Elmer