When do you need an emergency brake cable?

When do you need an emergency brake cable?

The emergency brake, also known as a parking brake, has a series of steel cables called emergency brake cables that control the rear brakes. If the car’s main braking system fails, emergency braking may be your last option. Emergency braking is necessary to put the car in place when parked on an up or downhill slope.

Where does the emergency brake cable go in a rear drum?

In a rear drum situation, the emergency brake cable runs directly to the brake shoes, bypassing the hydraulic brake system. In this simple, mechanical bypass, the emergency brake system requires no extra parts to control the brakes [source: Owen ].

When do emergency brakes need to be tightened?

Normal use prevents buildup and keeps the cable in good condition, though you should have the emergency brakes routinely inspected, as they sometimes need to be tightened [source: wiseGEEK ]. In cold temperatures, the emergency brake cable can become frozen and fail to release when the lever is disengaged.

Where is the cable for the parking brake?

Step 2: Locate the brake cable. Determine the location of the control side of the brake cable. The connection can be inside the vehicle, underneath or along the side of the vehicle. Raise the vehicle accordingly and support the vehicle’s weight using the jack stands.

The emergency brake, also known as a parking brake, has a series of steel cables called emergency brake cables that control the rear brakes. If the car’s main braking system fails, emergency braking may be your last option. Emergency braking is necessary to put the car in place when parked on an up or downhill slope.

Why does the parking brake cable not move?

When the parking brake isn’t used very much, the cable does not move through its insulation. If the parking brake is never used, rust can build up inside the insulation and lock the cable in place. Then, when you try to engage the parking brake, you can feel the tension on the control, but there is no holding force at the brakes.

Where is the emergency brake cable on a hot rod?

Emergency brake cable enters through the bracket attached to the backing plate at the lower left. Emergency brake cable attaches to the bottom of the pivoting arm and when pulled mechanically forces the shoes outward against the inside of the brake drum.

How is the emergency brake cable attached to the drum?

It’s been at least five years since my emergency brake started getting stuck “on” if I left the car parked for a few weeks. Since I have drum brakes on the back, the brake cable is attached to a lever on the hindmost shoe which forces both shoes against the drum at the top, pivoting on the auto-adjuster.