Parking brake as emergency brakes?

[RustyF150]

My vehicles have always been "old school". ( '69 Chevelle, '95 F-150, '08 Grand Marquis) This will be my first vehicle with the toggle type parking brake. My question is; Can the parking brake be used as an emergency brake in case of main system failure? Thanks.

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[SkeeterB]

Since you have to step on the brake then engage the parking brake I doubt it will work as you asked. Carry a large brick on a rope, secure the loose end and toss it out. Start praying.

If I'd read the manual I would have said yes.

 

[Snax]

The correct answer:

APPLYING THE ELECTRIC
PARKING BRAKE IN AN
EMERGENCY
You can use the electric parking brake to
slow or stop your vehicle in an emergency.
1. Pull the switch up and hold it.
The electric parking brake continues to
slow your vehicle down unless you release
the switch.
The red warning lamp illuminates, a tone
sounds and the stoplamps turn on when
you use the electric parking brake in an
emergency.
Note: Do not apply the electric parking
brake when your vehicle is moving, except
in an emergency.

 

[oreomuffin]

My vehicles have always been "old school". ( '69 Chevelle, '95 F-150, '08 Grand Marquis) This will be my first vehicle with the toggle type parking brake. My question is; Can the parking brake be used as an emergency brake in case of main system failure? Thanks.

The electronic parking brake works as an emergency brake when the truck is in motion. You just pull and hold the switch and it will apply full braking force to all four wheels with ABS, etc.

 

[RustyF150]

The correct answer:

APPLYING THE ELECTRIC
PARKING BRAKE IN AN
EMERGENCY
You can use the electric parking brake to
slow or stop your vehicle in an emergency.
1. Pull the switch up and hold it.
The electric parking brake continues to
slow your vehicle down unless you release
the switch.
The red warning lamp illuminates, a tone
sounds and the stoplamps turn on when
you use the electric parking brake in an
emergency.
Note: Do not apply the electric parking
brake when your vehicle is moving, except
in an emergency.

Many thanks.

 

[Snax]

One of the few things I miss is being able to execute a proper e-brake turn on icy roads...

 

[jtpc2021]

Do cars these days actually have brake failure? I’m not too old, not super young, but have never had a failure since I began driving in 2001.

 

[Snax]

Do cars these days actually have brake failure? I’m not too old, not super young, but have never had a failure since I began driving in 2001.

Murphy's Law dictates that if anything can go wrong, it will. Yes, brake failures still happen. Not often though!

 

[FirstFord]

Good to know I will still be able to do handbrake drifts in the snow.

 

[Snax]

Good to know I will still be able to do handbrake drifts in the snow.

Alas, no. Doesn't work for that.

 

[jsus]

Do cars these days actually have brake failure? I’m not too old, not super young, but have never had a failure since I began driving in 2001.

There's always a chance of any mechanical failure occurring, especially in something as complicated as a car, or even just its braking system. How likely that is generally depends on how well maintained the vehicle it is.

 

[MLowe05]

The electronic parking brake works as an emergency brake when the truck is in motion. You just pull and hold the switch and it will apply full braking force to all four wheels with ABS, etc.

I don't think so, man. That would require the main hydraulic system to still be functional, and in this hypothetical the main brakes have failed.

The electronic system only applies braking to the rear wheels and will not involve ABS (which is a hydraulic actuator) - the parking brake likely does not have the power to lock up the rear wheels anyway.

Electronic parking brakes are basically the same as manual parking brakes. They just use electric motors to do the work. Nothing special.

 

[oreomuffin]

I don't think so, man. That would require the main hydraulic system to still be functional, and in this hypothetical the main brakes have failed.

The electronic system only applies braking to the rear wheels and will not involve ABS (which is a hydraulic actuator) - the parking brake likely does not have the power to lock up the rear wheels anyway.

Electronic parking brakes are basically the same as manual parking brakes. They just use electric motors to do the work. Nothing special.

I can't speak about Ford's electronic parking brake but for others, yes, it is different when you're in motion. In deep snow, just for kicks with my 2019 Outback I tried this. It was the same as a hard press on the pedal brake. ABS kicked in. Only when it got to a stop would it revert to just locking the back wheels.

 

[FirstFord]

Damn! I'm gonna miss handbrake drifts. Driving is pretty much no fun anymore

 

[clavicus]

The electronic parking brake works as an emergency brake when the truck is in motion. You just pull and hold the switch and it will apply full braking force to all four wheels with ABS, etc.

It will apply full braking and ABS to all wheels? Neato.

What does the e-brake actually look like under the car? I just realized I never really looked into that on my other vehicles so I imagine my vague guess of how it looks and where its located is completely wrong.

Side note: If I recall the P parking gear on the dial uses a metal pawl on outside of the actual ring gear / counter-drive gear (part that has a permanent connection to the wheels) in the planetary gearset in the eCVT. I’ve accidentally gone into park when I meant to switch to reverse and vice versa. That wakes you up lol. I wonder what it does if you’re over a certain speed?

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