Symptoms of a Bad or Faulty Emergency/Parking Brake Cable

Common symptoms include a parking brake not holding the car properly (or not working at all) and a parking brake light coming on.

The parking brake cable is the cable that many vehicles use to apply the parking brake. It is typically a steel braided cable wrapped in a protective sheath that is used as a mechanical means of actuating the vehicle's parking brakes. When the parking brake lever is pulled or the pedal is depressed, a cable is pulled over the calipers or brake drums to apply the vehicle's parking brake. The parking brake is used to fix the vehicle so that it does not roll when it is parked or stationary. This feature is especially important when parking or stopping the vehicle on slopes or hills where the vehicle is more likely to roll and cause an accident. When the parking brake cable fails or has any problems, it can leave the car without this important safety feature. Usually, a bad or faulty parking brake cable causes several symptoms that can alert the driver to a potential problem that needs to be fixed.

1. The parking brake does not hold the car well

The most common symptom of a parking brake cable problem is the parking brake not holding the vehicle properly. If the parking brake cable is excessively worn or stretched, it will not be able to apply the parking brake as much. This will cause the parking brake to be unable to support the weight of the vehicle, which may cause the vehicle to roll or lean even if the parking brake is fully applied.

2. Parking brake does not work

Another sign of a problem with the parking brake cable is a non-working parking brake. If the cable breaks or breaks, it will release the parking brake. The parking brake does not work and the pedal or lever may be loose.

3. Parking brake light comes on

Another sign of a problem with the parking brake cable is a lit parking brake warning light. The parking brake warning light comes on when the brake is applied, so the driver cannot drive with the brake applied. If the parking brake light comes on even when the brake lever or pedal is released, it may indicate that the cable is stuck or jammed and the brake is not releasing properly.

Parking brakes are a feature found on almost all road vehicles and are an important parking and safety feature. If you suspect that your parking brake cable may have a problem, have a professional technician, such as a specialist from AvtoTachki, have your vehicle inspected to determine if the vehicle needs to have the parking brake cable replaced.