September 20, 2020
We've all been there. You park your vehicle on a steeper than usual hill and worry about it rolling down while you're running your errands. So you decide you'll use the parking brake. When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear and—uh, oh—you can feel the parking brake is still on. It's stuck. What do you do now?
Welcome to the world of infrequently-used parking brakes. Yes, they do stick for several reasons. It's common for components to corrode and get locked up. Sometimes if you have applied it extra hard, it can jam. Could be a rusty cable, could be a spring that doesn't return the brake to its disengaged position. Some pieces just break when they're stressed for the first time in a while. A caliper or the pivot arm it's on can also stick.
There are a few things you can try to unstick it. Carefully rock your vehicle by putting it first in drive and then reverse. You have to be careful doing that, though, because sometimes you can damage the transmission. You can try working the parking brake control a few times to see if that will loosen the corrosion. If you can't unstick it, you can try driving slowly a short distance to a repair facility near you. Sometimes it won't cause damage to the brakes but it depends on how tightly the parking brake was applied and what was stuck. You may also have to have your vehicle towed to a repair facility.
In any case, once you've seen these symptoms, have your vehicle brakes looked at by a professional who can fix the root of the problem. Better yet, don't let your vehicle get in this condition; regular maintenance and inspections by a trained technician should prevent you from getting in a jam somewhere thanks to a stuck parking brake. You could use a "brake" like that.
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Millard
4870 S 137th Street
Omaha, NE 68137
402-895-4274
http://www.tuffymillardave.com
March 30, 2025
We all have joints in our own skeletal system, but did you know your vehicle has some joints of its own? One of the most important is called a ball joint. One of the interesting things is that it's somewhat similar to the ball and socket joints we have in our hips and shoulders. A ball joint all... More
March 23, 2025
Changing your oil regularly is one of the most important things you can do to keep your vehicle running well. And knowing the right type of oil to use is also very important. Engine oil is classified by weight, but it doesn't refer to how much the oil would weigh if you put it on a scale. It r... More
March 16, 2025
If you've ever walked into your garage and noticed it smelled like gasoline, pay attention. Gasoline can be dangerous, both from the health problems fumes can cause and the fire danger gasoline presents. There are many things that can cause a vehicle to give off a gasoline odor. One of the easi... More