| The parking brake is the runt of the brake system | | | | parking brake works. |
| unless you drive around with it up! Most people know | | | | On most cars, the parking brake system is a grunt |
| they should set it every time they get out of the car, | | | | system. Put another way, you have to give it a good |
| but not everyone knows exactly how it works. | | | | yank to engage it directly at the wheels. When you |
| The parking brake is a device that works on the rear | | | | yank the parking brake up, a cable that runs to the |
| wheels of your vehicle. The biggest difference | | | | brakes is contracted and the parking brake engages. |
| between your normal brakes and the parking brake is | | | | When you release the parking brake, the cable goes |
| the parking version often uses a cable tension system | | | | slack and the parking brake releases. This is pretty |
| instead of a hydraulic one. This is not necessarily true | | | | much the same way it has worked since the first |
| for new cars that have disc brakes on the rear, but is | | | | generation of parking brakes. |
| almost always the case in every other situation. So, | | | | The exact function of the parking brake at the wheel, |
| how exactly does it work? Well, let's take a look. | | | | however, is unique. The specific process on your car |
| The modern car is such that the days of pushing | | | | depends on the type of brake system you have. If |
| something no longer creates a direct action. Instead, | | | | you have drum brakes on the rear, the cable will either |
| the pushing creates an assisted reaction. Pressing the | | | | engage those brakes or a smaller set of shoes that |
| brakes while driving in the rain sends a mechanical and | | | | press against the drums. A car with disc brakes on the |
| computerized signal to the brake system. The input | | | | rear will either have the brake pads engage just as |
| from the pedal is boosted and the master cylinder | | | | though the regular brakes were on or a small drum |
| pistons move to create hydraulic pressure that causes | | | | brake system will be built into the rotor and engage. |
| the brake system to work. If you press to hard, the | | | | Whatever parking brake system you have, it is the |
| ABS system on your car releases the brake pressure | | | | one area left in your car where a good tug will have a |
| a tad to keep a skid from starting. This is all very | | | | direct result. Go ahead and give it a good one. Your |
| technological and has nothing to do with how your | | | | brakes can handle it! |