Not using it is what makes it seize. Here is why it matters, particularly on a work truck, and what happens when it is neglected.
The parking brake is the most neglected system on most vehicles, and the neglect is self-reinforcing: people stop using it, it seizes from disuse, then it does not work when they need it, which confirms their decision not to use it.
Why it seizes
Parking brake cables run under the vehicle, exposed to moisture, dust and road grime. They work inside a housing, and when they are not exercised, corrosion binds the cable to the housing.
A cable used regularly stays free. One that has not moved in three years is frequently seized solid.
What it is actually for
Two things. It holds the vehicle when parked, which matters more on a grade and matters considerably more on a loaded truck. And on many vehicles it is the mechanical backup if the hydraulic system fails.
That second function is why it is worth having in working order even if you never use it in a parking lot.
It relieves the transmission
On an automatic, parking without the parking brake puts the vehicle weight on the parking pawl — a small piece of metal in the transmission. It is designed to hold, and it is not designed to be the sole restraint for a heavy loaded vehicle on a grade for years.
The correct sequence: come to a stop, hold the foot brake, set the parking brake, then shift to park. That way the parking brake takes the load rather than the pawl.
On a work truck it matters more
Weight multiplies everything here. A loaded truck on a grade is a genuinely different proposition from an empty car on level ground, and it is exactly the situation where a parking brake that has seized from disuse is discovered at a bad moment.
Symptoms of a neglected system
- The lever or pedal travels much further than it used to, or all the way with no effect
- The vehicle rolls with the parking brake fully applied
- The brake will not release fully, causing drag
- A warning light that stays on
- On electronic parking brakes, a fault message
Use it
The maintenance is largely using it. Setting it regularly keeps the cables moving and free, which is most of what prevents the failure.
If yours has not been used in a long time, it is worth having inspected before relying on it, because a seized cable that is forced can break.
Where we fit
Elite Tire & Brake services parking brakes along with the rest of the system across Lubbock and the South Plains. Call (806) 458-2709.
Need this handled today?
We come to you — 24/7.
Mobile tire and brake service across Lubbock, Wolfforth, Shallowater, Slaton, Idalou and the surrounding South Plains — plus a full-service shop at 13209 Frankford Ave, Suite 29.