A number of items in your vehicle have been replaced by electronics. The parking brake, often known as a handbrake, footbrake, or emergency brake, is one of the elements on the list. It's known as an electronic parking brake by most manufacturers, but it's also known as a drifting mechanism by certain enthusiasts.
Majority
of drivers are not aware that a faulty parking brake can cause a MOT test
failure. If you check MOT history of your car you can be sure this was a
culprit for failure on at least one occasion.
How do parking brake’s function?
If
you've ever seen a drum brake in action, you'll understand how the parking
brake works. Brake shoes and a piston drive the shoes against the drum walls,
locking them in place and causing friction to hold or lock the rear wheels. If
you are not sure, search for car services in Reading and speak with a car mechanic if possible for further
information.
The
driver interacts with a mechanical lever that is connected to the rear brake
through a steel cable in manual parking brakes. A ratcheting mechanism secures
the lever in place once the pedal is depressed. The location of the lever is
determined by the manufacturer's design, and it can be either a footbrake or a
handbrake. Handbrakes are more frequent on automobiles, but a footbrake is less
common, since it is only seen on automatic cars because the clutch pedal takes
up the leftmost area of the driver's footwell, where the footbrake pedal is
normally located.
Electronic
parking brakes work on the same concept as mechanical parking brakes, but
instead of a mechanical lever and cable, the parking brake is activated by a
switch, which then engages the electronic motor, allowing the rear brake shoes
or pads to contact the vehicle's rear drum or disc.
As
mentioned earlier, a faulty parking brake will lead to a MOT failure. Hence it
is recommended to check MOT status of your car and have your local
mechanic diagnose and repair the issue.
Manual Parking Brake
Advantages
Some
enthusiasts would argue that the classic e-brake is the best since it adds
another interface to assist control the car, and even non-enthusiasts enjoy the
mechanical aspect and feel of the traditional parking brake. Apart from
personal taste, manual brakes are simply easier to maintain and fix if
something goes wrong, and the lever system is virtually bulletproof due to its
simplicity. Parts are readily available, and almost anybody can repair a manual
brake, not that there are many to break in the first place.
On
the first symptom of a problem with your parking brake, look for a cargarage near me online and schedule an appointment with a skilled expert. A
vehicle's parking brake is a vital safety element that should always be in good
functioning order.
In
an emergency, if your front brakes fail and you need to come to a complete
stop, the larger control interface of a manual parking brake will be easier to
reach or grip in a hurry. In an emergency, grabbing a lever or depressing a
pedal is far easier than looking for a little switch that would allow you to
safely come to a halt, and the actuation of a manual parking brake is almost
one to one.
Disadvantages
The
driver is perhaps the most significant disadvantage of a manual brake. Because
there is a human factor involved, there is a danger that if the circumstance
demanded it, a frightened emergency brake pull would lock the back wheels,
perhaps causing the vehicle to lose control. You must be able to modulate an
emergency brake appropriately while using it. To stop from a fast speed, you
must be able to regulate and gradually raise the pressure on your back brakes.
There's
also the matter of upkeep. Steel cables, such as those used in most parking
brakes, do stretch out with time, so you may need to have your parking brake
repaired on a regular basis. In order for the rear brake pads to make contact
with the disc or drum of the rear braking system, the cable must be tensioned.
After a while, you may notice that the cable has to be replaced.
Electronic Parking Brake
Advantages
When
compared to a manual parking brake or an e-brake, electronic parking brakes are
unquestionably more consistent. Because the operation is performed by an
electronic motor, you will have more constant brake engagement that is linked
to the ABS system, which means you will be able to keep your car stable if you
need to stop quickly. Instead of the conventional ratcheting sound, the brake
engages with a lovely whirling sound, which is a subjective plus for some.
Another
advantage is that, as compared to a manual parking brake, maintenance is
virtually non-existent. You don't have to touch the brake system as frequently
now that you have an electronic motor instead of a manual lever and cable,
unless anything fails or breaks.
The
final two advantages of electronic parking brakes are convenience and feedback.
Because it is linked to the car's ECU, you may apply the parking brake, change
into gear, and the brake will automatically disengage once the vehicle detects
movement. Manufacturers can also include a feature called Auto Brake Hold if an
electronic parking brake is included. The braking system engages whenever you
come to a halt with the function on, keeping you in place. You can set off
without doing a little pedal dance once you give it a little acceleration, much
like the automated parking brake.
Finally,
the inside has a bit more elegance and cleanliness. While a foot brake can
solve this, having a switch in the centre console is far more attractive than
having a large lever protruding out, perhaps robbing you of cabin room for your
armrest.
Disadvantages
The
size of the switch is maybe the most significant drawback of the electronic
parking brake. Because it is not as big as a lever or pedal, it may be more
difficult to activate the brake in a panic or an emergency scenario. This is
due to the fact that the touch target is a small, inconspicuous switch that
might be confused for another function in the vehicle's centre console. Furthermore,
because it is a departure from the norm, most individuals may be unaware of how
an electronic parking brake works in the first place.
The
cost of repairing an electronic parking brake system is another downside. If
the motor fails or breaks, you'll have trouble finding the correct component
from the manufacturer to repair it. Aside from that, replacing the will cost
significantly more money. Cables are cheap and tensioning your cable in a
manual brake is practically free but repairing a damaged brake motor is costly.
Conclusion
So,
which is the better option and are electronic parking brakes worth the
money? Yes, to that question. At least for us, the positives exceed the
cons. The electronic brake offers convenience and dependability, as well as safety
and consistency, which are essential if emergency stopping is necessary.
Furthermore, unlike a typical hand brake, you don't have to adjust your brake
cable as often, and it frees up more room in the cabin, allowing manufacturers
to create a cleaner-looking interior.
Comments
Post a Comment