{"id":509267,"date":"2022-03-15T12:11:40","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T18:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/?p=509267"},"modified":"2022-03-15T12:13:48","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T18:13:48","slug":"driving-with-parking-brake-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Accidentally Driving With the Parking Brake On? (Here&#8217;s What Happens)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Did you just get home and realize you were driving down the road with your parking brake on? Or are you just curious about what would happen if you did?<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps you can\u2019t get the <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/parking-brake-stuck\/\">parking brake unstuck<\/a> and you\u2019re just trying to get it to the shop. Whether it\u2019s curiosity or necessity, we\u2019ll \u201cbrake\u201d down everything you need to know here!<\/p>\n<p>While it can be a pretty serious problem, if you know what\u2019s happening, you\u2019re far more likely to recognize the symptoms and make an informed decision about what you should do.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" area-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-639b093b28b85\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #23627c;color:#23627c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #23627c;color:#23627c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-639b093b28b85\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-visibility-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#How-a-Parking-Brake-Works\" title=\"How a Parking Brake Works\">How a Parking Brake Works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#What-Happens-if-You-Drive-With-the-Parking-Brake-On\" title=\"What Happens if You Drive With the Parking Brake On?\">What Happens if You Drive With the Parking Brake On?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#1-Burning-Smell\" title=\"#1 \u2013 Burning Smell\">#1 \u2013 Burning Smell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#2-Possible-Fire\" title=\"#2 \u2013 Possible Fire\">#2 \u2013 Possible Fire<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#3-Glazing-the-Brakes\" title=\"#3 \u2013 Glazing the Brakes\">#3 \u2013 Glazing the Brakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#4-E-Brake-Cable-Becomes-Misadjusted\" title=\"#4 \u2013 E-Brake Cable Becomes Misadjusted\">#4 \u2013 E-Brake Cable Becomes Misadjusted<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#Why-Do-Cars-Allow-You-To-Drive-With-the-Emergency-Brake-On\" title=\"Why Do Cars Allow You To Drive With the Emergency Brake On?\">Why Do Cars Allow You To Drive With the Emergency Brake On?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/#What-Happens-if-You-Use-the-Emergency-Brake-While-Driving\" title=\"What Happens if You Use the Emergency Brake While Driving?\">What Happens if You Use the Emergency Brake While Driving?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-a-Parking-Brake-Works\"><\/span>How a Parking Brake Works<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before you can understand what will happen if you drive with the e-brake on, you need to understand how it works. If your vehicle has a lever that you pull to apply the emergency brake, the lever attaches directly to a cable.<\/p>\n<p>When you pull the lever, you pull the cable, which activates the parking brake on your rear wheels. The brake pads push up against the rear drums and this stops your vehicle or keeps it from moving.<\/p>\n<p>If your vehicle has an electronic parking brake, it works off the same principle, but there\u2019s no cable and electronic parking brake. Often manufacturers use an electronic parking brake when the rear axle uses disc brakes, and they don\u2019t want to install a smaller drum brake for the e-brake.<\/p>\n<p>When you activate the electronic parking brake, an electrical motor turns a threaded piston in the caliper, which holds the disc brakes in place.<\/p>\n<p><em>This video does a good job explaining how a cable-driven (foot pedal variation) parking brake system works. A typical handbrake works the same way.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Parking Brakes Work\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h6ej2BoAmvA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-Happens-if-You-Drive-With-the-Parking-Brake-On\"><\/span>What Happens if You Drive With the Parking Brake On?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t matter if you use an electric parking brake or a cable one, if you\u2019re driving with the parking brake on, you\u2019re going to experience the same problems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-Burning-Smell\"><\/span>#1 \u2013 Burning Smell<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-504381\" src=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/burnt-smell-driving.jpg\" alt=\"car ac smells bad\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/burnt-smell-driving.jpg 720w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/burnt-smell-driving-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/burnt-smell-driving-100x56.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re driving down the road with your parking brake on, you won\u2019t have the same acceleration ability that you normally have, and there\u2019s a good chance if you go too far you\u2019ll start to <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/burning-smell-from-car\/\">notice a burning smell<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This smell comes from your pads overheating from the excess friction between them and the rotors or drums.<\/p>\n<p>But while this is a common symptom of driving with a parking brake on, it\u2019s not really telling you what can happen to the system.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-Possible-Fire\"><\/span>#2 \u2013 Possible Fire<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While this is certainly the worst-case scenario, it\u2019s something that we\u2019ve seen happen. Friction creates a ton of heat, and if the brakes heat up too much they will catch fire.<\/p>\n<p>The last thing you want is a fire on your vehicle, but it\u2019s certainly a possibility if you\u2019re driving with the parking brake on.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-Glazing-the-Brakes\"><\/span>#3 \u2013 Glazing the Brakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-509272\" src=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/glazed-brake-pad.jpg\" alt=\"glazed brake pad\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/glazed-brake-pad.jpg 720w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/glazed-brake-pad-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/glazed-brake-pad-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/glazed-brake-pad-213x120.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is by far the most common symptom of driving with your parking brake on, but it\u2019s a pretty serious one. All that excess friction overheats the brakes, and when they cool back down it can create a \u201cglaze\u201d over both the drums\/rotors and pads.<\/p>\n<p>When that happens, the surface is slicker than it should be, and that dramatically reduces your vehicle\u2019s braking power.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes normal usage can work through this glaze and restore your vehicle\u2019s normal braking ability, other times you\u2019ll need to <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/how-to-change-brake-pads\/\">replace the pads<\/a> and rotors\/drums.<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/resurfacing-vs-replacing-brake-rotors\/\">Replace vs Resurface Brake Rotors<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-E-Brake-Cable-Becomes-Misadjusted\"><\/span>#4 \u2013 E-Brake Cable Becomes Misadjusted<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your parking brake works off a very fine adjustment where the brake cable meets is connected to the brake lever. Too tight and the brakes won\u2019t fully release when you disengage the parking brake, but too loose and they won\u2019t engage enough when you apply the parking brake.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re driving around with the parking brake engaged, it wears down the pads, which can throw off the adjustment by making it too loose. If that happens, you\u2019ll need to readjust the parking brake or it won\u2019t provide the stopping power you need.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-Do-Cars-Allow-You-To-Drive-With-the-Emergency-Brake-On\"><\/span>Why Do Cars Allow You To Drive With the Emergency Brake On?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-509225\" src=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pulling-parking-brake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pulling-parking-brake.jpg 720w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pulling-parking-brake-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pulling-parking-brake-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pulling-parking-brake-213x120.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not supposed to drive around with the emergency brake on, why do vehicles let you do it? The truth is that while you should never drive with your emergency brakes engaged, it does serve as a last resort measure to stop your vehicle if your traditional brakes fail.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s certainly not ideal, it\u2019s better than rolling down the road with no brakes at all! Another, less important, reason for using your emergency brake while driving is that it makes drifting a lot easier.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, it\u2019s not something that you need while you\u2019re driving down the street, but under the right conditions (check with your local car clubs or race tracks), drifting can be a blast and having a manual parking brake makes it all a lot easier.<\/p>\n<p><em>See Also: <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/how-to-do-burnout-automatic\/\">How to Do a Burnout With an Automatic Transmission<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-Happens-if-You-Use-the-Emergency-Brake-While-Driving\"><\/span>What Happens if You Use the Emergency Brake While Driving?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-506718\" src=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brakes-locking-up.jpg\" alt=\"brakes locking up\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brakes-locking-up.jpg 720w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brakes-locking-up-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brakes-locking-up-100x56.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s something that\u2019s crossed all of our minds, what would happen if you pulled your parking brake while you\u2019re driving down the road? Well, under most conditions the result wouldn\u2019t be pretty.<\/p>\n<p>If you are traveling at lower speeds, think less than 10 miles per hour, and you pull your parking brake at full force, it\u2019s going to be no different than you slamming on your brakes.<\/p>\n<p>At higher speeds, it\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/brakes-locking-up\/\">lock your back brakes up<\/a>, and you\u2019re going to skid down the road. You could potentially \u201cfishtail\u201d as well, and when that happens, the rear end of your vehicle slides out to one side.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, this is if you completely activate your emergency brake while driving. The other option you have is to gently apply your emergency brake while you\u2019re driving. This is also known as feathering the brakes, and it\u2019ll allow you to control the stop. However, this method is far less effective than your traditional brakes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you just get home and realize you were driving down the road with your parking brake on? Or are you just curious about what would happen if you did? Perhaps you can\u2019t get the parking brake unstuck and you\u2019re &#8230; <a title=\"Accidentally Driving With the Parking Brake On? (Here&#8217;s What Happens)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/driving-with-parking-brake-on\/\" aria-label=\"More on Accidentally Driving With the Parking Brake On? (Here&#8217;s What Happens)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1009,"featured_media":509271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no"},"categories":[100542],"tags":[100390],"modified_by":"Mark Stevens","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1009"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=509267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/509271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=509267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=509267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cartreatments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=509267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}