Electronic handbrakes are lethal!
Discussion
Paul O said:
Muzzer79 said:
I think I'm alone in really liking my electronic handbrake.
In over 2 years and 40k miles, it's never failed and the auto-hold works perfectly.
Also, if you stop and turn the engine off, I'm pretty sure that it engages automatically.
Me too. RR Evoque here, just works exactly as you say above. I always leave cars in gear as well, as there are too many stories of (traditional) handbrake failures.In over 2 years and 40k miles, it's never failed and the auto-hold works perfectly.
Also, if you stop and turn the engine off, I'm pretty sure that it engages automatically.
Drove a passatt with electric handbrake though and that was crap, it wouldn't do hillstarts. Land Rover seem to have got it right.
supposed to do.
scarble said:
jamieduff1981 said:
I really like them. The only thing they're not any use for is handbrake turns, which nobody who isn't a 15 year old joyrider ever does.
b**ch do you even rally?Mr2Mike said:
Not at all, I simply can't understand the fascination with bloody cup holders. They seem to be an incredibly important part of the car for some people which is just mind blowing.
I seem to be able to drive long distances without needing cups of coffee sloshing around in the car. Am I unique in this ability? If I want a coffee I'll stop for one, but drinking hot beverages whilst driving just seems like an unnecessarily stupid thing to do.
What about one's energy drink? I don't want to stop for one, I want it sitting to hand, kept cool by the adjacent AC vent. I seem to be able to drive long distances without needing cups of coffee sloshing around in the car. Am I unique in this ability? If I want a coffee I'll stop for one, but drinking hot beverages whilst driving just seems like an unnecessarily stupid thing to do.
I have to say I am in the camp that thinks they are just another unnecessary complication. Yes with a manual handbrake the cable could stick, break or stretch but changing a cable was a fairly easy job that could be done yourself. with a electronic system anything that goes wrong will no doubt require access to the ecu and a trip to the garage or more than likely (as I have observed several times with different makes of cars) a recovery truck to get you there.
Changing the pads/discs you now need to tell the ecu to wind back the calliper. Ignoring any safety argument (which I don't get) this to me is just yet another nail in the coffin of the DIY mechanic/small local garage. when did anyone ever say they needed such a device, I rate them along side those infuriating indicators that BMW and vauxhall brought in with no obvious click on.
As for not needing to do handbrake turns, I find that with a front wheel drive car in the snow, a twitch of the handbrake can be quite useful in helping it get around sharp corners whilst maintaining some power through the front wheels.
Changing the pads/discs you now need to tell the ecu to wind back the calliper. Ignoring any safety argument (which I don't get) this to me is just yet another nail in the coffin of the DIY mechanic/small local garage. when did anyone ever say they needed such a device, I rate them along side those infuriating indicators that BMW and vauxhall brought in with no obvious click on.
As for not needing to do handbrake turns, I find that with a front wheel drive car in the snow, a twitch of the handbrake can be quite useful in helping it get around sharp corners whilst maintaining some power through the front wheels.
Whilst I've already stated I have no issue's with the wife's meriva equipped with an electronic handbrake, it just work's, I've noticed other's bemoan hill starting with one of these system's, you basicly just leave it engaged and pull away, it then releases, but my own car has a different take on this ...
My mini has a conventional mechanical handbrake system fitted, but it also has hill start assist, which is brilliant, basically you come to a halt on a hill and press the foot brake, the car knows its on a incline so that when you press the clutch to select a gear, the moment you release the footbrake to apply some throttle, the brakes don't actually release, the car stays rooted to the spot for either 3 or so seconds, and then release, or you apply throttle release the clutch and the car pulls away and they release, simple but brilliant.
My mini has a conventional mechanical handbrake system fitted, but it also has hill start assist, which is brilliant, basically you come to a halt on a hill and press the foot brake, the car knows its on a incline so that when you press the clutch to select a gear, the moment you release the footbrake to apply some throttle, the brakes don't actually release, the car stays rooted to the spot for either 3 or so seconds, and then release, or you apply throttle release the clutch and the car pulls away and they release, simple but brilliant.
IanCress said:
What car is it? Every time I hear one of these stories it's always an Insignia.
my other half, has to endure a company astra, same issue on it along with massive blind spots caused by the pillars either side of the front screen....Who designs these death-traps in the name of safety ?!!!!!!
Kawasicki said:
another PH driving god....
I'm certainly no "driving god" but still like to play in the snow! - A 180-degree handbrake turn is sometimes quicker and easier than a 3-point turn (especially if you end-up with your drive wheels spinning as you're trying to reverse, as has happened to me before).interloper said:
Interesting but BMW and Porsche ran the drum in disc system (in the Eighties at least, I'm not familiar with the modern kit) and its very effective. Also because its in the hub/drum you don't get the issue with the disc contracting and releasing the parking brake.
My 1998 E39 BMW 5-series and my 1983 W123 Mercedes both had drum in disc too. They were both rubbish, could barely hold the cars against their auto-box creep, and needed a lot of force on the lever even just to hold the car on steepish hills. And that's when they were perfectly adjusted, which they often weren't...I've only ever seen one car roll down my road unattended, and that was a nearly new Alfa Giulietta with a conventional cable handbrake. It had been applied, but not hard enough. As the brakes cooled the car decided to go for a wander, and ended up destroying a fence at the bottom of the road.
Personally I'd prefer a cable handbrake to the electric one in my current car, but it's not all bad and there are definitely arguments in favour of the electric one. One of which is that, overall, it's safer and less likely to roll away.
Clivey said:
I'm certainly no "driving god" but still like to play in the snow! - A 180-degree handbrake turn is sometimes quicker and easier than a 3-point turn (especially if you end-up with your drive wheels spinning as you're trying to reverse, as has happened to me before).
Well, I get worried when I hear people enjoying driving, that has to be dangerous, or illegal at least........sorry just pulling your.....chain.
edward1 said:
I have to say I am in the camp that thinks they are just another unnecessary complication. Yes with a manual handbrake the cable could stick, break or stretch but changing a cable was a fairly easy job that could be done yourself. with a electronic system anything that goes wrong will no doubt require access to the ecu and a trip to the garage or more than likely (as I have observed several times with different makes of cars) a recovery truck to get you there.
Changing the pads/discs you now need to tell the ecu to wind back the calliper. Ignoring any safety argument (which I don't get) this to me is just yet another nail in the coffin of the DIY mechanic/small local garage. when did anyone ever say they needed such a device, I rate them along side those infuriating indicators that BMW and vauxhall brought in with no obvious click on.
As for not needing to do handbrake turns, I find that with a front wheel drive car in the snow, a twitch of the handbrake can be quite useful in helping it get around sharp corners whilst maintaining some power through the front wheels.
Sorry all that stuff about repairs is wrong - on the Jag system at least. It has a separate little module with 2 multi plugs in the boot to control the EPB held to the rear inner wing by 2 10mm nuts behind the boot lining.Changing the pads/discs you now need to tell the ecu to wind back the calliper. Ignoring any safety argument (which I don't get) this to me is just yet another nail in the coffin of the DIY mechanic/small local garage. when did anyone ever say they needed such a device, I rate them along side those infuriating indicators that BMW and vauxhall brought in with no obvious click on.
As for not needing to do handbrake turns, I find that with a front wheel drive car in the snow, a twitch of the handbrake can be quite useful in helping it get around sharp corners whilst maintaining some power through the front wheels.
The mechanism itself is merely bolted to the rear subframe with a plug for the power supply and the park brake cable ends hook on the end of the actuator.
It's all plug and play. The car does ask you to press the brake pedal a few times just to recalibrate itself and then it's sorted. By contrast, I took most of the skin off my hands changing cables routed about exhaust heat shielding the length of the car on a Cougar which is a Mk2 Mondeo platform.
I'd rather change the EPB to be honest.
Out of interest, only one of my last dozen cars has been fwd, and driving up the Bealach talking hairpins with the handbrake was the most fun I've had on that road.
..and I'm no driving god either... but my, what fun on that road.
And using the handrake to steer here had me in hysterics:
http://www.stevecarter.com/mud.WMV (ETA this might not work on some O/S)
Still like RWD (or 4x4) far more, and don't mind electronic hanbrakes either. Sorry.
..and I'm no driving god either... but my, what fun on that road.
And using the handrake to steer here had me in hysterics:
http://www.stevecarter.com/mud.WMV (ETA this might not work on some O/S)
Still like RWD (or 4x4) far more, and don't mind electronic hanbrakes either. Sorry.
Just had a 'parking brake malfunction' error pop up on at a set of traffic lights on my A4. When I managed to park safely, turning it off and back on didn't do anything to reset it. Eventually holding the parking brake button resolved it but I'm not happy with it at all. No idea if it's going to occur again at all. Luckily, I took out an extended 4 year warranty with Audi. So far, (and taking into consideration the cost of the warranty which was about £500), it's at least £1k in my favour.
This can be added to the list of things which have gone wrong when I get a chance to get into the Audi garage. Not impressed at all. I'm looking to change my car to an estate next. It was between an A6 Avant and a 520d Touring. Looks like BMW will be getting my custom at this rate.
This can be added to the list of things which have gone wrong when I get a chance to get into the Audi garage. Not impressed at all. I'm looking to change my car to an estate next. It was between an A6 Avant and a 520d Touring. Looks like BMW will be getting my custom at this rate.
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