Electric Parking Brakes (again!)

[Vanin]

Just had a close shave with wife driving SLK with roof down in slow moving stop start traffic. Wasp flew into her hair and being momentarily distracted she did not notice the car had stopped in front. Only doing about 5 mph so I was able to quickly grab the manual handbrake and we came to a halt with only inches to spare.

Apart from thinking what a good thing it was that we did not have and electronic parking brake it did make me wonder about other issues with the electric ones.

Do learner drivers have to take another test if they pass with an electric parking braked car and wish to move on to conventional?

Surely at one time there was a law saying that there had to be a direct manual mechanical link with separate shoes/discs so when did that change?

Are there problems with flat batteries rendering the car immobile say for pushing it to a place of safety or towing?

Is it possible to have fun with an electric parking brake?

[TooMany2cvs]

Vanin said:

Surely at one time there was a law saying that there had to be a direct manual mechanical link with separate shoes/discs so when did that change?

There's never been a requirement for separate pads/shoes or anything relating to friction material.
The parking brake is still mechanically operated - as opposed to hydraulically operated.

[Blaster72]

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

[Immortalisation]

I have one and I hate them. It is not possible to have fun with them and when I have people in my car it somehow gets mistaken for the electric window button which has made for some interesting results.

[amancalledrob]

Immortalisation said:

I have one and I hate them. It is not possible to have fun with them and when I have people in my car it somehow gets mistaken for the electric window button which has made for some interesting results.

Bloody hell. That sounds like a story

[Impasse]

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Don't tell that to the luddites. It would ruin their paranoia and take away a reason for moaning.

[DavidJG]

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Only if the car isn't fitted with a 'safety' system that stops the electronic park brake being applied while the car is moving.

[Impasse]

DavidJG said:

Only if the car isn't fitted with a 'safety' system that stops the electronic park brake being applied while the car is moving.

Are there any such systems?

[GravelBen]

DavidJG said:

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Only if the car isn't fitted with a 'safety' system that stops the electronic park brake being applied while the car is moving.

And in the OP's situation, as long as its in a position the passenger can reach. Which would rule out those annoying foot-operated ones too.

[grahamr88]

The ones I've used have always worked when moving too - pull/press the button and it applies the handbrake, let it go and it releases.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Vanin said:

Surely at one time there was a law saying that there had to be a direct manual mechanical link with separate shoes/discs so when did that change?

I totally agree that the parking brake should be a fully mechanical device with no electrical gubbins at all.

[egnshane]

Usually the electric parking brake is setup that conventional use you just pull/push it once when parking but in an emergency you will keep the button pushed/pulled. That over-rides the safety feature.

[Blaster72]

DavidJG said:

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Only if the car isn't fitted with a 'safety' system that stops the electronic park brake being applied while the car is moving.

Considering the parking brake is actually an emergency brake I can't see why any "safety" system would be installed to stop it working while moving. That really doesn't make any sense. As mentioned above, some don't work when moving if you accidentally pull on it for a moment - you have to pull/push and hold.

[Mr2Mike]

TooMany2cvs said:

There's never been a requirement for separate pads/shoes or anything relating to friction material.
The parking brake is still mechanically operated - as opposed to hydraulically operated.

Incorrect. Some systems still use cables but, irrespective, the braking force is provided electrically rather than manually. Only conventional handbrakes and foot brake system on vintage cars are completely mechanical in operation with no assistance provided electrically or otherwise.

With electronic handbrakes there is an almost complete disconnect between the driver and the brakes, far more so than a hydraulically operated footbrake.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Monday 12th October 11:22

[Superhoop]

Pull up and hold the switch and it still operates as an emergency brake - How is that any different to operating a mechanical handbrake?

The advantage being, that the car produces maximum brake force in the case of an emergency, which isn't always possible as a passenger with a conventional handbrake depending on lever position. The car will also operate ABS and EBD to ensure that the car pulls up in a straight line.

[TurboHatchback]

I can't see the problem with them myself (so long as they don't break). I used to be dead set against them but having bought a car with one I think it's great. It holds a big heavy car perfectly on any incline, it disengages automatically, it takes up next to no center console space. I do think it would be extremely annoying with a manual car though, those need a normal handbrake.

[98elise]

Impasse said:

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Don't tell that to the luddites. It would ruin their paranoia and take away a reason for moaning.

I hate the things. In the past few years I've driven quite a few cars with them. One in particular was dire. I was parked on a reasonably steep hill, trying to get out of a tight space. The brake was supposed to hold you but it was releasing a fraction too early causing the car to roll back. I then had to jam on the brakes to stop me hitting the car behind. The only way to stop it was to be more aggressive with the clutch, which was difficult when the car in front was quite close.

With a normal handbrake you can release gradually, and when you want to which is far better.

[TooMany2cvs]

Mr2Mike said:

TooMany2cvs said:

There's never been a requirement for separate pads/shoes or anything relating to friction material.
The parking brake is still mechanically operated - as opposed to hydraulically operated.

Incorrect. Some systems still use cables but, irrespective, the braking force is provided electrically rather than manually.

It's mechanical in that the pad/shoe is mechanically held against the disc/drum, rather than merely holding hydraulic pressure somewhere up the brake line. Sure, that mechanical pressure is generated by an electric motor, either rotating a cam directly onto the pad or pulling a cable somewhere upstream, rather than a hand pulling a lever, but the actual pressure is mechanical.

[The Wookie]

Impasse said:

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Don't tell that to the luddites. It would ruin their paranoia and take away a reason for moaning.

I believe I'm right in saying that most of these systems are now linked to the ABS too and provide a rudimentary anti-lock facility too. On at least two vehicles I've tested it feels as if the EPB button actually triggers the ABS system to apply the foundation brakes although I haven't actually tested it properly.

If either is true then hilariously an EPB would actually be safer in the circumstances the OP describes.

Edited by The Wookie on Monday 12th October 12:32

[Debaser]

DavidJG said:

Blaster72 said:

Electronic parking brakes would stop you in an emergency too

Only if the car isn't fitted with a 'safety' system that stops the electronic park brake being applied while the car is moving.

What cars have these 'safety' systems?