Electric Handbrakes ?
Discussion
The Insignia thread reminded me that I know two people who have been stranded by the electronic parking brakes on their cars, one being a Discovery 4 and the other a Passat, the latter a car that seemingly invents new failures on a weekly basis.
So, good idea or bad idea ?
Anyone else not see what is so wrong with a lever and cable ?
So, good idea or bad idea ?
Anyone else not see what is so wrong with a lever and cable ?
Had an Insignia and an Espace.
I like them, I really don't see the need for this interface to be mechanical - it's pretty much off/on.
Snow is the only issue. The Espace broke down when we had this so no idea what difference it would have been made. The Insignia could not get down the drive, so again no idea.
I like them, I really don't see the need for this interface to be mechanical - it's pretty much off/on.
Snow is the only issue. The Espace broke down when we had this so no idea what difference it would have been made. The Insignia could not get down the drive, so again no idea.
I had a couple of Astras, a few Merivas and a pair of Insignias as hire cars, and the majority had those electronic parking brakes. When I'm driving my own car, I tend to put on the handbrake at lights or waiting to turn right at a junction (force of habit from learning to driving years ago). With the vauxhalls I got into the bad habit of leaving it off with my foot on the brake because it was such a faff to turn off again. Don't like them, hope they aren't the deathknell for a good ol' lever handbrake.
Ari said:
The Passat one is brilliant if it has the auto function. You stop, it comes on, you go, it goes off. Works brilliantly.
Is the auto function an additional extra?The Passat EPB "button" has a reputation for failing, which is £20 go fix.
Edited by SirBlade on Tuesday 26th June 20:41
Crow555 said:
I had a couple of Astras, a few Merivas and a pair of Insignias as hire cars, and the majority had those electronic parking brakes. When I'm driving my own car, I tend to put on the handbrake at lights or waiting to turn right at a junction (force of habit from learning to driving years ago). With the vauxhalls I got into the bad habit of leaving it off with my foot on the brake because it was such a faff to turn off again. Don't like them, hope they aren't the deathknell for a good ol' lever handbrake.
In the case of insignia lift clutch and drive. Not really a faff!J4CKO said:
The Insignia thread reminded me that I know two people who have been stranded by the electronic parking brakes on their cars, one being a Discovery 4 and the other a Passat, the latter a car that seemingly invents new failures on a weekly basis.
So, good idea or bad idea ?
Anyone else not see what is so wrong with a lever and cable ?
It's an omen! So, good idea or bad idea ?
Anyone else not see what is so wrong with a lever and cable ?
My Passat has thrown a wobbler on the handbrake tonight. It too also invents new failures on a regular basis. Worst car I have ever owned. Even worse than the knackared old Mk2 Astra I had to 'Ace Ventura' when it rained because the wipers would stop working intermittently.
It's stranded me on the drive once with handbrake issues but soon relented when I welted the hub with a drift and 2lb hammer in anger and frustration.
Can't wait to get rid of the thing.
I wasn't surprised to learn that the Passat with electric handbrake requires a computer to change the brake pads. You need the computer to wind back and reset the piston otherwise it either won't grip with the new pads or it'll apply too much pressure and wreck the piston motor.
If you don't have a computer with VAGCOM, you can buy a tool for the job. A snip at £160
If you don't have a computer with VAGCOM, you can buy a tool for the job. A snip at £160
t to work on, which is why I dislike them. Perd Hapley said:
I wasn't surprised to learn that the Passat with electric handbrake requires a computer to change the brake pads. You need the computer to wind back and reset the piston otherwise it either won't grip with the new pads or it'll apply too much pressure and wreck the piston motor.
If you don't have a computer with VAGCOM, you can buy a tool for the job. A snip at £160
I found that out when i already stripped the back brakes down, had to reassemble plug in auto diagnose to rewind the calliper then strip the brakes back again. I can't see a reason for it we have had a number of jag s-types where the handbrake have jammed on. Just another thing to go wrong a cable if it siezes or snappes is a maximun of 50-60 quid in the most extreme cases when a electric handbrake fails you are talking upwards of 500 quid just no need for it.If you don't have a computer with VAGCOM, you can buy a tool for the job. A snip at £160
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff