'GC - Emergency Brake Light always on...

Everyone should know how to do the common homeowner and car owner stuff. Doesn't matter if they are college bound or not.

. We should also

Good point. I took driver's ed, woodshop, metalshop, power mechanics, and even typing classes in HS, before taking two college degrees.

Everything I learned in HS is FAR, FAR more valuable as it matters in the real world, than any of the useless crap I learned in college.

I beg to differ Jeff. If it was simply a question of making a parking brake, a hook on the brake pedal would do just fine. But, the manufacturers wanted something that would provide braking action if the hydraulic system failed. This was a real problem before dual master cylinders. As a matter of fact, I was unfortunate enough to have had to use the emergency brake to stop two different single master cylinder cars that blew out brake hoses. One minute there's brakes, next minute pedal to the floor just by looking at it. It was neither quick nor pleasant, but I DID eventually stop, using the emergency brake. (Make point to add fresh underwear to the latex gloves in the tool box).

The service brake could be clamped down for parking much easier than designing a separate system. The point is, the brake actuation is separate from the service brakes for a reason, and that is for emergencies.

As for parking, well I don't bother with it much unless I'm on a steep hill.

Regards,

DAve

It is advertised as an emergency brake usually Jeff. That's why most have separate drum brakes and cables still on even 4 wheel disk setups. If the hydraulics fail, this separate cable and drum setup is supposed to make you stop under control.

And do you know what? It actually works that way still even on my 86 CJ7!

I blew the front brake line in an emergency stop and the pedal went to the floor on me. I used the 'emergency' brake to drive home on. I first tied the handle so I didn't have to hold it and used it like a foot brake. I didn't speed, took the side roads slow and didn't follow anyone too close and got the mile or so home easily.

Mike

Agreed, but it hasn't been a problem for a very long time. AND, some moron sued because they attempted to use the Emergency Brake in an emergency and the emergency situation instantly became much different -- probably worse -- in the process. The argument was, "it was an emergency so I used the special brake that was provided. The emergency should have become better (lessened) but it became worse."

I know of NO automaker that has called it an emergency brake in 20+ years. It is a parking brake.

A parking brakes is required by law to be a separate system from the service brake system. It must be held activated by mechanical means. The means of activation must be isolated from the service brake and used exclusively for the operation of the parking brake. It is okay that the parking brake be employed in an emergency, but that does not make it an emergency brake that is used to park.

Well no. There are two systems, but that isn't the reason why.

I don't use my parking brake very often either.