Safety Concern -e brake - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Aussie ZL1 · 01-07-2014, 05:43 AM

Hi guys,

I'm currently laid up in bed with a swollen knee and minor lacerations from wher my ZL1's E brake self released on an incline and tried to run me over before smashing into the front of my wife's car.

I had just been behind the car to take a photo of the tinted tail lights and reserve lights that I had installed today when I noticed the door was open so I moved to close it. As I rounded the RHS rear, I heard a "boing" and the car began to roll at a fair pace as my drive way is not flat. I got collected by the door as I dived in to try and pull the E brake and was knocked over and dragged by the car....

Here's the damage to my wife's car.... You can see the cookie cutter imprints of the ZL1's exhaust tips on the lower section of the bumper.

I'm not showing the ZL1's rear bumper as it makes me sick just thinking about it....

Now before you say it must have been something in the conversion, all the e brake components and locations are unchanged from standard ZL1.

I have had the lever "pop" once or twice if I lean on it when I get out which made me go "Hmmmmmmm..."

What happened this time was I pulled up and applied the e brake when hill assist was active and when the hill assist came off, the ebrake wasn't on enough and the car started to roll slightly, so I pulled on a bit tighter.
The engine was still running, so the car was in neutral.

Then as I said earlier I got out of the car to take a photo of the rear and as I moved away from the rear, I heard the ebrake lever disengage on its own ( no one else there) and the car began to roll....

I sat in the car for awhile ( trying not to bleed on the alcantara) to re inact what happened.

Hears a recreation of what happened that I filmed. Though the ebrake only came off a couple of notches here. In the near death experience, it came off nearly half...

http://youtu.be/aQrPx-CJds8

I don't know what is going on here, but it is a major concern...
I know GM doesn't support grey exports, but I will be raising it with them directly. I could have got killed.

I've been driving GM cars for 35 years and I've never had this happen before.

Anyhow, time for some more pain pills....

Cheers

Brad

SamHouseIII · 01-07-2014, 08:00 AM

Sorry to hear this and hope you get it fixed, I use mine often and never had an issue.

cdjnight · 01-07-2014, 08:30 AM

I would start with taking handle apart and see if there is a spring or something not engaging all the way. If anything I'd replace the handle unit as a whole. All locking is done inside the car and cables, brakes etc... outside shouldn't have anything to do with the handle staying locked. Also make sure you aren't pressing the button when pulling up on the handle. This can cause a partial engagement of the locking mechanism. Sorry you and your cars got banged up...hope you recover quickly

BlackinBlack · 01-07-2014, 08:37 AM

Scary!!! Hope you are not seriously hurt.

Lesson from this is never rely on the emergency brake. On a flat surface the parking brake keeps the car from rolling but it is never intended to hold a car on an incline. (On a manual car it should be in gear but I saw you said it was running.)

Always chock your car people if you are in a situation like this. A simple piece of wood behind one rear tire could have prevented this from happening. (Ideally both tires chocked and "real" tire chocks.)

This is like working under a car that is jacked up without a jack stand. Tons of people die every year doing that.

Everyone be safe.

Edit added a random link of an example. Very cheap piece of safety equipment.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/ma...FShk7AodJDoAXw

Aussie ZL1 · 01-07-2014, 11:25 PM

Hmmmm... I've done a bit of "Google Mining" and it seems that there are a heap of us out there with crashed cars from e brake failures.
Here's a brief sample:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216178
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88288
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36160
http://www.moderncamaro.com/forum/5th-generation-camaro-news-general-discussion/36143-emergency-brake-problem.html
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119490
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194380

So it looks like all of us M6 owners should be carrying chocks.
Like used to have to do in my Humvee...

Cheers

Brad

Emvici · 01-08-2014, 07:52 AM

I tell you I had a leather sleeve and leather boot put on mine, and it acts weird now. It wants to Not catch when I set the brake. I have always thought something was unsettling about the e-brake, and I feel it is not the safest but I have no idea why.

Aussie ZL1 · 01-08-2014, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emvici

I tell you I had a leather sleeve and leather boot put on mine, and it acts weird now. It wants to Not catch when I set the brake. I have always thought something was unsettling about the e-brake, and I feel it is not the safest but I have no idea why.

Yeah,that's exactly how I felt... Uneasy.
The e brake lever is unchanged on my RHD conversion, so the handle is beside my LH leg. So the temptation is to use it a little as an assist handle when getting out of the vehicle. I can't tell you how many times it has slipped "one click" when I've put some load on it.....

Cheers

sspddmn · 01-08-2014, 03:22 PM

The same thing happened to me several times in my 02' SS. Not the near death part just the ebrake part. I had a close call once though when the ebrake went boing on me too. Ive learned that no matter how long you will be out of the car especially on a slight incline or driveway, i turn the car off and put it in gear.

I hope you get well soon and figure out this problem.

NightmareZL1 · 01-08-2014, 03:33 PM

I wonder if this has happened to me too. I have been parking on a steep hill for years, when I visit my parents house. I have always set the E-brake firmly when parked there. One afternoon I came out to the car and it had rolled down hill until the wheels had come to rest on a curbside. At the time, I was wondering how I could have forgotten to set the ebrake tightly, but now I wonder if it had released while parked. The Car was in 3rd gear when it rolled downhill.

Misterleeman · 01-08-2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightmareZL1

I wonder if this has happened to me too. I have been parking on a steep hill for years, when I visit my parents house. I have always set the E-brake firmly when parked there. One afternoon I came out to the car and it had rolled down hill until the wheels had come to rest on a curbside. At the time, I was wondering how I could have forgotten to set the ebrake tightly, but now I wonder if it had released while parked. The Car was in 3rd gear when it rolled downhill.

Third gear ?

You either want first or reverse.

BlackinBlack · 01-08-2014, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misterleeman

Third gear ?

You either want first or reverse.

+1

I use reverse.

VegasZL1 · 01-10-2014, 05:14 PM

I've had this happen but I was still in the car when it let go so no damage was done...

01-07-2014, 05:43 AM	#1
Aussie ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 manual RHD Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 73	Safety Concern -e brake Hi guys, I'm currently laid up in bed with a swollen knee and minor lacerations from wher my ZL1's E brake self released on an incline and tried to run me over before smashing into the front of my wife's car. I had just been behind the car to take a photo of the tinted tail lights and reserve lights that I had installed today when I noticed the door was open so I moved to close it. As I rounded the RHS rear, I heard a "boing" and the car began to roll at a fair pace as my drive way is not flat. I got collected by the door as I dived in to try and pull the E brake and was knocked over and dragged by the car.... Here's the damage to my wife's car.... You can see the cookie cutter imprints of the ZL1's exhaust tips on the lower section of the bumper. I'm not showing the ZL1's rear bumper as it makes me sick just thinking about it.... Now before you say it must have been something in the conversion, all the e brake components and locations are unchanged from standard ZL1. I have had the lever "pop" once or twice if I lean on it when I get out which made me go "Hmmmmmmm..." What happened this time was I pulled up and applied the e brake when hill assist was active and when the hill assist came off, the ebrake wasn't on enough and the car started to roll slightly, so I pulled on a bit tighter. The engine was still running, so the car was in neutral. Then as I said earlier I got out of the car to take a photo of the rear and as I moved away from the rear, I heard the ebrake lever disengage on its own ( no one else there) and the car began to roll.... I sat in the car for awhile ( trying not to bleed on the alcantara) to re inact what happened. Hears a recreation of what happened that I filmed. Though the ebrake only came off a couple of notches here. In the near death experience, it came off nearly half... http://youtu.be/aQrPx-CJds8 I don't know what is going on here, but it is a major concern... I know GM doesn't support grey exports, but I will be raising it with them directly. I could have got killed. I've been driving GM cars for 35 years and I've never had this happen before. Anyhow, time for some more pain pills.... Cheers Brad __________________ Brad Dunstan RHD '13 M6 ZL1

01-07-2014, 08:00 AM	#2
SamHouseIII I Carry! Drives: 2013 CRT ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Fletcher, Ok Posts: 2,722	Sorry to hear this and hope you get it fixed, I use mine often and never had an issue. __________________ I am a Modaholic!! Please Help!! Do Not feed my addicition....See build... http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261540 From Oklahoma, Join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/okcamaros/

01-07-2014, 08:30 AM	#3
cdjnight Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 266	I would start with taking handle apart and see if there is a spring or something not engaging all the way. If anything I'd replace the handle unit as a whole. All locking is done inside the car and cables, brakes etc... outside shouldn't have anything to do with the handle staying locked. Also make sure you aren't pressing the button when pulling up on the handle. This can cause a partial engagement of the locking mechanism. Sorry you and your cars got banged up...hope you recover quickly __________________

01-07-2014, 08:37 AM	#4
BlackinBlack Drives: 2016 Corvette Z06 Blade Silver Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 822	Scary!!! Hope you are not seriously hurt. Lesson from this is never rely on the emergency brake. On a flat surface the parking brake keeps the car from rolling but it is never intended to hold a car on an incline. (On a manual car it should be in gear but I saw you said it was running.) Always chock your car people if you are in a situation like this. A simple piece of wood behind one rear tire could have prevented this from happening. (Ideally both tires chocked and "real" tire chocks.) This is like working under a car that is jacked up without a jack stand. Tons of people die every year doing that. Everyone be safe. Edit added a random link of an example. Very cheap piece of safety equipment. http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/ma...FShk7AodJDoAXw __________________ 2016 2LZ Z06 Blade Silver 2013 ZL1 BLACK on BLACK <SOLD> Roto-Fab CAI 2010 2SS/RS BLACK on BLACK <SOLD> 3" MBRP 304 Stainless Exhaust Roto-Fab CAI Last edited by BlackinBlack; 01-07-2014 at 08:40 AM. Reason: Added Link

01-07-2014, 11:25 PM	#5
Aussie ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 manual RHD Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 73	Hmmmm... I've done a bit of "Google Mining" and it seems that there are a heap of us out there with crashed cars from e brake failures. Here's a brief sample: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216178 http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88288 http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36160 http://www.moderncamaro.com/forum/5th-generation-camaro-news-general-discussion/36143-emergency-brake-problem.html http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119490 http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194380 So it looks like all of us M6 owners should be carrying chocks. Like used to have to do in my Humvee... Cheers Brad __________________ Brad Dunstan RHD '13 M6 ZL1

01-08-2014, 07:52 AM	#6
Emvici Drives: 2014 ZL1 White Convertible Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: St Pete Fl Posts: 682	I tell you I had a leather sleeve and leather boot put on mine, and it acts weird now. It wants to Not catch when I set the brake. I have always thought something was unsettling about the e-brake, and I feel it is not the safest but I have no idea why.

01-08-2014, 03:22 PM	#8
sspddmn Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE and 1991 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay but from the 808 Posts: 1,078	The same thing happened to me several times in my 02' SS. Not the near death part just the ebrake part. I had a close call once though when the ebrake went boing on me too. Ive learned that no matter how long you will be out of the car especially on a slight incline or driveway, i turn the car off and put it in gear. I hope you get well soon and figure out this problem. __________________ In the garage: 2018 HBM ZL1 1LE // 2013 ZL1 (sold) // 1991 Camaro Z28 5.7L // 2016 Audi A6 Prestige Supercharged 3.0 V6 // 2002 Camaro SS (sold)

01-08-2014, 03:33 PM	#9
NightmareZL1 Can't stop ***ifying Drives: Ashen 2013 Gray ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 273 View My Garage	I wonder if this has happened to me too. I have been parking on a steep hill for years, when I visit my parents house. I have always set the E-brake firmly when parked there. One afternoon I came out to the car and it had rolled down hill until the wheels had come to rest on a curbside. At the time, I was wondering how I could have forgotten to set the ebrake tightly, but now I wonder if it had released while parked. The Car was in 3rd gear when it rolled downhill. __________________ Rotofab, grinding rear diff sound forever, dealer replaced supercharger - now i have a rattle when starting from a stop, ordered 2.35 lingenfelter pulley, hp tuner, belt, 100mm idler pulley, tr7IX spark plugs, wideband kit, long tubes with no cats...hoping for 650hp. dyno with rotofab = 518hp

01-10-2014, 05:14 PM	#12
VegasZL1 Drives: 2015 Z/28 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 137 View My Garage	I've had this happen but I was still in the car when it let go so no damage was done...