E-Brake Disengaging - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

erickangulo · 10-12-2015, 06:46 PM

So the other day I backed up into a parking spot in front of a pillar in a parking structure at work, with a very slight incline towards the pillar, and made sure to leave about 6 inches of space in between. I left my car in neutral due to a lot of research that I've seen say that in case the emergency brake fails you wouldn't want your transmission to be holding the cars weight. Any way, 6 hours later I got a call from security asking if I was aware that my car was "really" close to the pillar, which really surprised me. I ran down to the garage and saw that my rear bumper was resting right on the pillar. I opened the door and saw that the e-brake was only slightly engaged. It didn't get much of any damage, but made me get nervous because I thought that I must have half assed the brake engagement. When I drove home and parked (again on an incline) I made sure to fully engage the brake as far as I could and waited a bit to see if anything would happen. Next thing I knew, I heard a loud pop and saw the e-brake return to a lower position. I gave my local Chevrolet dealership a call and scheduled an appointment to have my car serviced, but I guess my question is this: what should I expect from them and what action can I take if they "don't see anything wrong" even if I show them the problem in person? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

clashley1976 · 10-12-2015, 06:55 PM

Sounds like it should be easy for the dealer to reproduce. Something is wrong with the brake handle.

Also, park her in gear. The transmission can hold the weight of the car, since it is designed specifically to move that weight around.

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GVA 45TH 2SS · 10-12-2015, 07:23 PM

Yeah somethings wrong there. But this got me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by erickangulo

I left my car in neutral due to a lot of research that I've seen say that in case the emergency brake fails you wouldn't want your transmission to be holding the cars weight. .

If the parking brake fails it would be better not to find your car anywhere other than where you parked it.

Edzo · 10-12-2015, 08:51 PM

Yeah, I'm sure it's better to have another car or tree holding the weight of your car instead of your tranny!

clashley1976 · 10-12-2015, 08:56 PM

Just get some of these. Problem solved!

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JCunningham · 10-12-2015, 09:12 PM

your manual states to put the car in reverse and apply the parking brake. Doing so will not harm it. Apply the parking break befor you take your foot off the brake pedal and it will not be resting on the transmission unless your brake fails. Then its still not going to hurt it because the tranny can handle doing burnouts on a stock 580 (ZL1)car.

Quicksilver-SS · 10-12-2015, 09:20 PM

Always park in gear...

maddoggyusa · 10-12-2015, 10:15 PM

not sure where you found this "research"... another example of overthinking the tried-and-true method of putting car in gear. in fact, some states you will get in trouble if you don't park it in gear and have a problem (like rolling down a hill, running over a kid).

christianchevell · 10-13-2015, 08:36 AM

the stock setting for the ebrake is lame, I know I park on very slight hill every day. You need to fully engage it and leave it in gear!

erickangulo · 10-15-2015, 03:44 PM

Alright, so I guess it's a bit of a common problem. Of course I couldn't recreate the problem once I got there, but I got a call from them letting me know that they're gonna replace it.

NC_SS · 10-15-2015, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GVA 45TH 2SS

Yeah somethings wrong there. But this got me.

If the parking brake fails it would be better not to find your car anywhere other than where you parked it.

Your owners manual says leave it in reverse when parked

I have a feeling this is for a reason

shibbs · 10-15-2015, 05:14 PM

My parking brake handle/lever will sometimes slip, too. It feels like it's a single tooth that's not able to be caught easily by the ratcheting mechanism. It'll then POP and jump down teeth, and not hold.

10-12-2015, 06:46 PM	#1
erickangulo Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Valley Center Posts: 186	E-Brake Disengaging So the other day I backed up into a parking spot in front of a pillar in a parking structure at work, with a very slight incline towards the pillar, and made sure to leave about 6 inches of space in between. I left my car in neutral due to a lot of research that I've seen say that in case the emergency brake fails you wouldn't want your transmission to be holding the cars weight. Any way, 6 hours later I got a call from security asking if I was aware that my car was "really" close to the pillar, which really surprised me. I ran down to the garage and saw that my rear bumper was resting right on the pillar. I opened the door and saw that the e-brake was only slightly engaged. It didn't get much of any damage, but made me get nervous because I thought that I must have half assed the brake engagement. When I drove home and parked (again on an incline) I made sure to fully engage the brake as far as I could and waited a bit to see if anything would happen. Next thing I knew, I heard a loud pop and saw the e-brake return to a lower position. I gave my local Chevrolet dealership a call and scheduled an appointment to have my car serviced, but I guess my question is this: what should I expect from them and what action can I take if they "don't see anything wrong" even if I show them the problem in person? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

10-12-2015, 06:55 PM	#2
clashley1976 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Albany, GA Posts: 399 View My Garage	Sounds like it should be easy for the dealer to reproduce. Something is wrong with the brake handle. Also, park her in gear. The transmission can hold the weight of the car, since it is designed specifically to move that weight around. Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk __________________ -Cameron Lashley Albany, GA 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS 3.6L M6 Summit White w/silver rally stripes CAI intake, VTC, VMax PTB, VMax Iceolator, Apex intake scoop, Roto-Fab washer bottle relocate Build Journal: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=419992 .

10-12-2015, 08:56 PM	#5
clashley1976 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Albany, GA Posts: 399 View My Garage	Just get some of these. Problem solved! Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk __________________ -Cameron Lashley Albany, GA 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS 3.6L M6 Summit White w/silver rally stripes CAI intake, VTC, VMax PTB, VMax Iceolator, Apex intake scoop, Roto-Fab washer bottle relocate Build Journal: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=419992 .

10-12-2015, 09:12 PM	#6
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	your manual states to put the car in reverse and apply the parking brake. Doing so will not harm it. Apply the parking break befor you take your foot off the brake pedal and it will not be resting on the transmission unless your brake fails. Then its still not going to hurt it because the tranny can handle doing burnouts on a stock 580 (ZL1)car. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

10-13-2015, 08:36 AM	#9
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	the stock setting for the ebrake is lame, I know I park on very slight hill every day. You need to fully engage it and leave it in gear! __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

10-12-2015, 08:51 PM	#4
Edzo Drives: 2013 Camaro SS and 63 Impala Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 355	Yeah, I'm sure it's better to have another car or tree holding the weight of your car instead of your tranny!

10-12-2015, 09:20 PM	#7
Quicksilver-SS Drives: 2014 1SS / RS M6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Zebulon, NC Posts: 601	Always park in gear...

10-12-2015, 10:15 PM	#8
maddoggyusa Drives: 2013 Camaro Dusk 2SS/6 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	not sure where you found this "research"... another example of overthinking the tried-and-true method of putting car in gear. in fact, some states you will get in trouble if you don't park it in gear and have a problem (like rolling down a hill, running over a kid).

10-15-2015, 03:44 PM	#10
erickangulo Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Valley Center Posts: 186	Alright, so I guess it's a bit of a common problem. Of course I couldn't recreate the problem once I got there, but I got a call from them letting me know that they're gonna replace it.