What damage can happen by driving a car with its emergency brake on for 80 miles?

Question

I drove my brand new care for about 80 miles with its emergency brakeon and I'm curious what damage may have occurred?? I NEVER use an e-brake, so I didn't realize that the dealer had put it on when I got in it to drive it away.

Answer 1

Depends really, on the type of brakes the car has. If the car has 4 wheel disc brakes, the parking (or emergency) brake is a small drum type brake in each rear wheel. If the car has dedicated rear drum brakes, it could potentially do more damage. In either case, the brake shoes will be worn, and the brake rotors or discs could also become overheated and warped. It's also possible that no serious damage was done if you didn't even notice the extra drag on the car.

Most people with automatic transmissions don't use the e-brake, as it's not normally necessary. I'm guessing that it wasn't applied very hard, else you would have noticed something very wrong when you put it in gear to take off. The parking brake only engages the rear wheels, and your front brakes supply most of your stopping power.

I would suggest driving the car, and check for any strange noise or pulsating feeling from the rear when lightly applying the brakes.

Answer 2

Depends on what kind of vehicle. GM's typically have an internal emerg. brake system which is separate from your driving brakes. The pads are located inside the rear discs or secondary to the drums if so equipped. These pads are seldom used and usually seize up - if you were able to disengage the emergency brake after your airhead move - you should be fine if it still works - otherwise - have a mechanic look at the emergency brake. Again - except for the heated rotor or drum that may cause warping - this probably didn't affect your driving brakes at all - you may still have to replace them due to the heat damage to the rotor. Yikes. How could you not know the E brake was on?? Guess after all these years I just shouldn't ask such questions though...

Answer 3

Eighty miles, Uh oh. This means that the rear shoes or disc brakes were on for that amount of time. This would cause a severe overheating of the brake components that were applied during this time. Damage that can occur would be cracked friction part of the shoes or pads and warping of the drums or rotors. Not to alarm you though as brakes are generally pretty tough. If you do not notice any pulsations from your pedal or car when braking, then you will probably be okay. To be sure, get your brakes inspected and let them know what happened!!

Answer 4

If you were able to drive a new car 80 miles with the emergency brake on, you need to take the car back. A properly working emergency brake, especially on a brand new car, should not allow you to do that. The car should have died (if the car is a manual) or not moved at all (in both manual or automatic)

Answer 5

You may not have an e-brake anymore. I'm surprised you didn't smell it after using it that long. On a slightly steep hill (like your driveway for instance), put your car in neutral, and try the e-brake (with your foot ready to hit the brakes if you start rolling). Then you'll know if you've snapped the line or completely worn it out. I'd also have a mechanic take a look at it to make sure you haven't damaged anything else...just prepare for laughter or snickering.

Answer 6

if it was a brand new car, and you got it to move with the e-brake engaged, then chances are it was already screwed up to begin with. take the car back.

if you didn't smell anything like burning plastic or rubber, or hear anything like grinding metal, and the car's still working fine, go try the ebrake again, and see if you can move the car this time. make sure that you fully engage it... push down on the pedal as far as it will go, then slowly lift your other foot off of the regular brake pedal. if it doesn't move, then it wasn't engaged all the way the first time.

most newer cars will have a BRIGHT red light that says BRAKE on the dashboard, when the ebrake is engaged.

if it's still not working, then take it back to the dealership.

good luck!!!

Answer 7

You need to have your rear brakes evaluated immediately.

You will definately need new rear pads/shoes and probably new rotor/drums.

You'll need to have the brake cable checked and possibly replaced.

I'm not trying to be hurtfully critical, but didn't you see the brake light on on the dash? Didn't it beep periodicly to indicate a problem.

The parking brake basically manually operates the rear brakes. Because the car is new, you may have just worn the rear brakes and things could be just fine, but if the parking brake was pulled with enough tension, it could have destroyed them.

At any rate, have a brake shop or the dealer check them out.

Answer 8

I accidently drove my moms car with the E-brake on, there was absolutely NO REASON it should have been on, it was snowing heavily, dark outside, etc... so I was focused on the road and then I looked down after a couple miles to the dashboard and saw that there was a light on that said the brake was on. I thought "Oh sh**" quickly pulled over and put it off. It's definitely not working now. I am not telling her that I did it, I am not really angry at myself because as I said there was no reason for it to be on to begin with.

Answer 9

You may want to have the brakes checked. Driving with the emergency brake on can glaze over the brake shoes or burn up the brake shoes/pads.

Answer 10

Actually its a parking brake... it must not have been applied very hard or you would not have been able to drive 80 miles... I would recommend you return it to the dealership to check for damage... btw your not the first one to do this....