Handbrake Question
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From: Wilmette, IL
Handbrake Question
Hey, i was rolling rolling and i pulled the handbrake and noticed that no matter how hard i pull it, the rear tires dont lock up, they just slowly roll to a stop. So, i decided to try it at like 15 mph, and it did the same thing. It slowed down the car a little, but didnt lock up the rear tires. Is this normal? If not, does anyone know what i can do? Thanks.
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Originally Posted by nnorris7413
Hey, i was rolling rolling and i pulled the handbrake and noticed that no matter how hard i pull it, the rear tires dont lock up, they just slowly roll to a stop. So, i decided to try it at like 15 mph, and it did the same thing. It slowed down the car a little, but didnt lock up the rear tires. Is this normal? If not, does anyone know what i can do? Thanks.
I can't see why the center differential would be harmed AT ALL by stopping with the handbrake, as long as you aren't sliding or the rears don't lock up. The center differential only works when the fronts and rears are rolling at different speeds- if you stop with the handbrake, the relative speeds don't change.
You could spin, or wear out the handbrake, or cause some damage if you actually got it to lock up; but I don't think that doing this will do any harm to the differential.
Have fun!
hence what the center diff is for.....Difference between front and back wheel speeds. A normal diff is for the difference between left and right wheels when cornering. If you loose traction on the fronts (IE in snow) and not the rears then the center diff will protect the drivetrain from damage. IMO anyway
I was going about 5mph down a hill, and there was snow, I tapped my brakes, and the front locked up, couldn't stop in time if my life depended on it, there was a stopped car in front of me, as l'm sliding down the hill, I didn't know what to do, my last resort was to pull the ebrake, I was in neutral when i pulled up the ebrake, then my rear tires began to slide also, but I stopped in time, did I mess anything up bying doing that guys?
Originally Posted by BMS
I was going about 5mph down a hill, and there was snow, I tapped my brakes, and the front locked up, couldn't stop in time if my life depended on it, there was a stopped car in front of me, as l'm sliding down the hill, I didn't know what to do, my last resort was to pull the ebrake, I was in neutral when i pulled up the ebrake, then my rear tires began to slide also, but I stopped in time, did I mess anything up bying doing that guys? 

I don't think that there is any damage caused by pulling the hand brake. Just wear on the pads is all. I don't think they helped you stop any sooner than the service brakes could have. They both have to work through the tires.
Of course there is no reason to pull the hand brake in an AWD car without the trick active center diff allowing the differential in speed to occur.
Well one reason, just to park.
Of course there is no reason to pull the hand brake in an AWD car without the trick active center diff allowing the differential in speed to occur.
Well one reason, just to park.
The reason for the non lock up is because, our ebrake, are just 2 brake shoes inside the middle of the brake rotor, it works good for a parking brake, but, it does not has enough force to stop the car, like with other systems that uses an external caliper to the ebrake.


