The parking brake system is mainly used for the complete immobilization of the vehicle; it can be used during hill starts and sometimes during emergency braking. The parking brake has several names: parking brake, hand brake etc., It can be mechanical or electrical.
The mechanical parking brake operates by brake cables (one for each wheel) which, when the driver pulls on the lever, push the brake shoes on the drums: the shoes are thus pressed against the drum and block the wheels, rotation becomes impossible, just like with quality rubber wheel chocks. The vehicle is immobilized.
In recent years, the parking brake has become electric on new car models. This system, launched by Renault on Laguna and Scénic, is becoming more and more popular among manufacturers.
There are two electric parking brake systems or EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) in French FSE (Electric Parking Brake):
A cable-controlled system (the handbrake lever is replaced by an electric motor, placed under the driver’s seat, which pulls on the cables for clamping the rear brake discs)
An electro-hydraulic caliper system (small electric motor on each caliper that pushes the piston)
The Operation Of The FSE System Is Effortless: it automatically applies the parking brake each time the engine is switched off or each time the control is activated. This is released when the car is restarted, and it can also be released manually by pressing either the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal.
One of the advantages of this system is to allow the driver to have assistance during hill starts (activation from 3% slope) the parking brake can remain active for up to 2 seconds after having released the pedal brake.
For each of the two systems, the intervention of a professional equipped with the electronic diagnostic tool is essential when replacing the rear brake linings.
