Question about using my emergency break

If I use my emergency brake while going around 30 MPH will I be doing damage to my car? Car is an automatic if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

If I use my emergency brake while going around 30 MPH will I be doing damage to my car? Car is an automatic if that matters.

Thanks in advance!
Originally Posted by Brooke Wilde

Nah you are good it will just cause some extra wear on your rear brake pads and rotors. It wont cause any damage to the transmission, engine, or anything like that. There is a safety concern though if you pull the E brake hard you could lock the rear wheels and cause you to fishtail especially if road is wet.

Really depends on the type of e-brake your car has.
Most newer ones have electric e-brakes (push button) not cable controlled (mechanical pedal or lever) ones.
Electric ones fully engage so using it while driving might give you whiplash & will cause excessive wear on your pads & rotors but not necessarily damage anything, except for your neck.
With mechanical (lever/pedal) ones you can control the tension & if you did it by mistake I doubt you fully engaged them so I wouldn't worry about it.

^^^ What he said.


The last two cars I've had both had electronic brakes. BTW, no manual I've read recently refers to them as "emergency brakes" rather, "parking brakes". But I drive manual transmissions, so it's easy to disengage the drive train in an emergency; just push in the clutch.


If they're electronic and you have a semi-automatic transmission, it's sorta like going 30 MPH and then shifting the car into reverse, or Park. It might work once or twice, but not after that.


Question, why are you using the parking brakes? Is there something wrong with normally braking? Mushy pedal going to the floor? Metallic screeching? How many miles on the car and when was the last time the brakes were inspected?

What he said. Why are you even using your parking brake instead of regular braking.

What he said. Why are you even using your parking brake instead of regular braking. Originally Posted by DoubleEagle

I have been teaching my son to drive in this huge open parking lot in the back of a warehouse that is closed all Sunday.

It's perfect for this because there are no curbs, no light poles - nothing just a huge flat parking lot.

The other times we've been there he sat on my lap, but he is too big for that now, so I told him I would let him drive & I'll sit in the passenger seat.

^^^ What he said.


The last two cars I've had both had electronic brakes. BTW, no manual I've read recently refers to them as "emergency brakes" rather, "parking brakes". But I drive manual transmissions, so it's easy to disengage the drive train in an emergency; just push in the clutch.


If they're electronic and you have a semi-automatic transmission, it's sorta like going 30 MPH and then shifting the car into reverse, or Park. It might work once or twice, but not after that.


Question, why are you using the parking brakes? Is there something wrong with normally braking? Mushy pedal going to the floor? Metallic screeching? How many miles on the car and when was the last time the brakes were inspected? Originally Posted by Anonymous01

It is a 5.o Mustang with only 25k miles. I do have the type of parking brake where you push the button & pull it up.

There is nothing wrong with my braking system I am just ready to let my son take the lead & I may or may not have to pull it.

Really depends on the type of e-brake your car has.
Most newer ones have electric e-brakes (push button) not cable controlled (mechanical pedal or lever) ones.
Electric ones fully engage so using it while driving might give you whiplash & will cause excessive wear on your pads & rotors but not necessarily damage anything, except for your neck.
With mechanical (lever/pedal) ones you can control the tension & if you did it by mistake I doubt you fully engaged them so I wouldn't worry about it. Originally Posted by MarcellusWalluz

I think I have the mechanical cable ones where you can control how hard you pull it.

Nah you are good it will just cause some extra wear on your rear brake pads and rotors. It wont cause any damage to the transmission, engine, or anything like that. There is a safety concern though if you pull the E brake hard you could lock the rear wheels and cause you to fishtail especially if road is wet. Originally Posted by laker01

Thank you!