I am an idiot.

On my last run of the day, after waiting on the start line due to a timing problem and setting the parking brake (don't ask), I shot off w/ the parking brake on. Ran the course in about 50 sec w. speeds from 20-60 w. heavy braking and acceleration.



When I crossed the finish line, there was a fair amount of smoke coming from the back wheels and the strong smell of brakes. After letting things cool off, I drove home w/o any problem that I could sense (though I was driving extra conservatively) and the parking brake still works fine.

I stopped in at a local Acura dealer, and the guy there (who was not a mechanic but seemed reasonably knowledgable), explained to me that the parking brake system is a rear drum system separate from the rear disk brakes. He said that, while I may have, in theory, shortened the overall life of the parking brake, the parking brake rarely comes under heavy demand and I probably will never notice. He also said that I would not have damaged the rear disk brakes. I was somewhat relieved.

However, when I later read the manual it said "Driving the car with the parking brake applied can damage the rear brakes and axles."

This has me worried. Does anyone have any experience w. this? Could I have damaged the car w. this one run? Is there a way that I can check by driving the car to see if I have done any damage? Any suggestions about how to approach the mechanic to check things out, w/o setting myself up to getting taken?

Any help (without totally freaking me out) is appreciated. thx.


[Modified by rltrock, 12:00 AM 7/9/2001]

 

Ummm, the parking brake just uses your rear discs. Not sure where that separate drum statement came from. If you take off the wheel you will see there is no possible way it could be this way(no room).

The only thing that could really result from your joy ride would be warped rear rotors from the heat and/or killing your rear pads. If your car still brakes fine, then you should be OK. You probably took off a good 15-20k miles of brake wear from your rear pads , but no permanent damage.

 

Check for flat spots on your tires. If you lift the rear tire a little during a turn it will drag on the ground with the e-brake on. It'll rotate if the tire is on the ground all the way, but not if you have it unloaded and somewhat off the ground.

I've done the same thing once myself.

 

I've backed up, or pulled forward a few feet with the parking brake still on. But never for an extended amount of time..

It's kind of amazing that you didn't feel a difference in the way the car was driving and handling..

 

What was your time on the "parking-brake run"?

 

When I did it it was only up a few clicks so it didn't feel a lo different. When I finished the run people said smoke was coming from my rear tires during turns. Oops...

 

that is exactly what I did I did notice the car behaving a little differently, but was caught up in the moment and thought it was my imagination -- did you experience any problems after that?

Does anyone else out there have any thoughts on the rear parking brake system and any brake/axle damage that could/may have occurred?

 

That sucks.

Just a thought: Just before the starter gives me the go signal, I always do a real quick check of my seatbelt, A/C, radio, gear (1st...check) and the parking brake. I'd definitely recommend anyone who auto-x's adopting a similar procedure, if not to avoid damage at least to keep your time from suffering due to an oversight.

 

I wouldn't think you have that much to worry about. *If* your brakes feel a little less than 100% then I would recommend doing a couple things which should solve the problem (I know from experience...don't ask).

First, bleed the brakes, rears only and see what that does. Should bring back the pedal feel. If they still don't have the grip level like before you could remove the rear pads and take some sand paper or emery cloth and rough up the surface of the pads (if they were heat glazed). Those two things should take care of any problems you have. If it still acts up (very doubtful) you may need to replace the calipers, but I seriously doubt you could do that much damage in a short autocross run.

 

Oh, you didn't know your R had traction control???

 

ok, so no handbrake = better times. I get it.

 

heard from a number of sources now that the parking brake is a seperate drum system from the rear disk brakes. If that's the case, I probably spared the rotors and break pads, but what about axles/bearings?

 

How can it be a seperate drum system? When you apply your parking brake, it pushes your pads up against your rotor to hold you in place. The parking brake does not use fluid to actuate itself (rather it is mechanical), but nevertheless you will have suffered pad and rotor wear.


[Modified by Todd00, 1:37 PM 7/10/2001]

 

The Parking brake does us the rear rotors, but not in the way you guys are thinking. It has nothing to do with the calipers. The rear calipers do not engage when you use your parking brakes.
Now picture this:
The rear rotors have a area on the inner side that act and for all intents and purposes like an old drum system, yet smaller. There are two pads per rotor that lock on the inner surface. If you where to take off the rotor you would expose this system. And you would see on the inner side of the rotor the braking surface. You would see brake shoes just like the shoes used in older drum systems.

So you might think of it as having two seperate brake systems. One is not connected to the other. They have been doing this for quite some time now.....
I'm sure some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

But don't take my word for it.... pick up a manuel and read about it, or if your to lazy for that call up your local acura dealer service department and ask to speak to a service tech and they will bring you up to speed.
And if you to lazy for even that...... Just give it up.... LOL

Fuminsho

Ps. And to answer you question. Yes I'm sure you did some type of damage to the system.... You would be luck if all you had to do was have the inner shoes replaced. You might have warped the rotor or worse the axle. Just take it to the dealership and have them check it out for you for free.

 

In Sport Compact Car, a few months ago (maybe a year??), they had an article about brakes for the Celica. This was one of the main issues they had with a big brake kit for the rear of the Celica. The internal drum brake for the parking brake was a pain to fabricate. So, I guess we have the same system.