TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:05 pm

I have not seen anyone writing about the operation of the electronic
parking brake systems used on many Volkswagens and other German
models. My opinion, based on having a newer water cooled car with a
manual transmission is the delay in how this automatic system works
and even with the push button operation by the driver, it is
dangerous. Years ago, I read in the owner's manual they no longer
call it an "emergency brake" system. Because, in any emergency where
you decide to use the "park brake" on new cars, good luck. The owner
manual reads they cannot be used or thought of as slowing down any
vehicle which has lost some of it's brake system. The time it takes for
the push button park brake to engage is too long. I have counted up from
three seconds to five seconds, in some cars, before the system engages
the brakes. If you have an older car with a handle, you manually pull
on, the time to pull that handle and have "emergency" braking is barely
one second. With any manual transmission, you best be smart to know
that with the push button park brake, you better be 100% sure the car
is running, with your foot on the brake pedal, until you allow time for
the automatic or push button system to engage the brakes. The placement
of the push button allows or the car company to have more room inside
the interior. We now have a poorly working park brake system. Not, any
emergency brake system. The cost to repair the electronic park brake
system is high. Consider there are relays and electric motors which
work cables to activate the park brake. Yes, they still use cables but now,
instead of your hand working the cable, there are one or two electric working
motors which do this action. The cost to repair this system is high.

In summary, I feel like the electronic operated park brake system offers
little to no help in stopping the car and you have to wait on it, to engage
the brakes, when parking the car on a hill. Even without the new VW
automatic system, for hill parking, it is a poorly engineered idea.

The old hand operated cable system would last forever, it seems. Very easy
to maintain. Faster to work or engage the brakes, when needed. It certainly
added to the sales price of new cars. The car company can make more profit
o the sales and you get a poorly engineered park brake system, no
emegency use.

Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:31 am

no argument. but the old style does have a life span. The cables do eventually let go & need R&R. Expect 30 years or so in non-salted road conditions. YMMV

Mon Jan 22, 2024 8:35 am

54 years with the old parking brake cables on my own 1969 Beetle.
Still working good. One does need to put some spray lube on the
handle, once a year and if you replace the rear brakes, some light
weight oil on the exposed cable, inside the drum works to make
it last. I really doubt any of the new cars built now will last 20 or
30 years without major expensive repairs needed.

If the cables need to be replaced, they do not cost much or require
very few tools. I only have and drive the old VW's. They just seem to
last with the least amount of problems. Every new car I have owned
has failed on some of the electronic systems. I have added a nice
modern stereo and Garmin brand navigation system to my cars. Also,
have USB ports and power outlets for my modern portable items.

The young bad crooks do not know how to operate a car with manual
transmissions. Less chance to see my car being stolen. I do have plenty
of locks on the car. Price the electric motor on the new vehicle which
works the cables. Yes, they still have cables on the new cars.

Mon Jan 22, 2024 4:09 pm

I completely agree with your assessment.

Regarding the cables being a point of failure for the old-school brake, remember that the modern electric brake uses cables too!

My hypothesis is that in addition to more room in the cabin, another reason the manufacturers like the electric parking brake is because it is able to be controlled by computers. Combined with the ubiquitous cellular networking in new cars, this gives them remote control over your parking brake.

Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:09 pm

Let’s not forget that electronic brakes are designed to exert maximum clamping force to keep the vehicle from moving, not something you want to achieve while in motion.