Been there done that. We used to keep a reallly old Ford pickup up at
the lake and someone who shall remain nameless left the E-brake on for a
couple of weeks during winter after a storm. Had to jack it up, take the
wheels off, and heat up the rear drums with a torch to get them free.
Now the only time I use it is for extra safety when launching the boat -
I once saw a guy learn that the rear end of a Chevy pickup will actually
float if backed in too far, at least for a little while.

It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
unstuck, especially with a manual trans where dealing with 3 pedals at
once can be a problem for some people. Probably shouldn't use it for
doing J-turns, at least not in a Jeep or other high center vehicle ;-)

In article <4536A55C.CE5B3007@sympatico.ca>, romainm@sympatico.ca
says...
> I think it depends on how cold it is where you live if it's called an
> 'emergency' brake or a 'parking' brake.
>
> When I worked in garages up here in Canada, a lot of service calls and
> fixes were due to the 'emergency' brake freezing up solid locking the
> wheels. It happened bad on the east coast where the slush storms happen
> and in the west where flash freezes happen.
>
> I live in the east/center now and see high humidity and slush storms so
> never use it in the winter except for very short term needs like wanting
> to be in neutral with the engine running for heat or warm up.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>

 

Been there done that. We used to keep a reallly old Ford pickup up at
the lake and someone who shall remain nameless left the E-brake on for a
couple of weeks during winter after a storm. Had to jack it up, take the
wheels off, and heat up the rear drums with a torch to get them free.
Now the only time I use it is for extra safety when launching the boat -
I once saw a guy learn that the rear end of a Chevy pickup will actually
float if backed in too far, at least for a little while.

It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
unstuck, especially with a manual trans where dealing with 3 pedals at
once can be a problem for some people. Probably shouldn't use it for
doing J-turns, at least not in a Jeep or other high center vehicle ;-)

In article <4536A55C.CE5B3007@sympatico.ca>, romainm@sympatico.ca
says...
> I think it depends on how cold it is where you live if it's called an
> 'emergency' brake or a 'parking' brake.
>
> When I worked in garages up here in Canada, a lot of service calls and
> fixes were due to the 'emergency' brake freezing up solid locking the
> wheels. It happened bad on the east coast where the slush storms happen
> and in the west where flash freezes happen.
>
> I live in the east/center now and see high humidity and slush storms so
> never use it in the winter except for very short term needs like wanting
> to be in neutral with the engine running for heat or warm up.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>

 

In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
says...
>
> It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> unstuck,

I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

 

In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
says...
>
> It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> unstuck,

I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

 

In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
says...
>
> It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> unstuck,

I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

 

Al J wrote:
>
> In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
> says...
> >
> > It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> > unstuck,
>
> I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

Actually both of my Jeep owners manuals say you can use it to load up
the spinning wheel if stuck so you get both back wheels spinning to get
unstuck.

I prefer to use the brake pedal. I can even have the clutch out and
then 2 foot drive the gas and brake to get 3 and sometimes even 4
rooster tails flying.

For those that don't know what we are talking about, in a normal vehicle
with an open differential, both wheels see equal power.

This means when one wheel is spinning on ice, it takes almost no power
to do this, so the stopped wheel sees almost no power. When you hit the
brakes or use the emergency brake, it loads up the spinning wheel so it
has to have way more power to keep on turning. Eventually this will
equal the power needed to break the other stopped tire free so you get
both spinning away.

That can either get you unstuck or just dig two holes.... LOL.

It takes some practice but works and is a good reason to keep the back
brakes and emergency brake adjusted and working.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

Al J wrote:
>
> In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
> says...
> >
> > It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> > unstuck,
>
> I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

Actually both of my Jeep owners manuals say you can use it to load up
the spinning wheel if stuck so you get both back wheels spinning to get
unstuck.

I prefer to use the brake pedal. I can even have the clutch out and
then 2 foot drive the gas and brake to get 3 and sometimes even 4
rooster tails flying.

For those that don't know what we are talking about, in a normal vehicle
with an open differential, both wheels see equal power.

This means when one wheel is spinning on ice, it takes almost no power
to do this, so the stopped wheel sees almost no power. When you hit the
brakes or use the emergency brake, it loads up the spinning wheel so it
has to have way more power to keep on turning. Eventually this will
equal the power needed to break the other stopped tire free so you get
both spinning away.

That can either get you unstuck or just dig two holes.... LOL.

It takes some practice but works and is a good reason to keep the back
brakes and emergency brake adjusted and working.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

Al J wrote:
>
> In article <MPG.1fa121992ce22af19898b9@news.xnet.com>, ajsmail@yahoo.com
> says...
> >
> > It's also useful as an emergency 'limited slip' lever for getting
> > unstuck,
>
> I should have added in vehicles with RWD.

Actually both of my Jeep owners manuals say you can use it to load up
the spinning wheel if stuck so you get both back wheels spinning to get
unstuck.

I prefer to use the brake pedal. I can even have the clutch out and
then 2 foot drive the gas and brake to get 3 and sometimes even 4
rooster tails flying.

For those that don't know what we are talking about, in a normal vehicle
with an open differential, both wheels see equal power.

This means when one wheel is spinning on ice, it takes almost no power
to do this, so the stopped wheel sees almost no power. When you hit the
brakes or use the emergency brake, it loads up the spinning wheel so it
has to have way more power to keep on turning. Eventually this will
equal the power needed to break the other stopped tire free so you get
both spinning away.

That can either get you unstuck or just dig two holes.... LOL.

It takes some practice but works and is a good reason to keep the back
brakes and emergency brake adjusted and working.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

 

"Phil Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:%ivZg.16030$e66.11121@newssvr13.news.prodigy. com...
> My wife has a 2001 jeep grand cherokee.
> We had the brakes done yesterday - new pads -
> and now the emergency brake handle can hardly be pulled up.
>
> I can do it, but my wife can barely lift the handle,
> and then, can hardly release it.
>
> What might they have done that would cause
> the emergency brake cable to be tighter than before...
>

They adjusted it.

It sounds like they adjusted it too tightly. Go back and ask them to adjust
a bit less tight.




> Just as a side issue - my wife ALWAYS puts the brake on -
> What effect does this have compared to the auto trans in Park ?
>

I seldom set the brake. (It's called a Parking Brake, NOT an Emergency
Brake, by the way.) Proper use would be to select P and set the brake. On
the few occasions when I actually use the parking brake, I depress the brake
pedal to set the brakes, then GENTLY pull the handle to hold them when I
take my foot off the pedal. When I return to the vehicle, I depress the
pedal to put the application force on the hydraulic system, then pull up on
the parking brake handle SIMUTANIOUSLY operating the release button. This
transfers the braking force from the mechanical system of cables and levers
and moves it back to the hydraulic system, making the mechanical system a
bit easier to operate.

I sometimes check the parking brake by selecting R or N (if on a hill, such
as my driveway) and make sure the brakes holds the vehicle from moving. (If
you select R, and the vehicle remains in place, select N to remove stress
from the drivetrain, then select P before you shut the motor off.)

 

"Phil Schuman" <pschuman_NO_SPAM_ME@interserv.com> wrote in message
news:%ivZg.16030$e66.11121@newssvr13.news.prodigy. com...
> My wife has a 2001 jeep grand cherokee.
> We had the brakes done yesterday - new pads -
> and now the emergency brake handle can hardly be pulled up.
>
> I can do it, but my wife can barely lift the handle,
> and then, can hardly release it.
>
> What might they have done that would cause
> the emergency brake cable to be tighter than before...
>

They adjusted it.

It sounds like they adjusted it too tightly. Go back and ask them to adjust
a bit less tight.




> Just as a side issue - my wife ALWAYS puts the brake on -
> What effect does this have compared to the auto trans in Park ?
>

I seldom set the brake. (It's called a Parking Brake, NOT an Emergency
Brake, by the way.) Proper use would be to select P and set the brake. On
the few occasions when I actually use the parking brake, I depress the brake
pedal to set the brakes, then GENTLY pull the handle to hold them when I
take my foot off the pedal. When I return to the vehicle, I depress the
pedal to put the application force on the hydraulic system, then pull up on
the parking brake handle SIMUTANIOUSLY operating the release button. This
transfers the braking force from the mechanical system of cables and levers
and moves it back to the hydraulic system, making the mechanical system a
bit easier to operate.

I sometimes check the parking brake by selecting R or N (if on a hill, such
as my driveway) and make sure the brakes holds the vehicle from moving. (If
you select R, and the vehicle remains in place, select N to remove stress
from the drivetrain, then select P before you shut the motor off.)