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(631) 728-0200
171 West Montauk Highway • Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Automotive Q & A

Parking Brakes

Question: How do parking brakes work?

Answer: A parking brake, also called an emergency brake or e-brake, is a mechanical hand lever or foot-operated brake that is a backup braking system. It is located either between the front two seats or to the left of your gas and brake pedal. A parking brake controls the rear brakes and is a completely separate device from your vehicle’s regular hydraulic brakes. It is in charge of keeping a parked vehicle stationary; it will prevent the car from rolling down a hill or moving. The emergency brake name comes from the brake’s ability to stop the car if the regular hydraulic brakes totally fail. Parking brakes are completely mechanical and use only cables and levers to operate. When a parking brake lever is pulled (or when a parking brake pedal is pushed), these cables transmit the necessary force to keep your vehicle in place or to stop the vehicle. The steel cables are attached to the parking brake, and when the parking brake is pulled, the steel cables are tightened. Most vehicles have drum brakes on their rear wheels; so, when the parking brake is pulled, the cables will pull a lever that compress the brake shoes to stop the vehicle. If your vehicle has rear disc brakes and you pull the parking brake, then the cables engage a corkscrew device that pushes a piston into the brake pads, which stop the vehicle. In both instances, the parking brake bypasses the regular hydraulic brakes to stop the vehicle. Parking brakes also have a self-locking system, which means that the brake won’t be released unless the lever or foot brake is released.

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The Garage

The Garage is a pillar of the Hampton Bays, NY community. The Garage is a leader in offering name brand tires, wheels, auto repair and brake services for customers located in and around the Hampton Bays, New York area. Our goal is to focus on customer service. It is the foundation of our business. The Garage employs a well-trained staff specializing in the sale and installation of passenger car, performance and light truck or SUV tires. Custom wheels are available at The Garage. Special wheels and rims compliment any tire or customer vehicle. Complete under-car services, such as oil changes, brakes, shocks, struts, alignment, and transmission fluid flush for both foreign and domestic vehicles are readily available at competitive prices. Take this opportunity to browse The Garage website or call us for personalized service.

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Phone: (631) 728-0200
Fax: (631) 728-4382
Address: 171 West Montauk Highway
Hampton Bays, NY 11946

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