Pulling the handbrake after driving in the rain - a mistake that can easily cost you money
After washing the car or driving in the rain, if the driver immediately pulls the handbrake and parks the car for a long time, there is a risk of the brake locking.
Most drivers have the habit of pulling the handbrake when parking to ensure that the car does not move when impacted from the outside. However, a risk that can occur is that the brake is locked when parking for a long time, especially when parking after washing or driving in the rain.
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In a car's disc brake system, the brake pads may be pressed firmly against the disc without releasing. |
Ngoc Quang (Hanoi) was once panicked because after two weeks of not driving, his Kia Morning could not move even though it was in D gear and the handbrake was down. He stepped on the gas hard, only to hear the engine revving but the car did not move. When the mechanic arrived, he discovered that the rear brakes were locked. Before storing the car, Quang drove it in the rain and waded through water.
The phenomenon of brake locking due to pulling the handbrake for a long time occurs with both disc brakes and drum brakes. When water, sand, dirt, and rust come into the brake system, the brake pads may not release from the disc.
The trick of experienced drivers in this case is to use a hammer wrapped in cloth and tap lightly on the rim, brake disc a few times. The vibration can help the rust fall off, separate the disc and pads. Then get in the car, put it in D gear and press the gas, put it in R gear and press the gas again, do it a few times to help the brake pads unstick. If you have done these steps and it does not work, you need to call a technician.
To avoid brake lock, after washing the car, the driver should drive a long distance, continuously checking and releasing the brakes to warm them up, combined with the wind to dry them faster. If driving in the rain, do not pull the handbrake when parking, putting the car in P is enough to keep the car from moving. With a manual transmission, put it in 1st gear. To be more careful, you can use wood or bricks to block the wheels.
After days of continuous rain, when the weather clears, drivers should wash their cars immediately, paying attention to parts that are easily clogged with sand, dust, and trash that are not visible from the outside. Clean these parts to keep the metal more durable and prevent rust from causing other harmful effects.
