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From: cicada on 2 Oct 2008 13:05
I usually only use the emergency brake on my 2000 Camry CE when
parking on a hill slope. I've never thought of and never tried to use
it in an emergency to stop the car.

So in case I do get into an situation where the usual front and rear
brakes fail, I want to know how the emergency brake functions. Here
is what I plan to do. I'll drive my car at a speed of around 40 to 50
mph on an empty space, then I'll use ONLY the emergency brake to stop
the car. I want to feel how it works so I can be ready in a real
emergency.

Since I never tried this before, I want to check with experts here.
The manual doesn't say to try something like this. So I wonder if I
can actually try this. Will it hurt my car? Thanks.
From: mrdarrett on 2 Oct 2008 14:10
On Oct 2, 10:05 am, cicada <ryinm...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> I usually only use the emergency brake on my 2000 Camry CE when
> parking on a hill slope. I've never thought of and never tried to use
> it in an emergency to stop the car.
>
> So in case I do get into an situation where the usual front and rear
> brakes fail, I want to know how the emergency brake functions. Here
> is what I plan to do. I'll drive my car at a speed of around 40 to 50
> mph on an empty space, then I'll use ONLY the emergency brake to stop
> the car. I want to feel how it works so I can be ready in a real
> emergency.


That might be a little fast. You might skid. I've tried it in my '96
camry but only at low speeds: less than 20 mph.

Try downshifting, disabling the O/D? Are you anticipating coming down
a mountain pass and the brakes failing?

Michael

>
> Since I never tried this before, I want to check with experts here.
> The manual doesn't say to try something like this. So I wonder if I
> can actually try this. Will it hurt my car? Thanks.

From: ransley on 2 Oct 2008 15:33
On Oct 2, 12:05 pm, cicada <ryinm...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> I usually only use the emergency brake on my 2000 Camry CE when
> parking on a hill slope.  I've never thought of and never tried to use
> it in an emergency to stop the car.
>
> So in case I do get into an situation where the usual front and rear
> brakes fail, I want to know how the emergency brake functions.  Here
> is what I plan to do.  I'll drive my car at a speed of around 40 to 50
> mph on an empty space, then I'll use ONLY the emergency brake to stop
> the car.  I want to feel how it works so I can be ready in a real
> emergency.
>
> Since I never tried this before, I want to check with experts here.
> The manual doesn't say to try something like this.  So I wonder if I
> can actually try this.  Will it hurt my car?  Thanks.

Hold in the release button with your thumb so its like a hand brake,
or it will lock in that position, have fun, go 55 and pull hard your
rear brakes just lock up. Good idea to check now because cables
stretch and it may need adjustment, I drove home one winter night when
my brake line ruptured, and my emergency brake cables were loose, I
did not have much stopping power. Using the emergency brake is just
like having only rear brakes, it works.
From: Leftie on 2 Oct 2008 19:13
cicada wrote:
> I usually only use the emergency brake on my 2000 Camry CE when
> parking on a hill slope. I've never thought of and never tried to use
> it in an emergency to stop the car.
>
> So in case I do get into an situation where the usual front and rear
> brakes fail, I want to know how the emergency brake functions. Here
> is what I plan to do. I'll drive my car at a speed of around 40 to 50
> mph on an empty space, then I'll use ONLY the emergency brake to stop
> the car. I want to feel how it works so I can be ready in a real
> emergency.
>
> Since I never tried this before, I want to check with experts here.
> The manual doesn't say to try something like this. So I wonder if I
> can actually try this. Will it hurt my car? Thanks.


Braking with just the rear wheels can be dangerous (slides and/or
skids) so use the E-brake carefully, and use engine braking in the front
by manually downshifting the transmission.
From: Daniel on 3 Oct 2008 16:36
cicada wrote:
> I usually only use the emergency brake on my 2000 Camry CE when
> parking on a hill slope.
====
Simply change your terminology to "parking brake."
All modern brake systems use a partitioned master cylinder, so even if
a portion of the braking system fails completely, you're not without
stopping power.
The parking brake will slow the car, but it's not intended for that
purpose and is of limited value for real braking.
Change the brake fluid every few years and check the linings thickness
occasionally, you should be fine.
The front brakes do most of the work and they have a metallic scraper
to remind you when worm too low.
Actual brake failure is rare, not worth your concern.
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