Posted on 3/28/2025
You engage the parking brake, shift into gear, and instead of staying put, the car inches forward. It’s a small movement, but enough to make you question whether the brake is doing its job. The parking brake is designed to hold your vehicle in place—if it doesn’t, there’s likely a problem. This kind of issue tends to show up in older cars or ones that haven’t had the brake system serviced in a while. Knowing what’s causing it can help you avoid more serious (and expensive) trouble down the line. How the Parking Brake Is Supposed to Work The parking brake is a separate system from your regular hydraulic brakes. It’s usually cable-operated (in traditional setups) or electronic in newer vehicles, and it engages the rear brakes to prevent your car from rolling when parked. When you pull the lever or press the brake button, the system tightens those rear brakes mechanically. It’s not designed to stop your car while moving b ... read more