Electronically Controlled Parking Brakes

[Eric G]

My next vehicle purchase may have an electronically controlled parking brake. Is it just as simple to replace pads and rotors as with a standard parking brake or does the parking brake need to be placed into service mode by means of a specialized computer?

Topic

[dan]

what kind of vehicle do you have?

[Gary]

Depends on the vehicle. In general, especially on German cars, they are more complicated.

[Matt]

With my dad’s Volkswagen, you have to use a computer running VAGCOM software to retract the caliper piston. It can’t be done with a clamp or anything.

[Donald]

Stay away from electronic parking brakes. To complicated. I’m familiar with electronics and I even think its stupid.

[Gary]

[quote=”Rattman1″ post=152679]Stay away from electronic parking brakes. To complicated. I’m familiar with electronics and I even think its stupid.[/quote]
I’d have to agree with this. It’s a “selling point” and not much more. In fact, I’ve seen them fail quite often. The only benefit from them is a slight reduction in weight and savings cost to manufacture.
To the consumer, the system is without benefit. A parking brake is supposed to be a failsafe. Electronics ultimately fail. Trusting such an important action to electronics is just pure idiocy. A mechanical system will only fail if the line is cut or the shoe is worn out. A mechanical system can be utilized without battery power.

[EricTheCarGuy]

As many have pointed out, it depends on the vehicle.

[Author]

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