@Robert M posted:Does anyone know anyone that has ever bought to use the "emergency brake" in an emergency when their main braking system failed? Even as a driving instructor for the sheriff's, like Ed was at one time, and being fully versed in emergency vehicle operations this technique has never been taught to me nor have I ever taught anyone to use it. And I don't know anyone who has ever used it in an actual emergency. I think it should be called by it's most common use and that is "parking brake".
@Robert M : Agreed. The last vehicle we purchased with an automatic was close to 20 years ago…and ONLY because a manual wasn’t even an option.
In all my driving manual transmissions I have never once grabbed for the brake handle (or foot pedal) to come to a controlled stop during a failure. It’s really more of a crutch in my opinion. In fact, the last TC I had was 20+ years ago in a 1969 el Camino SS396 that had a metering block failure. My instinct then was to try and shift to park after downshifting the automatic. Somehow the drivetrain survived FAR better than the sheet metal. But such is life.
The primary reason I made the change to an electronic brake was to clear up the cabin visually. Not to mention the heater boxes didn’t do squat if I ever needed heat in the cabin. I entertained an umbrella handle but I tend to gravitate towards things out of the norm. Hence the E-Stopp system.
I lean toward the “different” vehicles. That can be seen in our VS and our Suburban who would get SSI if he were human!