I let a friend of mine drive my '03 TL Type-S on a quick trip to WalMart and he left the parking brake on. Fortunately, it was only halfway down so it isn't entirely toast, but it is certainly not good. Does anyone know how the parking brake works or even better, how to fix it? I've heard that it just engages the rear brakes without the hydraulics so I was thinking that I could simply replace the rear brake pads. Also, does anyone know how much that would cost?

 

Have you done any testing to see if it is toast!?
can the car still hold on a drive way or an incline with the parking brake engaged!?


the parking brake is USED so rarely, and only used for parking...Hence the name...PARKING brake.
its not an emergency brake and shouldnt be used as such.

since you're an automatic, you only need to use the parking brake when parking.

come to a complete stop.
pull the parking brake to engage
then shift into park.

 

The parking brake is like a small drum brake inside the rear rotors. They can be adjusted and replaced as well. Here's a page that shows you clearly:
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

 

^but in general, you really dont have to change it.
I bet it will still hold the car on an incline.

Unless the OP has infinite amount of money and wants to change it out for the heck of it.

 

Shouldn't need to be but if a friend does you the favor of driving with it on its at least worth peeking at to make sure it's still proper. I use mine everytime I park my car. Probably will never come to where it's actually saving the car but from years of driving manual cars it's just a habit.

 

I have a six speed 06 TL.
I use mine on a daily basis.

Ive made the booboo of driving with it up a few times.
and mine still holds the car on an incline with out putting into gear.

Just sayin'
if OP does a simple test of seeing if it can hold, then he doesnt need to change it.

 

easy enough to remove rear caliper and rotor to inspect park brake shoes
they are very thin to start,,,about 35-40$ for a new set

adjustment is via a star wheel on bottem- access thru rubber plug on rotor (so thats what the plug is for!)
same as any old school drum brake system
clean and lube threaded arm-adjuster mechanism and springs

tighten with screwdriver as lever, till wheel wont turn by hand then back off 6 clicks

 

Ahh yes this brings back some very not fond memories of all my very old cars and working on drum brakes. Stupid ass springs everywhere. Only thing that saved me was my specialty brake tools that came in the set I was made to buy for school once upon a time. Alas my days of drum brakes are not over yet because of my 01 odyssey. It has got to be absolutely the only vehicle Honda made with drum brakes that year.. That's ok though, 2 more years and I should be buying a 2014 odyssey! Then I'll have a 3.5 to play with for my TL as long as its not demolished by then.

 

Hey Cuber2112, A quick trip to Wallyworld with the parking brake half engaged is not a reason to panic. Chances are good that the internal pb shoes are still ok, as Justnspace stated earlier. It's relatively simple to check them out if in doubt, as o1tl4tl suggested.

Maybe an inspection, cleaning and adjustment will be all you need. While you're in there, it's a good time to look over the rear disc pads and clean/lube the caliper slides. You could even rotate the tires to make it all worth the effort !

 

Mine are original with 500+k miles on them and i use them a TON in the winter to slide teh rear end around or to slow down so that the cops dont see me hitting the brake at night. I highly doubt you did any damage at all.

 

it wont hurt to do a clean and lube inspection of the brakes and mechanism
there is probably a lot of brake dust in the drum/center or rear rotor

 

lmao.. i tried this thought it was fun... was in a walmart and sam's parking lot.. i hit the curb on my back wheel or exhaust that could of been what smashed it in lol but i figured that it was already like that when I bought it. I would be scared to hit the parking brake to slow down cause I would be scared that it locks and then does a 180 or something.

 

^yeah, experienced drivers only.

 

Having the hand operated parking brake makes it a bit easier.

 

Yeh, I miss the hand brake....definitely much better for all around control and quick access !

Perhaps somebody could come up with a mod to lower the foot pedal for our parking brake to address this issue. Ha, hah !

 

in an emergency use of park brake to slow/stop the car:
apply part way!

unlike most cars that use the disc brake as park brake, we have a separate system... with lower capabilities
mini drum brakes,,built inside that wide center section of the rear rotor