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Emergency parking brake shoes are necessary for emergencies. This is because they will effectively maintain the vehicle in place as long as they have been engaged. Should your car have brake rotors, the parking brakes will be installed in it. The use of the emergency brake whenever you park accords your car with extra stability.
Similarly, engaging the emergency brakes equally keeps your car in perfect working order. Emergency brakes when not in use are liable to become damaged due to rust.
All or most cars are equipped with front disc brakes, whereas many others have rear discs and it is also a common practice to replace only the brake pads and resurface the rotors on a lathe, if necessary, for the surface to be both smooth and even at all times.
In answer to the question given earlier, it is simply not safe to drive without brake shoes or the parking brake, because one, you risk certain damage to other parts of the brake if you do, and secondly, it is an invitation to avoidable accidents with possibly dangerous outcomes that may involve you, other road users, and the vehicles themselves.
The handbrake is mostly used to slow down the car or bring it to a stop whenever you want without necessarily pressing the brake pedal.
The brake shoes are an integral part of a drum brake system which are crescent-shaped objects with a sort of friction material on one of their surfaces.
They are located in the brake drum, and when the brake pedal is depressed, they are forced outward, thus making them push against the inside of the brake drum which will eventually either slow down or stop the vehicle completely or both.
Table Of Contents
Why should one drive a car with brake shoes?
You are required to drive with brake shoes simply for either slowing down or completely stopping the vehicle as the case may be. If you should drive without brake shoes, it is a very risky enterprise at best.
This is because there is the possibility of getting into an accident that could affect either you, other road users, and the vehicles as well. Driving without brakes contravenes the principal regulation guiding safe driving anywhere in the world, which is punishable by law without any compromise whatsoever.
How do you drive with brake shoes?
Driving with brake shoes is not much different from traditional driving. However, when driving with brake shoes, you are supposed to ensure that the brake shoes are installed properly such that they give your vehicle very effective stopping power. (Read Also:Does Brake Fluid Remove Paint From Plastics?)
Secondly, you should always apply them gradually until the car has slowed down enough for you to press the clutch to guard against the engine stalling on you.
Sometimes, if your brake shoes are either worn out or damaged, you may have to repeatedly pump the brake pedal before you can get any response from the car, which in most cases is not very satisfactory since the braking distance is too long or poor.
Where can I buy brake shoes?
Where you can buy brake shoes is simple enough if you make the needed effort. First, it depends on where you live. For instance, wherever you may live, there should be auto shops or markets close to you that will both retail or wholesale these brake accessories.(Read Also:Do Motorcycles Brake Faster Than Cars?)
In addition, you can get renowned and durable brake shoes from reputable suppliers that have outlets all over the world like Amazon, Ali Express, Etsy, and lots of other places too.
These suppliers sell brake shoes and other accessories that are second to none covered with a lengthy guarantee and warranty terms as well.
Finally, if you wish to know where to buy brake shoes, you can conduct research online for any specific brake shoe you want or ask people around to furnish you with the necessary information too.
Are our brake shoes necessary?
In simple terms, brake shoes are necessary for both safe and effective driving at all times. Should you risk driving without them, the chances are you won’t be able to both slow down or stop the car whenever the need arises.
This is a potentially dangerous situation that is liable to affect the drivers of the vehicles, other people, and the vehicles involved in the accidents too.
As a result of all these, brake shoes are not just necessary but are also mandatory, for if you should dare to drive without them, you risk prosecution, paying of fine, and lots more for reckless driving.
Frequently asked questions(FAQ)
Can automatic roll in the park position?
It is considered completely normal for a car with automatic transmission to move for a short distance of an inch or more after it has been parked.
This sort of mechanical play is very common in most, if not all, modern cars, if your vehicle moves for more than a few inches after applying the parking brakes and is still in the ‘Park’ position, it might be indicative of a transmission problem in the car.(Read Also:Does Brake Oil Cure Pimples?)
Notably, when you engage an automatic transmission in the Park position, the parking pawl will certainly move towards the output shaft, and those couple of inches moved that you experience may be caused by any small space left over when the pawl is activated.
Generally, an automatic will either move forward slowly if you are in ‘Drive’ or any other gear for that matter.
However, if you are in ‘Reverse’, it is likely to go backward slowly, which is commonly referred to as ‘creeping’ or idle speed. This makes it simpler to keep your right foot over or even on top of the brake pedal whenever you are either parking or even while just tagging along in slow-moving traffic as well.
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What do you do if the handbrake fails?
If you keep your cool and stay focussed, nothing untoward will happen even when your parking brakes fail unexpectedly. What this means is that you must be very careful how you park. First, you must make sure that you don’t park your car either on a slope or a hill.
Furthermore, after parking, you should make sure to engage the car in a gear, preferably the first gear. In addition, you may use wedges ahead or in front of some or all of its tires to prevent the car from rolling off.
If the handbrake fails, it is your parking safety that matters the most, and hence, you should adopt any measure that will prevent it from rolling off with potentially very disastrous tidings.
It is now absolutely essential that we introduce to you some brake shoes and other accessories of great distinction that will avail you the satisfaction and driving safety you should want always available at some of the best suppliers in the world like Amazon.
(1). Raybestos Professional Grade Drum Brake Shoe Set
These brake shoes are renowned for their impressive and standout qualities. In addition, their highly improved braking power and shorter break-in time is an advantage they have over most other competitors as well. They are also dust resistant and durable, especially since they are copper-free too.
(2). Power Stop Auto Speciality Brake Shoes
They will certainly give you value for money spent and are very fast and easy to install as well, with little or no expertise. Additionally, like all other brake shoes on the market, they are also very durable due to their material compositions. They are supplied under very customer-friendly guarantee and warranty terms as well.(Read Also:Can ABS Cause Caliper To Stick? Find Out Now)
(3). Bosch Blue Drum Brake Shoe Set for Toyota Tacoma
These brake shoes are reputedly engineered to meet all OE design standards as well as to provide very consistent and superior braking performance too. They are 100 percent steel and rust-free due to their rust inhibiting coating. They are also manufactured using asbestos-free formulations that confer on them excellent anti-rust-free and very impressive braking performance too.(Read Also:Can You Brake On Cruise Control?
Can You Drive A Car Without Brake Shoes – Conclusion
Brake shoes are necessary when we choose to either slow down or even stop the car. As a result of this indispensable function, it is always advisable to ensure that your brakes are in top shape at all times. There is also the need to make sure that you buy them from very reputable suppliers, install them properly, and use them carefully too.(Read Also: Are Duralast Brake Pads Good?)
If you fail to adhere strictly to any of these recommendations, chances are your brake pads, no matter their qualities, will not last as long as they ought to.
You have also been adequately informed on what to do in the event of brake failure or in cases where you have to make do without parking brakes as well.
If you adhere strictly to all these recommendations, you will certainly derive maximum benefits from your brake shoes and overall performance too.
