Handbrake engaged on its own while driving

[sanchit]

Hi everyone,

I had a strange situation today, I was driving in the city around 50 km/h when my car started slowing down for a few seconds, then it stopped slowing down and I could accelerate for 1 or 2 seconds and then the parking brake light came on and the I think the handbrake engaged as the car jolted for like half a second, I went to the side pulled the handbrake up a bit, pressed the button and pushed the handbrake down again and the car drove just fine after that.

Thankfully this happened in the city at a low speed with no one around so it wasnt an issue, however I wouldnt like this to happen to me on the highway or something thats why I am wondering what is the cause.

At the time of the incident, the handbrake was fully down, I had already driven around 1km from my house with no issues and after that the handbrake decided to act on its own.

I have had this vehicle for 3 weeks and never had any handbrake related issues, except that sometime I had to pull it 1 click higher after parking since it rolled a bit, but after pulling higher it stopped.

Anyone here that might have a similar issue? Or might know the cause or solution to this. At this point I am afraid to use the parking brake again incase it engages while im driving again. Currently using the gear and wheel chocks.

Thank you all for your time and for your help

Kind Regards,
Sanchit

[thomasryan]

brake shoes can be trailing or leading.

remove the rear rotor and inspect the assembly.

[Jfrahm]

The Handbrake was probably not fully released at first and when they got hot they started to grab properly. This happened to me once in my 914 back when.

[thomasryan]

no fun adjusting the pads through the control arms on teeners. mine used to roll away when the rear brakes cooled off so I kept a chock in the driveway.


calipers can seize up if no one ever cleaned them or changed the fluid but check the parking assembly mechanism.