The average cost for emergency brake cable replacement is between $255 and $290. Labor costs are estimated between $135 and $170 while parts are priced at $120. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.

To release a stuck brake you can do several things. If it is safe to do so, you can try rocking the vehicle back and forth or manually getting under the vehicle to pull the cables. You can also try setting and releasing the brake multiple times in the hopes of knocking the brakes free.

Need to Adjust Brake Shoes: The single most common reason your parking brake won’t engage is a need to adjust the brake shoes. If this happens, there will be slack in the cable, and pulling the handle will not engage the parking brake. This is most common after inexpert parking brake repairs.

To do this:

1. Park your truck on flat ground.
2. Secure the rear tires with wheel chocks and then engage the parking brake.
3. Find the parking brake lever or pedal and then gently wiggle it to see if it’s stuck.
4. Check the parking brake cable attachment on the back of the lever or pedal to see if it’s broken or frayed.

How to Test a Parking Brake

1. Drive your vehicle to the top of a small hill. The hill needs to be sloped enough for your car to roll freely once you take your foot off the brake.
2. Roll the car down the hill.
3. Pull the parking brake.
4. Repeat the same steps in the opposite direction.
5. Visit your local mechanic.

Your parking brake is stuck due to rust or corrosion.

1. Disturb the brakes manually. Apply and release the brake a number of times.
2. Shift into drive and reverse, and back between drive and reverse again to slightly move the vehicle back and forth. This may dislodge some of the rust.

You could have a stuck caliper. Sometimes moisture gets into brake fluid or past the seals in the caliper pistons.

Yes, it is possible to drive with the parking brake on. Lots of people apply the parking brake lightly when they park. And unless you really pull (or push, if it’s a foot-operated brake) the parking brake until it almost won’t move any more, the engine can overcome it and move the wheels.

When used correctly, the parking brake helps relieve stress and tension on the transmission and other drive components. Additionally, if your vehicle is struck while in park, your parking brake will keep the vehicle from rolling away. The parking brake is called a parking brake for a reason; you should always use it.

You should use your emergency brake every time you park. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a hill or a flat parking lot, whether you drive an automatic or manual transmission, or whether the weather is pleasant or inclement. As the name suggests, you should also use your emergency brake in an emergency.

If allowed to remain engaged for too long, driving with the parking brake on can cause premature wear of brake components and could even lead to damage to the wheel bearing or a catastrophic failure of parts near or associated with the braking system.