Hi all,

My first few weeks of ownership has been a bit bumpy with some issues to sort out. Unfortunately today the parking brake no longer wishes to work and emits a large screech or a loud grinding noise when trying to apply. The brake actually never applies which I suppose is good as it is not stuck on.

It did this only twice previously. The last few times it happened when I left the car in Drive instead of Park and I thought this was why it was making that noise. In the meantime, will the car be safe to keep in park without the brake on? Will it require a new actuator and can anyone recommend a repair service in north west?

Thanks,
peter

If your leaving it in park, do it on level ground so you don’t over stress the pin.

You could replace the actuator but that’s expensive, or you can try and save it if it’s not damaged (there’s a how to somewhere I think) and if there’s damage i.e. stripped gear, I think you can get a repair kit. If you rebuild, go through the whole system including cables and cable ends or you will be back to square one again. 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
2012 5.0 SC AB. Sadly written off by a campervan
23 plate Focus ST (Current)
1942 VEP Ford GPW Jeep (Willys) (Current)
1943 Whites M16 Halftrack (Current)
16 plate Eurofighter Typhoon, 2 x Eurojet engines with 20,000lbs thrust each. 1380mph

Not ideal to leave it in Park without the handbrake applied but certainly don't even think about trying to operate the handbrake,, it will only make things worse. If you can park on a fairly level surface all the better. If you are lucky you may get away with having the rear brakes serviced and adjusted properly,, as the brakes are not siezed on is a plus point. Not knowing exactly where you are can't really help with any places that you could go to,, although I think there used to be a forum member who did mobile work in the Preston area if that's anywhere near you 2010 RRS, TDV8
bali Blue / colour coded
side steps / flappy paddles
black perforated leather
22" overfinch
heated everything, TV,fridge ...... now with gold calipers and mud flaps !( black mud flaps that is) !!
Many years ago,,,,, 1955 series 1 landie , sometimes wish I had kept it

Are the pins on the RRS substantially weaker than other cars?

I ask because I've driven 4x4s for 20 years (RR, Jeep, Dodge, Cayenne etc) and have never ever used the handbrake, nor has anyone I know and only on this RRS forum have I seen people mention about the pin?

Not sure what you mean by pins,,, can't recall having seen it mentioned but as you can imagine if you leave it in Park you are relying on the Gearbox internals to stop the car from moving,,, not best practice. Also the old adage,,,, if you don't use it you will lose it applies to the handbrake, the less you function it, the more chance of it siezing. 2010 RRS, TDV8
bali Blue / colour coded
side steps / flappy paddles
black perforated leather
22" overfinch
heated everything, TV,fridge ...... now with gold calipers and mud flaps !( black mud flaps that is) !!
Many years ago,,,,, 1955 series 1 landie , sometimes wish I had kept it

Sadly that last bit is 100% not true...

I'd read that same advise on here before I bought the car, so religiously used the handbrake every time, even at junctions etc.
Didn't stop it seizing solid one night outside the cinema at Midnight about 4 months into ownership..... add to that the fact I had a receipt in the service history for total system replacement dated 5 months prior to purchase and you can probably see the reason for my opinion on the EPB system as a whole.

Now I don't use it at all there's no risk of seizure.

I have also fallen foul of EPB seizure,, even though I used it on a regular basis. It's not just a case of using it at every opportunity,, it also has to be cleaned and kept adjusted. It's worth spending a couple of quid extra when it is being serviced to have the rear discs lifted off,, mechanism cleaned and adjusted. Whether you used it or not it is going to accumulate brake dust and dirt which will eventually cause expensive problems, it has to be usable for an MOT, even if you don't use it the tester will so it's not as if you can bury your head in the sand and pretend it's not there. I've been caught out once and never again. 2010 RRS, TDV8
bali Blue / colour coded
side steps / flappy paddles
black perforated leather
22" overfinch
heated everything, TV,fridge ...... now with gold calipers and mud flaps !( black mud flaps that is) !!
Many years ago,,,,, 1955 series 1 landie , sometimes wish I had kept it

derekmines wrote:

Are the pins on the RRS substantially weaker than other cars?

I ask because I've driven 4x4s for 20 years (RR, Jeep, Dodge, Cayenne etc) and have never ever used the handbrake, nor has anyone I know and only on this RRS forum have I seen people mention about the pin?

"a little slow" .. methinks they are being kind

I've driven various autos for years and up until the RRS pretty much always just threw them into park, foot off the brake and let it bounce off the parking pawl in the gearbox - never had one fail..

..of course, they all weighed well under 2000kg, and when I do that in the RRS I feel like I'm letting a tank bounce back on the pawl! I try to remember to use the handbrake..

That said, "failing to engage properly" sounds very different to "snaps off", but is still a good reason not to trust it to hold the car. I wonder what counts as "early" in this context? 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S