Parking brake

[KTG1959]

So, This happened today, I had my parking brake set to automatically come on when the truck is put in park, I like the idea when at the boat ramp. Anyway, I stopped at a retailer today, did my shopping and when I went to leave my parking brake wouldn't release !! After about an hour and several attempts it released and has been fine sense. Has anyone else encountered this?

 

[KTG1959]

I had my parking brake set to activate when the truck in put in park( I like the idea when at the boat ramp), yesterday I stopped at a retailer, did my shopping and when I started my truck to leave the parking brake would not release. After about an hour and several attempts, it released, I turned off the auto activate so hopefully that won't happen again. I will ask the dealer tomorrow about why it did that, has anyone else run into this problem ?

 

[NorthStar1]

I turned my off the day I took possession of the truck. I found it to be the most useless technology on the 2019/2020 Ram. Others may have found a use for it - which I’d be interested to learn about - but I still can’t imagine how this could be useful to a driver.

 

[JD Martin]

I turned my off the day I took possession of the truck. I found it to be the most useless technology on the 2019/2020 Ram. Others may have found a use for it - which I’d be interested to learn about - but I still can’t imagine how this could be useful to a driver.

This is one of the most useful features on my truck. I probably killed my parking brake on my Titan 4 or 5 times over the years by forgetting it was engaged. I live in the mountains and you have to use the parking brake everywhere, all the time. For whatever reason I can't remember to release the pedal type of emergency brakes.

 

[RVGuy]

I like to use the parking brake because it keeps the weight of the truck off the park pawl in the trans.
Unfortunately the cable actuated parking brake on my 6 speed sometimes freezes when it's applied which can lead to me needing to lay underneath the truck and melt everything with a heat gun. I'm looking forward to having the motor actuated system whenever I upgrade to a 5th gen truck as I'll definitely be using this feature.

 

[JoeCo]

I like to use the parking brake because it keeps the weight of the truck off the park pawl in the trans.
Unfortunately the cable actuated parking brake on my 6 speed sometimes freezes when it's applied which can lead to me needing to lay underneath the truck and melt everything with a heat gun. I'm looking forward to having the motor actuated system whenever I upgrade to a 5th gen truck as I'll definitely be using this feature.

I use my parking brake about 90% of the time and was wondering about these new style parking brakes on the 5th gens. I'm on my 3rd fourth gen and have never had a problem with any of mine before, but considering my amount of usage I'd like to know how these new style brakes are performing for people who use them regularly. So this new style parking brake will engage automatically when it park, and disengage automatically when put back into gear? Or do you still release it manually when you are ready to move?

Sorry to the OP that I can't help, all I can say is I don't recall seeing this problem mentioned here before, but I certainly could have missed it.

 

[KTG1959]

Joeco, The 5th gens have an app that lets you program the parking brake to engage when the transmission is put in park, However, you have to manually disengage it.

 

[JoeCo]

Joeco, The 5th gens have an app that lets you program the parking brake to engage when the transmission is put in park, However, you have to manually disengage it.

Thanks for the info. I can certainly live with that considering that's how I've always done it, but was curious to know how it all worked.

 

[JD Martin]

Joeco, The 5th gens have an app that lets you program the parking brake to engage when the transmission is put in park, However, you have to manually disengage it.

No you don't. My parking brake sets itself and releases itself. If you don't have your seat belt on you have to push the button to release it, but if your seat belt is on you don't have to do anything.

I love the feature. I never have to even think about the parking brake, which is awesome. If the brake was a hand brake I probably wouldn't care either way but like I said I kill the pedal kind all the time. Never wore out any of the hand brake ones.

 

[turkeybird56]

No you don't. My parking brake sets itself and releases itself. If you don't have your seat belt on you have to push the button to release it, but if your seat belt is on you don't have to do anything.

I love the feature. I never have to even think about the parking brake, which is awesome. If the brake was a hand brake I probably wouldn't care either way but like I said I will the pedal kind all the time. Never wore out any of the hand brake ones.

JD CORRECT. Ready to roll, door closed, seatbelt on, Parking Brake will automatically release when placed in Drive. NOW, I do not live in a hilly area or ne thing, so I have the auto brake disabled. SO, If I think I need it, I have to put on manually and release manually UNLESS the above conditions are met (ie., park to drive, etc)...

 

[KTG1959]

No you don't. My parking brake sets itself and releases itself. If you don't have your seat belt on you have to push the button to release it, but if your seat belt is on you don't have to do anything.

I love the feature. I never have to even think about the parking brake, which is awesome. If the brake was a hand brake I probably wouldn't care either way but like I said I will the pedal kind all the time. Never wore out any of the hand brake ones.

I never knew that.

 

[NorthStar1]

Thanks for the info JD Martin! That’s what I love about this forum!

 

[JoeCo]

No you don't. My parking brake sets itself and releases itself. If you don't have your seat belt on you have to push the button to release it, but if your seat belt is on you don't have to do anything.

I love the feature. I never have to even think about the parking brake, which is awesome. If the brake was a hand brake I probably wouldn't care either way but like I said I will the pedal kind all the time. Never wore out any of the hand brake ones.

Good to know, I've forgotten to release my pedal kind every once in a while but mine have held pretty tight and generally the truck won't move, and it lets you know with chimes and I believe it flashes the parking brake light as well. I'm surprised all brands wouldn't do that at this point. My 66 buick won't give me any warnings, but the parking brake on that thing is even stronger and won't budge when it's applied. Thanks for the info though about it releasing automatically if your seat belt is on, good to know for my likely next ram purchase.

Any thoughts on longevity and reliability of this style vs the old? I know these are new on rams but they've been on other cars for a while, haven't really heard much so I guess they can't be bad?

 

[JD Martin]

Good to know, I've forgotten to release my pedal kind every once in a while but mine have held pretty tight and generally the truck won't move, and it lets you know with chimes and I believe it flashes the parking brake light as well. I'm surprised all brands wouldn't do that at this point. My 66 buick won't give me any warnings, but the parking brake on that thing is even stronger and won't budge when it's applied. Thanks for the info though about it releasing automatically if your seat belt is on, good to know for my likely next ram purchase.

Any thoughts on longevity and reliability of this style vs the old? I know these are new on rams but they've been on other cars for a while, haven't really heard much so I guess they can't be bad?

So far one year in my parking brake has been flawless. No doubt I would have killed the parking brake again on the Titan in the past year

 

[turkeybird56]

JOECO: No idea on longevity. "Back" in the days, some fancy cars had auto brakes, Kinda like the mid-late 60's T-Birds, Caddy's. I had a 66 YT-Bird, with the tilt 45% up to the left steering wheel and such.


MY big concern on E-Brakes would be operating in a very cold/frozen climate. The last thing U want is the underside of yer ride covered in snow/ice with E-Brake on and frozen. That would be my big worry. I was taught years ago leave that puppy off when in an environment like that, just a saying.

Heck, it might be the best thing since sliced bread, U just don';t know, LMAO....

 

[JoeCo]

JOECO: No idea on longevity. "Back" in the days, some fancy cars had auto brakes, Kinda like the mid-late 60's T-Birds, Caddy's. I had a 66 YT-Bird, with the tilt 45% up to the left steering wheel and such.


MY big concern on E-Brakes would be operating in a very cold/frozen climate. The last thing U want is the underside of yer ride covered in snow/ice with E-Brake on and frozen. That would be my big worry. I was taught years ago leave that puppy off when in an environment like that, just a saying.

Heck, it might be the best thing since sliced bread, U just don';t know, LMAO....

That's interesting, I love old cars but wasn't aware some of them had that feature. Were they electric as well for those back then? The tilt steering wheel is cool as well, I have seen that one but not a whole lot. I've spent a lot of time at car shows over the years with my 66 buick that I've had for almost 17 years now, and have seen a lot but never heard of the auto brakes. Just when ya think you have seen it all...

As for the cold, I worry about that a little too. Although in my experience over the last 3-4 years that I started using my parking brake regularly, I've never had a problem with them freezing up at all. However, if I'm not going to be driving the truck for a longer period of time, I won't leave it on then. Overnight or a day or two has never been a problem.

In regards to the new style, it sounds nice and as long as it works reliably like my current system, I'll be happy to have it when I next upgrade.

 

[NorthStar1]

I tried it this morning when I was heading out to work and it operated as JD Martin stated it would. In Texas I don’t have an issue using it but as a lifelong former Alaskan, I’d be terrified to use it at -20 as I saw too many times when a mechanical parking brake froze up overnight and wouldn’t release. Perhaps this electric version has solved that problem...

 

[turkeybird56]

I tried it this morning when I was heading out to work and it operated as JD Martin stated it would. In Texas I don’t have an issue using it but as a lifelong former Alaskan, I’d be terrified to use it at -20 as I saw too many times when a mechanical parking brake froze up overnight and wouldn’t release. Perhaps this electric version has solved that problem...

Well maybe, but I would not count on it, hee hee,. I use my brake when parked on a hill, or say when towing trailer with hay/hossies, safety. Otherwise, NAH....

 

[turkeybird56]

That's interesting, I love old cars but wasn't aware some of them had that feature. Were they electric as well for those back then? The tilt steering wheel is cool as well, I have seen that one but not a whole lot. I've spent a lot of time at car shows over the years with my 66 buick that I've had for almost 17 years now, and have seen a lot but never heard of the auto brakes. Just when ya think you have seen it all...

As for the cold, I worry about that a little too. Although in my experience over the last 3-4 years that I started using my parking brake regularly, I've never had a problem with them freezing up at all. However, if I'm not going to be driving the truck for a longer period of time, I won't leave it on then. Overnight or a day or two has never been a problem.

In regards to the new style, it sounds nice and as long as it works reliably like my current system, I'll be happy to have it when I next upgrade.

Let me quantify this: my bad, been a kazillion years. U had to press the ebrake pedal down to engage on the T-Bird. When U put in gear, it released. had to sit and think about it. That T-Bird had a POS 390 in it, was mostly always unda the hood. I should have went and got a 351 Cleveland and put in, but alas, U know, that was like 72???? LMAO. Senility and Dementia reigns supreme, LMAO.....

 

[turkeybird56]

jedco: I only ever saw it on that T-Bird. I heard, but not seen that those old Monster Olds Toronado's had something like it, but cannot confirm... Just not in the mood to research frivolous info, ROFLMAO.. Who knows, maybe them maxed out GM products could have been an option. But I's a Poor Boird. Only had like a 65 Buick Special, 73 GrandVille, 68 Cutlass (luved that ragtop, should have kept), vehicles like that. No supa dupa expensive *** cars like Riviera's and such, not when U pump gas or work in a factory at $2.01 an hour, LOL. Boy dem millenials have no clue.