05Flagship

By response, how many people has had there parking brake give out.... I live on an incline and use it daily... but not I can not.... does applying brake on incline reduce wear and tear on Transmission?

Tom57

Parking brake only mechanically engages the rear drum/shoe brakes inside the disc brake rotor. Using the parking brake may help shifting the trans from park into gear especially when on an incline. I have not had this park brake "give out."

LS430inDE.

I've never had an issue with the parking brake. I only use it when I drive up on ramps to do oil changes.

As Tom mentioned, it also helps shifting from park to R or D when the car is on a steep incline. To further assist in shifting the transmission out of park, it's best to apply the parking brake when you get into position, and BEFORE you shift into P, not after you shift into P.

I'm pretty sure that 99% of cars use some sort of a steel/braided cable that runs from the parking brake mechanism in the cabin, down the frame of the car, and to the rear brake assembly. The only points of failure that I can think of would be related to the cable.

Either the cable became disconnected from the foot/parking brake mechanism in the cabin, or is broken/cut along the frame of the body, or is disconnected at the rear brakes.

It also could be 'sssstttrrreeetttccchhheeeddd' (stretched) since you use it daily, and might merely use an adjustment. Some cars have an automatic tensioner/adjuster if you drive in R and apply the brakes. Not sure about our LS's though. Try driving in R at a decent speed and apply the brakes (regular brakes, not parking) a couple times. Couldn't hurt (as long as you don't run into anything)

Here's a thread describing the cable attachment/assembly at the rear wheels. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ake-cable.html