What's a good way to test the emergency brake?

[Dennis Blewett]

I've got a feeling that the emergency brake in the 2000 Dodge Neon that I'm driving is not working as it's supposed to. For instance, for the past couple of times, I have had the emergency brake up while forgetting that the emergency brake was up. Afterward, I'd take off with the vehicle. I'd notice a decrease in speed, question why there was a decrease, and then recall the emergency brake is on. From there, I'd take it off.

But I'm thinking it's not working, because I would expect the car to seriously have some speed and movement issues, such as not being able to reverse.

What are some good ways to check whether or not the emergency brake is doing what it's supposed to do?

I think there might be a problem with the brakes, but I want to make sure the emergency brake works until I get to those issues.

[FAC3L3SS]

Sit on an incline in neutral. Pull ebrake. Let foot off brake pedal. Did you move? It's not working or needs shoes. Did you sit still? It's working.

[valleyracer]

If you look on the INSIDE of the rear wheel brake unit, you'll see a little rubber grommet. Underneath is a ratchet (knurled knob) that expands the drum shoes (e-brake function) as thee shoes wear.
With the lever advantage of the handbrake cable actuation the SHOES move outward to hold the car still.
Parking brake routinely needs adjustment.

Do you feel comfortable adjusting the shoes?

A brake shop will adjust them cheaply if you don't

[occasional demons]

If the adjusters are working properly, the rear brakes will stay adjusted, and the parking brake will also remain adjusted, except for eventual cable stretch. This does not apply to rear disc, only drums. Rear discs must be manually adjusted.

I have never really adjusted my parking brake, and have over 200000 miles on the car. It still holds at less than halfway up.

Once you have the rear shoes adjusted/adjusters working properly for drum brakes, you can reset the parking brake handle as instructed in the FSM:

WARNING: THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FEATURE
OF THIS PARKING BRAKE LEVER CONTAINS A
CLOCK SPRING LOADED TO APPROXIMATELY 25
POUNDS. DO NOT RELEASE THE AUTOMATIC
ADJUSTER LOCKOUT DEVICE UNLESS THE REAR
PARKING BRAKE CABLES AND EQUALIZER ARE
CONNECTED TO THE LEVER OUTPUT CABLE.
KEEP HANDS OUT OF AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER
SECTOR AND PAWL AREA. FAILURE TO OBSERVE
CAUTION IN HANDLING THIS MECHANISM COULD
LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY.
WARNING: WHEN REPAIRS TO THE PARKING
BRAKE LEVER OR CABLES ARE REQUIRED, THE
AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER MUST BE LOADED AND
LOCKED OUT TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY. THE
LEVER ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM CAN BE
LOADED AND LOCKED OUT AS OUTLINED IN THIS
PROCEDURE.

Block the tire and wheels so the vehicle does
not move once the vehicle parking brake lever is
released.

Fully apply the parking brake lever, then shift
the transmission into neutral.

Remove the screws attaching the center console,
then remove the center console.

Lower the parking brake lever handle to the
released position.

Grasp the parking brake lever output cable by
hand and pull upward. Continue pulling on the cable
until a pin punch can be inserted through the hole in
the lever mechanism sector gear and the hole in the
right side of its mounting bracket (Fig. 149). This
will lock the parking brake automatic adjustment mechanism in place and take tension off the parking brake cables..



NOTE: The parking brake lever can only be in the
released position when releasing the automatic
adjuster.
Keeping your hands clear of the automatic
adjuster sector and pawl area, firmly grasp the parking
brake lever pin punch
(or locking pin if a new
mechanism has been installed) (Fig. 149), then
quickly remove it from the parking brake lever mechanism.
This will allow the park brake lever mechanism
to automatically adjust the parking brake
cables.

Cycle the parking brake lever once to position
the parking brake cables, then return the parking
brake lever its released position.

Check the rear wheels of the vehicle. They
should rotate freely without dragging with the lever
in its released position.

Fully apply the parking brake lever.

Install the center console and its mounting
screws.

Remove the blocks from the tires and wheels