Realizing your parking brake is stuck is always unpleasant, especially when you need to get to another location quickly. If your parking brake will not budge, do not drive your car until you resolve the issue because it will cause further damage. Learn how to release the brake and call your local towing service if this important vehicle component still will not move.

How Parking Brakes Work

Originally designed as emergency brakes when the main system in vehicles fail, parking brakes in modern cars and trucks serve as extra support. They provide additional fortification when parking on a hill or any other terrain with a decline to prevent the vehicle from rolling.

This brake locks your car’s wheels in place while also reducing transmission stress. Automotive and towing experts recommend using this brake even when you are not on steep terrain because the parking gear keeps a pawl engaged in the transmission.

How Parking Brakes Get Stuck & What You Can Do About It

Parking brakes typically get stuck due to aggressive use, corrosion, and weather-related issues such as ice buildup. If your brake is stuck due to corrosion, engage and release it numerous times to dislodge the rust. If the brake remains stuck after several tries, shift between drive and reverse to further disturb corroded sections.

If the brake is stuck from aggressive use, release it several times. For iced-up parking brakes, turn on your vehicle and let it run to melt the hardened water. Do so in an open space instead of a garage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Contact your local towing service if these methods do not work. Use a towing company that provides roadside assistance since one of the technicians may be able to release the brake. Keep your parking brake from getting stuck in the future by using it regularly but not aggressively, as it does not require a lot of force to engage. Using your brake routinely also helps prevent corrosion.

If you need towing services because of a stuck parking brake or any other reason, contact Bolster’s Towing to arrive at your location quickly. The Kalispell, MT, towing company has served the Greater Flathead area for over 45 years and offers 24/7 emergency services. Call (406) 752-4528 to schedule towing or learn about regular and special vehicle services online. Get vehicle maintenance and towing tips on Facebook.