Subaru XT Parking brake won't hold car Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(2,319)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(2,319)

Parking brake won't hold car Inspection Service

How much does a Parking brake won't hold car Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Subaru XT Parking brake won't hold car Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1987 Subaru XTH4-1.8L TurboService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1990 Subaru XTH4-1.8LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1988 Subaru XTH6-2.7LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1985 Subaru XTH4-1.8L TurboService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1989 Subaru XTH6-2.7LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1985 Subaru XTH4-1.8LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1991 Subaru XTH4-1.8LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1987 Subaru XTH4-1.8LService typeParking brake won't hold car InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Subaru XT Parking brake won't hold car Inspection prices

To prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your transmission, and to ensure that it doesn’t slip out of park and roll when you’re parked on an incline, your vehicle is equipped with a parking brake.

Engaging the parking brake activates the rear brakes, and ensures that the car won’t roll, even on a relatively steep incline. However, if your parking brake won’t hold the car, there’s a problem that must be addressed for your safety (and that of others).

How this system works:

Parking brake systems vary drastically from one automaker to another, and even on different makes and models. Some have a supplemental set of shoes inside a built-in drum on the rear rotors (disc brakes). Some use the rear shoes of the primary drum system as the parking brake. However, all of them should be able to hold the car on an incline.

When you activate the parking brake, either by pulling up the handle between the front seats or pushing the parking brake pedal under the dash, a cable that runs to the rear of the vehicle is pulled taut. This engages the parking brake. When you disengage the pedal or lower the handle, release springs in the rear return the brake system to its normal configuration and you’re able to drive.

Over time and through (lack of) normal use, your parking brake system might shift out of adjustment.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Brakes Out of Adjustment: The most common reason for a parking brake not to hold a car on an incline is that the brakes are out of adjustment. Most parking brakes are self-adjusting, which means that they automatically adjust through use. However, if you don’t use your parking brake very often, the system is thrown off (it’s not able to self-adjust if it’s not used).

  • Adjuster Wheel Damaged or Seized: Manually adjusting your brake pads is done with an adjuster wheel, which changes the spread of the shoes inside the drum. However, if the wheel is damaged or seized, you will not be able to adjust the shoes.

  • Drum Damage/Wear: If it has been some time since you had your drums resurfaced, the wear on the inside may make it impossible for the shoes to make contact with the surface (or make only light contact, meaning that while the brake engages, it won’t be enough to hold the car).

  • Brake Not Engaging: It might not be a question of the parking brake not holding the car. It might be a question of the parking brake not engaging at all. Rust, corrosion, damaged return springs and numerous other problems can prevent your parking brake from engaging in the first place.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect the parking brake, including the adjustment of the rear brakes, the condition of the cable and other components. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will need to inspect the entire parking brake system, including the handle, the cable, return springs, shoes and more. It’s likely that the mechanic will have to remove both rear wheels, as well as the drums in order to inspect the shoes and adjust the brakes if necessary.

How important is this service?

If your parking brake won’t hold the car, then parking on even a slight incline can be very dangerous. Even an automatic transmission can slip out of park, and if you’re driving a stick shift, it can also slip out of gear. When this happens, the car will roll down the incline, impacting anything in its way. One of our professional mechanics can inspect and repair your parking brake to ensure safety at all times.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Subaru mechanics

Real customer reviews from Subaru owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(2,319)

Rating Summary
2,210
56
16
10
27
2,210
56
16
10
27

Ryan

12 years of experience
47 reviews
Ryan
12 years of experience
Subaru Impreza H4-2.5L - Oil Change - San Diego, California
This is the second time I have had Ryan out to work on my car and he is very professional and trust worthy! I will always be going through him when I need service on my car. He is a cutie too 

Jean

15 years of experience
77 reviews
Jean
15 years of experience
Subaru Outback H4-2.5L - Brake fluid is leaking - Clearwater, Florida
Knowledgeable answered all my questions

Nicholas

11 years of experience
303 reviews
Nicholas
11 years of experience
Subaru Legacy H4-2.5L - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Houston, Texas
great

Robert

12 years of experience
76 reviews
Robert
12 years of experience
Subaru Impreza H4-2.0L Turbo - Car Radiator Replacement - San Jose, California
Robert did an excellent job. Thank you! 5 ✴️'s!

Excellent Rating

(2,319)

Rating Summary
2,210
56
16
10
27
2,210
56
16
10
27
Number of Subaru services completed
25509+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Subaru MECHANICS
700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

P0086 OBD-II Trouble Code: Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High (Bank 2)
P0086 P0086 trouble code definition P0086 is a OBD2 diagnostic trouble code indicating a fault within the exhaust valve control circuit. This code is similar to P0085 and P0084. What the P0086 code means P0086 is a DTC when high...
The Guide To Colored Curb Zones in South Carolina
South South Carolina parking laws: understanding the basics When parking in South Carolina, you need to make sure you understand the rules and laws that are in place. Knowing these will not only help to keep you from getting fines...
B1212 OBD-II Trouble Code: EIC Switch-2 Assembly Circuit Short To Ground
B1212 means a short circuit has been detected in the dashboard EIC, possibly due to wiring issues or a blown fuse.

Delay in shifting, rambling noise when accelerating

Various items can cause similar symptoms to the ones you have described. The most common would be a bad fuel filter, transmission fault, torque converter issue, shift solenoid problem, low fuel pressure, or a failed fuel injector. All of these...

Why does my car alarm not make any sound in my 2015 Toyota Corolla

Hello. The first thing I would need to know would be if this is the factory alarm or an aftermarket alarm. If it is a siren then it may be aftermarket meaning that the siren itself is bad. If this...

Black Dash with no Crank on 2004 Honda Civic

Hi there. It is quite possible that your ignition lock cylinder has a mechanical glitch that is creating a massive electrical short once it's activated to the third ignition switch. In most cases, the best way to resolve this problem...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com