Q: Can a seized ebrake cause poor acceleration, and knocking noise in rear of vehicle

asked by on October 13, 2016

Can a seized parking brake cause slow acceleration and knocking noise from the back of my truck?

My car has 202000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Brake Shoes (Rear) Replacement $148.03 - $457.09 Get a Quote
Wheel Bearings Replacement $110.89 - $591.42 Get a Quote
Brake System Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

The seized emergency brake will cause the rear brakes to be either partly or fully engaged which will cause the brakes to drag. When this happens it creates slow acceleration and possibly a knocking noise from the dragging brakes or from it catching on the drums. You should have the emergency brake mechanism fixed. The rear brakes will need to be checked for warped drums and overheated brake shoes will need to be replaced. The rear wheel bearing may also need to be replaced if they got overheated. If you’d like to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home to diagnose the brake system and make the necessary repairs.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Brake issue.
Brakes that are "locking up" indicate a problem with brake the hydraulic system. This includes the master cylinder, valves, calipers and lines. However, some people interpret normal ABS operation as brakes that are locking up. The ABS system is designed...
Front tire leaning.
When the top of the tire leans in more than normal this is usually caused by some sort of failure in either the upper ball joint upper control arm or control arm bushings. Sometimes nothing has failed at all, upper...
How do I start the car if I have keyless ignition and the transmitter battery is low?
The keyless ignition system allows you to turn on your vehicle without a key, simply by using the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter. If the transmitter battery is dying, however, the keyless ignition system will not operate normally. When this...
Overheating car
Hello. I would strongly urge you to not continue to driving your vehicle in this condition. Continuing to drive your vehicle in this condition could cause damage to many components of your engine which would be costly to repair and/or...
Steering lock sensor problem
Hello! That is a very familiar problem to me. I am a previous owner of a C70 and I once had a no start issue which was caused by a bad immobilizer antenna ring. The car would crank but not...
Can't find the little hole that releases the key cylinder to take it out.
The key cylinder is not removable and is replaced as an assembly only. You have to remove the multi-function switch first then remove the bolts holding on the ignition lock assembly. If you need guidance on your ignition repair, a...
Car revs and accelerates without the gas pedal being pressed
This is a common problem when the idle air control module (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) is not functioning as it should. This is a component that helps to monitor air/fuel mixture at idle speed. When this is not working properly, this causes an...
The heater doesn't work, defrost works a little, fan doesn't turn on?
Hi there. The blower fan switch not working may be, a blown blower motor fuse (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuse-replacement), a faulty blower motor relay (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/blower-motor-relay-replacement), a faulty blower resistor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-blower-motor-resistor-replacement), a faulty blower motor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-blower-motor-replacement), and/or a faulty blower motor switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/blower-motor-switch-replacement). Proper...
In the middle of driving my car stops moving but is still running.
What you are describing is often a sign of low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car's...

Related articles

How to Brake Smoothly (The Pivot Method)
Braking Braking is a skill. Braking, just like any other aspect of driving, takes a certain level of skill to get right. Good braking technique will not only be less stressful on the driver and passengers, but it will also...
4 Essential Things to Know About Your Car’s Check Engine Light
The Check Engine Light turns on when there's an engine problem. A bad oxygen sensor or failed spark plug are common causes for the Check Engine Light.
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Just Retired
Here’s Here’s a cruel, hard fact – car manufacturers no longer target seniors. Instead, they devote their time and energy to appealing to the 18-45 demographic. Still, some features make certain cars more suitable for older drivers. We have evaluated...