I don't think the handbrake on my Jeep is very good. The other week I drove all the way to work (6 miles) without realising the handbrake was fully on!

Then I got halfway home this evening when I realised I'd done it again. What damage can be caused by doing this, and what do I need to do to get it fixed?

It's a '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee BTW.

knacker the rear brakes possibly and then put more stress on the clutch etc, also the heat might affect things like bearings as i imagine it would have got pretty hot.

So how does a handbrake actually work then? I thought it was different to the normal brakes. the Jeep has front and rear discs and pads, and it's an auto so has a parking brake as well. And what's all this about the handbrake cable needing tightening?

Confused from Sheffield....

well on some cars the handbrake operates the normal brakes but on some there are two sets of rear brakes. all road going cars have cable operated hand brakes very similar to the cable on a bicycle that can stretch over time or when the pads/discs/drums/shoes wear they need tightening to get the same effect

I will ch ch ch check it out. Cheers benjwaldo. I've just had new discs and pads fitted last months so it's either a very stretchy cable, or a separate broken system. Maybe the Jeep is just too damn powerful for the puny handbrake to hold it back!

i'd say its more likely that your handbrake is pants

Possible damage is already covered.

I'd say either your hb is :pants: or you don't put it on very well!

Or it uses the discs and pads and they have not bedded in properly yet?

They have a seperate drum brake set up mounted behind the rear disks.

It's a squitty little thing, only meant as a parking brake, and quite easy to drive with the handbrake on.

I doubt any lasting damage has been done.