94 taurus parking brake

[94 ford taurusGL]

Just a couple questions...

can anyone give me some clue as to how much stress the parking brake on a 94 taurus can handle? I love locking up the rear wheels, but don't know if this could damage the brake. (I only do this on slippery surfaces, but I'm still worried about hitting bare pavement)

Also, has anyone else had a problem where the brake light on the dash chooses (apparently randomly) when it wants to come on?

Thanks

[Cajunblu]

Originally Posted by 94 ford taurusGL

Just a couple questions...

can anyone give me some clue as to how much stress the parking brake on a 94 taurus can handle? I love locking up the rear wheels, but don't know if this could damage the brake. (I only do this on slippery surfaces, but I'm still worried about hitting bare pavement)

Also, has anyone else had a problem where the brake light on the dash chooses (apparently randomly) when it wants to come on?

Thanks

Try this it may help with your brake light coming on.

STOP LOCKING UP YOUR REAR WHEELS.

Robert

[94 ford taurusGL]

While I appreciate that you are trying to make me drive more safely...I must mention that I have only done this, when there was no risk of hitting anyone, or anything.
Regardless, the dash light problem started long before I ever used the parking brake.
...Turns out that apparently some switch where the brake sits when not applied(the switch that turns the light on and off)tends to stick in cold conditions, causing the light not to come on sometimes.

P.S.: Thanks for the suggestion, but it's not going to happen

[drdisque]

from my experience the parking brake on tauri with rear drums is pretty weak.

[94 ford taurusGL]

Originally Posted by drdisque

from my experience the parking brake on tauri with rear drums is pretty weak.

Thanx drdisque, that's what I needed to know, I just didn't know exactly how it's set up, so I had no clue about its strength.
But, looking at your profile, you probably know pretty well how weak it is. (I saw autocross mentioned[that's the one with lots of sharp cornering, right?])
Well, luckily It doesn't seem to have broken it yet, but, I guess I should be careful with it though.

thnx again

[KimMG]

The light may come on when the fluid level is low in the MC. Don't know about Ford brakes, but on Mercedes the light would come on intermintantly when the pads were worn and needed to be replaced.

[94 ford taurusGL]

Originally Posted by KimMG

The light may come on when the fluid level is low in the MC. Don't know about Ford brakes, but on Mercedes the light would come on intermintantly when the pads were worn and needed to be replaced.

Thanx, I'll check the fluid today! and the brake system (pads, shoes, rotors, drums, calipers, etc) was replaced about 2 months ago, so I think that's fine.
I guess fluid is one of the first things i shoulda checked, isn't it?

thanx for the suggestion!