Handbrake bent to one side?

[IAmCanadian]

Hello everyone! I just noticed my dad's maxima's handbrake seems a little bent towards the driver's side. My dad said maybe my mom pulled the handbrake too hard and bent it, but i always thought handbrakes work when they're pulled hard so the brakes actually engage (or do the brakes engage after the first click?)

Another question: Last winter, we pulled the handbrake since we were parking on an incline. After that, the back wheels locked up and wouldn't spin when we were driving. My dad took it to his friend's shop to see whats wrong with it, and he couldn't find any problem; All he said, and i quote "no one uses a handbrake now, so don't use your maxima's handbrake". Is...that right? Like i can't even use it when i park on an incline now? It just sounds a bit absurd to me, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you

Edit: Oh yeah! i have the 1999 nissan maxima ES
Modified by IAmCanadian at 4:30 PM 8/6/2009

[97BlkMaximus]

Never seen one bent, but you CAN pull them too hard.I found this out the hard way. "Drifting" around a parking lot one day I ripped my e-brake extremely hard, putt it down, and started the drive home.

Halfway there, about 3 miles later, my buddy who was driving behind me in his 95 Crown Vic called me and said, "DUDE, your car smells like s*** and is smoking..." So I pulled over asap into a parking lot. Got out, after engaging the e-brake one more (but as I pulled I noticed it was alot easier to pull and went up much farther), if you can guess it by now, yes, my driverside e-brake cable/pin puller thing got stuck on and ROASTED the crap out of my left rear rotor and pads. Had to get under the car and manually dis-engage the e-brake puller/cable by hand (or screwdriver rather) and drive home.

Long story short, I DON'T USE MY E-BRAKE ANYMORE. Even after fixing the cable, tightening it back up, and greasing the pins I ONLY keep my manual in gear when im stopped.Only when those once in awhile times come along when you have to keep your car running and not moving do I use it.

Its not that no one uses it anymore, I don't know why the F that guy said that, I just don't use it because im scared. Haha.

Use it if that's what your used to, just make sure it doesn't get stuck on, by no fault of your own.And take it easy on that handle! Those teeth that it clicks into will wear if you rip it to often or fast! Hold the button down and only pull till it feels tight but not impossible to let down.

[IAmCanadian]

oooh wow did it cost a lot to fix? i think the same thing happened to my dad but in the winter...so the wheels that locked up didn't feel like they were locked up cuz the snow was gliding it haha

i just tried pulling the handbrake and i noticed that its a lot harder to pull up than before...say maybe around the 2nd click i've hit a brick wall or something. Do you know what is happening? The mechanic said my brake fluid froze and thats why the brakes were stilled engaged back in winter lol

Thank you

[97BlkMaximus]

It cost me nothing.I got a new (well, used) rotor and pads at work for free and put them in myself in my driveway. Took 30min.

Then the cable fix was just simply dis-engaging the cable from the pins and pulling it back.

If it gets tight, that's where you should stop. Like I said, no need to rip on the thing. It will do its job.

Brake fluid doesn't freeze unless the car was sitting for a LONG time.

And your welcome.

[IAmCanadian]

ooh okay haha its just that before when i tried pulling the handbrake, it would go up say like 50 degrees to the horizontal, but now it only goes like 20 degrees to the horizontal lol

[asand1]

Ok, your Canadian. Do they salt the roads where your at? Parking brake cables don't like salt and will corrode inside the cable housing. as soon as you set the brake it'll stick that way. At least that's what was wrong with my VW Rabbit.