Parking brake system (Opel Insignia A)

Note: Plastic coated parking brake cables do not require periodic lubrication.

Parking brake cables with a special coating are used to reduce the force applied and increase anti-corrosion protection. The cables, coated with a plastic material, slide along nylon inserts inside the guides.

Mechanical parking brake system

The parking brake lever is equipped with an indicator switch that closes when the parking brake is applied, illuminating a red indicator lamp on the instrument panel.

The parking brake system is completely independent from the main hydraulic brake system. The parking brake is a mechanical system that locks the rear disc brakes via calipers. The system is activated by lifting the parking brake lever, which activates the rear brake mechanisms via drive cables. A mechanical lever lock holds it in the selected position. When the parking brake is activated and the ignition is on, the corresponding indicator on the instrument panel lights up. The parking brake is released by pressing the button on the underside of the lever, lifting it a few millimeters and then lowering the lever to the lowest position. After the parking brake lever is completely lowered, the indicator on the instrument panel goes out.

Electronic Parking System (EPS)

In the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) system, the drive cables are tensioned by a motor in the electronic parking brake control unit.

Instead of a parking brake lever, on vehicles equipped with an electronic parking system, there is a switch on the center console. Pulling the switch up activates the parking brake and lights the indicator lamp on the instrument panel. Pressing the switch down releases the parking brake and turns off the indicator lamp on the instrument panel.



The motor in the electronic parking brake control unit pulls the drive cable of the right rear brake mechanism. The balancer, mounted on the drive cable, accordingly pulls the drive cable of the left rear brake mechanism.

The electronic parking brake system allows the following functions to be implemented:

• Static activation/deactivation.
• Dynamic activation/deactivation.
• Automatic release.