RK,
If you never use the Parking brake, then you will never have to fix it....Assuming you don't have a state safety inspection that requires an operational Parking brake.
Notice I said Parking Brake, since the term Emergency Brake is a misnomer. If you were in an emergency, you would be hard pressed to get the Parking brake to stop the vehicle.
I only used the Parking brake when I park on a hill with an automatic transmission, but not because I think the vehicle will roll down hill, but because if you do not use the Parking brake, the vehicle can rock forward/backwards while in park, causing the "Park" pawl lever to jam in the transmission which can make it very difficult to get the vehicle out of Park. If you are parked on a hill, you can start the vehicle and easily shift it into drive, then release the Parking brake.
However, since the axle seal is leaking, it's probably a good idea to get that fixed and replace the axle seals on both sides. Leaking axle seals can contaminate the drum brakes like the kind used on the Sport Trac for Parking brakes/. So, if you are going to replace the seals, it only makes sense to replace the Parking brakes while you are at it. It's just another issue that's not very expensive, and you won't have to worry about for a while.
You might want to check with some other independent shops for a better price quote since dealerships are known to charge much higher labor prices, or it's even cheaper if you can do it yourself if you can.:grin:
...Rich
