Driving down city street and vehicle made a very loud popping sound, then grinding sound. It sounded almost like a bad blow-out of the right back tire. I pulled over to inspect vehicle, nothing visible. Drove it home (under a mile) and had it towed to mechanic. Mechanic said the brakes had "exploded" - they came off the car in shards. Mechanic said the spring had come apart, had flown up and grabbed the parking cable and broke it. The traction comes on periodically and no one seems able to identify or fix.