Do you use the e-brake in your automatics?
#1
Do you use the e-brake in your automatics?
I have a weird habit of putting the e-brake up, and then putting the car into park when I park the car. As it doesn't put any stress on the transmission. But I've realized just out of my friends/random people maybe 1 out of 15 people actually do this. My mom never does in her SUV, and either does anyone I know really, but I've read it's actually recommended.
Does it really make a difference? I'm pretty sure the manual for my car actually says to do it, but barely anyone does. Randomly at work one day I walked around the parking lot, and I saw maybe 1 car with the e-brake up out of like 20 automatics.
Does it really make a difference? I'm pretty sure the manual for my car actually says to do it, but barely anyone does. Randomly at work one day I walked around the parking lot, and I saw maybe 1 car with the e-brake up out of like 20 automatics.
#4
Safety Car
I do it too. I started driving on manuals. Carry over habit I suppose.
I've gotten my immediate family to do it, for the most part. And some of my friends. But most people I know still rely on Park to hold their vehicle. Even on inclines...
I've gotten my immediate family to do it, for the most part. And some of my friends. But most people I know still rely on Park to hold their vehicle. Even on inclines...
#6
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I always thought the hand brake was a "parking brake" rather than an "emergency brake."
I always use the hand, or foot operated, parking brake before putting the auto transmission into park, and put on the hand brake before putting the manual transmission in neutral (or reverse), as I was taught to do it that way while learning to drive.
I always use the hand, or foot operated, parking brake before putting the auto transmission into park, and put on the hand brake before putting the manual transmission in neutral (or reverse), as I was taught to do it that way while learning to drive.
#7
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I always put the parking brake on, even when I'm not on an incline. I do so because it puts less of a strain on the transmission, and if anything, i'd rather replace the brakes sooner, than a whole transmission.
Even when you're on a slight incline/decline and you don't put the parking brake on, the car moves a little before the transmission stops the car, and you can feel it jerk kind of. I read that it was bad for your transmission.
I've tried to get my mom to put her parking brake on but she doesn't give a fuck unless it's on like a steep hill. What's even worse is that she drives a 2nd gen TL... and you know the transmissions on those were known for their bullet proof strength... NOT
Even when you're on a slight incline/decline and you don't put the parking brake on, the car moves a little before the transmission stops the car, and you can feel it jerk kind of. I read that it was bad for your transmission.
I've tried to get my mom to put her parking brake on but she doesn't give a fuck unless it's on like a steep hill. What's even worse is that she drives a 2nd gen TL... and you know the transmissions on those were known for their bullet proof strength... NOT
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#8
I shoot people
Originally Posted by stangg172004
if im parked up/down hill yes and i let the brakes hold the weight of the car and not the tranny...
#12
Senior Moderator
I have been using the ebrake on my automatic cars since day one of my driving.
#15
Team Owner
+5 only hills, put brake on first then put into park.
#18
All the time, whether on a manual or automatic. One of the reasons I do this is because of the frigid temperatures and wet slush during the winter months. If you don't use your parking brake on a regular basis, especially during moist and/or cold conditions, the cable and parking brake components have a greater likelihood of seizing if/when it needs to be used.
Terry
Terry
#19
That was uncalled for...
See that blue gear mechanism? That is the parking pawl in an automatic transmission. That is what stops the car when you put it into park. Letting it rest on that pawl is not only bad for the gear, but pretty dangerous considering a 1 inch long part is stopping a 2 ton car. Always, always use the parking brake, thats what it's there for.
Just so you know
#20
I shoot people
^^^even when it's completely flat? No slope or grade at all??
#21
That was uncalled for...
Originally Posted by is300eater
^^^even when it's completely flat? No slope or grade at all??
#22
I shoot people
Originally Posted by S A CHO
You can feel the pawl engage, if its flat and the car rolls freely it's probably safe to say the pawl isn't being touched. If you push the car though it will get stopped by it, obviously.
#23
אני עומד עם ישראל
I always use it hill or not. In my manual cars I leave it in gear with the e-brake up as well.
#24
Even if the ground is flat the car still moves...Whenever I'm with my mom she parks the SUV and it rolls foward a few inches after she puts it in park, which is kind of weird to me. You can hear a "click" when the parking mechanism catches it. Then again she has 70k miles on her 02 suv, and it seems to be fine?
#26
That was uncalled for...
Originally Posted by is300eater
okay, I don't know if this is what you're talking about... but for example, at my parents' house... their driveway has a slope... and YES, I do use the e-brake. BUT when I'm gettin' ready to leave, start the car, let go of the e-brake, and I feel this... something engage as the car roll slightly downwards... it's not bad, but it isn't pleasant either, is that what you're talking about?
The only time I'd say it's harmful is when your on a good incline and the only this stopping the car is the gears in the transmission. If that part fails, the car rolls freely to where ever it want... Albeit it would have to be a pretty steep incline to break your transmission...
Last edited by S A CHO; 12-30-2007 at 01:51 PM.
#27
AZ Community Team
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Originally Posted by doopstr
+5 only hills, put brake on first then put into park.
6
#29
That was uncalled for...
Originally Posted by Dan Martin
Most of the failures happen if you're parked on a hill and someone bumps you as they're trying to maneuver themselves into the spot next to you.
#30
I shoot people
Originally Posted by doopstr
+5 only hills, put brake on first then put into park.
#31
That was uncalled for...
Originally Posted by is300eater
Hey S A CHO, doopstr said e-brake FIRST then put it in park... will that reduce that "engaging" harse thump?
Stop car...foot on brake... engage parking brake... foot off brake... shift to park.
If you do that then there will be no thump at all, it will go into, and come out of, park very easily.
Last edited by S A CHO; 12-30-2007 at 02:18 PM.
#32
F1 cart racer
i'll normally stop, leave my foot on the brake, shift to park, then engage the parking brake, and the car does not move.
when getting in it, i'll turn the car on, put my foot on the brake, disengage the parking brake then shift.
car does not roll at all from it's spot.
when getting in it, i'll turn the car on, put my foot on the brake, disengage the parking brake then shift.
car does not roll at all from it's spot.
#33
I shoot people
Originally Posted by S A CHO
Ebrake first then park eliminates the parking pawl engaging anything. That is the best thing to do. It's still there if the e-brake fails but with the brake engaged it's holding no weight of the car.
Stop car...foot on brake... engage parking brake... foot off brake... shift to park.
If you do that then there will be no thump at all, it will go into, and come out of, park very easily.
Stop car...foot on brake... engage parking brake... foot off brake... shift to park.
If you do that then there will be no thump at all, it will go into, and come out of, park very easily.
#34
E92
Originally Posted by AS3.0CL
i'll normally stop, leave my foot on the brake, shift to park, then engage the parking brake, and the car does not move.
when getting in it, i'll turn the car on, put my foot on the brake, disengage the parking brake then shift.
car does not roll at all from it's spot.
when getting in it, i'll turn the car on, put my foot on the brake, disengage the parking brake then shift.
car does not roll at all from it's spot.
#35
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Originally Posted by Hapa DC5
I always use it hill or not. In my manual cars I leave it in gear with the e-brake up as well.
the key is to put on the e-brake before you put it in park
#36
E92
Originally Posted by dallison
it takes some of the stress off the trans when parked on a hill.
the key is to put on the e-brake before you put it in park
the key is to put on the e-brake before you put it in park
#38
That was uncalled for...
Originally Posted by psteng19
I've NEVER heard of the parking pawl breaking before.
I'll do it on a slope but only because it's easier to change from P to D.
I'll do it on a slope but only because it's easier to change from P to D.
#39
I always use the e-brake, incline or not.
Oh, and is there a difference in how it's done? That is, is it better to:
A) with car stopped and brake depressed, set e-brake and then put car into park
or
B) with car stopped and brake depressed, put car into park and then set e-brake.
I usually do B, but will once in a while do A if it's a very steep hill. Of course, I usually try to avoid hills to begin with.
Oh, and is there a difference in how it's done? That is, is it better to:
A) with car stopped and brake depressed, set e-brake and then put car into park
or
B) with car stopped and brake depressed, put car into park and then set e-brake.
I usually do B, but will once in a while do A if it's a very steep hill. Of course, I usually try to avoid hills to begin with.
#40
That was uncalled for...
You can do it any which way you like. I've always stopped in Neutral for a second to see if the brake is grabbing sufficiently, then just slide it into Park.