Emergency brake in automatic cars...?

[fooshkee]

Call me stupid... but I never bothered using the emergency brake when I park my automatic car.... er more like my parents automatic car. Anyways, a friend told me something the other day to the effect that its really bad for your transmission if you dont use the parking brake because then the only thing holding the car in place is the actual transmission...

So is this true.... or a bunch of crock? Should I really use the parking brake when I park?

 

[Heisenberg]

I only use it if I'm parked on a hill or something like that. Helps keep the transmission from binding and makes it easier to shift out of park. On any type of level surface though I don't think it's really needed.

 

[Deeko]

it doesn't release right on my car, it makes my brakes get really hot and it smells like they are melting half the time...so I just don't use it.

 

[brtspears2]

Its good to have one just in case of an acutal emergency.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Deeko
it doesn't release right on my car, it makes my brakes get really hot and it smells like they are melting half the time...so I just don't use it.

you are supposed to release the break once you're done parking

 

[The Stigenator]

stick or auto I always use teh Ebrake so look for it if your driving in a car that I have driven or in my car.

 

[C'DaleRider]

The parking brake is just for that.........parking and keeping the stress of the weight of the car off the tranny. The parking pawl in the tranny is just one finger meshing with one cog.......
Ever wonder why it's sometimes hard to put the car into gear? The stress the car is putting on that cog is why......and why there is a parking brake. But hey, AAMCO just loves premature wearing of transmissions. $$$.

ps........it's NOT an emergency brake. Modern cars do not have complete brake failures.

 

[NogginBoink]

True.

When you park on a hill, what do YOU think keeps the car from rolling down the hill? The entire weight of the car is held in place by the transmission.

 

[deerslayer]

I don't use mine every time I park but I know people that do.
I always use it if i park on any kind of an incline because it puts less stress on the tranny and makes it easier to shift out of park.

 

[Yossarian]

Also, you should come to a stop, put the parking brake on, then shift into park.

 

[ElFenix]

the parking brake on my old car actually made the rear brakes set properly.

 

[MajesticMoose]

i use it as a reflex from always driving stick. I also always use the clutch(i.e. left half of brake petal) in automatics for the same reason.

 

[Scootin159]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Modern cars do not have complete brake failures.

Wrong, I was driving a car once and the actual brake pedal broke (the hinge at the top fell apart). I'm sure that's a one in a million problem though. You're right though in that normally only the front or rear brakes can go due to a brake line breaking.

 

[dolph]

fun for making tight turns!

 

[Ultima]

My emergency brake is disconnected

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: tweakmm

Originally posted by: Deeko
it doesn't release right on my car, it makes my brakes get really hot and it smells like they are melting half the time...so I just don't use it.

you are supposed to release the break once you're done parking

im aware...the release doesn't always release it all the way.

 

[Ornery]

I only buy used cars, so I never know if the damn thing has been used or not, so I don't use it. If you hop in a friend's old car with an automatic, I wouldn't use his if I were you either. If the cable or any of the mechanism is rusted, you'll end up with the brakes seized on. Your friend won't be too happy about that.

I've been driving 25 years without touching that brake, so it would be a tuff habit to get into even if I did buy a brand new car. The rule of thumb is, use it all the time, or not at all. It is hard on the parking pawl, so if you live in an area with lots of hills, it would be good to have it in working order and get in the habit of using it.

 

[Conflict]

What you should really do is when parking on a hill, stop, put it into neutral, apply parking brake, let the parking brake stop the car (by letting off the brake(if your parking brake is in good order, the car shouldn't move) then put it into park and it won't be hard to put in gear next time. This way, there is basicly no stress on your transmission.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
you are supposed to release the break once you're done parking

Enn-n-n-nghhhh!!!! < Game show buzzer sound > I'm sorry. That answer is incorrect.

The parking brake locks the wheels. "Park" gear in an automatic transmission just locks up the tranny or the drive shaft. With enough stress, such as gravity if you're on a grade or a hard enough bump from someone parking in front or in back of your car, that pin could snap, or your tranny could otherwise be damaged. More important, your car could be loose to roll, instead of staying put.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: tweakmm
you are supposed to release the break once you're done parking

Enn-n-n-nghhhh!!!! < Game show buzzer sound > I'm sorry. That answer is incorrect.

The parking brake locks the wheels. "Park" gear in an automatic transmission just locks up the tranny or the drive shaft. With enough stress, such as gravity if you're on a grade or a hard enough bump from someone parking in front or in back of your car, that pin could snap, or your tranny could otherwise be damaged. More important, your car could be loose to roll, instead of staying put.

enn-n0nghhh!!! < idiot buzzer sound

he meant you're supposed to take it off when you drive away. he was making a funny.

 

[Talon02]

With the E-brake in a rear wheel drive car it locks the rear brakes, but unless you set it really hard gravity could take over.

When I first got my car I had to drive it home on 3 of 6 cylinders, to make a long story short the engine died at about 35 mph and i accidentally threw it in park at about 30 to start it again, the "pin", which is actually a set of gears, not a pin didn't break the in a 32 year old tranny, so i doubt just parking could break it.

 

[J0hnny]

I just use the Ebrake to do awesome powerslides!