Handbrakes on automatic transmissions cars

[Skotty]

Using the parking brake is just good practice I think...unless you live in Alaska I guess.

For practical purposes, like others have said, using it on a hill is a good idea or the vehicle might get stuck in park.

If the parking brake is properly applied and working well, it is very hard NOT to notice that it's engaged when you take off. Typically, the only exception is high torque rear wheel drive vehicles, like full size pickups. The bright annoying red light on the dash is also usually a good indicator.

Some cars, like my Cadillac Seville STS, have systems where the parking brake automatically releases when the car is put into drive. Nice feature, though can be a pain to figure out how to release it if the automatic feature suddely stops working.

 

[Skotty]

Originally posted by: vizkiz

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've heard in the past that you should apply the parking brake occasionally, otherwise it can fail when you need it.

sounds like a myth to me. i dont know for sure though.

On cars with rear drum brakes, they are self-adjusting. Each time you use the brake, it adjusts. It's everytime you brake though, not just use the parking brake.

I don't think he meant an adjustment issue. More like a lack of use issue. Anything that doesn't get used for long periods of time is more likely to seize or fail in some way.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

As usual when it comes to cars, the man is right.

- M4H

 

[imported_Lothar]

I always use it...whether it's automatic or manual is irrelevant.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Skotty

Originally posted by: vizkiz

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've heard in the past that you should apply the parking brake occasionally, otherwise it can fail when you need it.

sounds like a myth to me. i dont know for sure though.

On cars with rear drum brakes, they are self-adjusting. Each time you use the brake, it adjusts. It's everytime you brake though, not just use the parking brake.

I don't think he meant an adjustment issue. More like a lack of use issue. Anything that doesn't get used for long periods of time is more likely to seize or fail in some way.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Maybe it's only an issue if you drive older cars 🙂

 

[AdamK47]

Parking on a slope I would use the parking brake. It keeps the stress off of the parking pawl. The C4 I have now was previously owned by a woman. She drove it around with the parking break on. One of the rotors was so warped that when you applied the break all you heard was a loud *clack, clack, clack*. She took it in to get it "fixed" and for $500 the shop only replaced the brake pads. After I bought it I fixed it myself for $40 by replacing the bad rotor. Women...

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

I know you have heard this but it is simply not true. I have been inside plenty of automatic transmissions and the parking pawl is always strong enough to hold back the car in the manner it is expected to. I have never seen a transmission that was damaged by not using the parking brake. I have also been in a car that was put into park accidently going over 40 mph and all it did was lock up the rear wheels bringing the car to a stop. I am sure you COULD break one this way but it didn't in my experience.

If you think about it, you technically can't put the car into park accidentally without doing the following:

1) Pushing the tranny into reverse (there should be some major noise here..)

That in itself could destroy the tranny.

 

[vizkiz]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Skotty

Originally posted by: vizkiz

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I've heard in the past that you should apply the parking brake occasionally, otherwise it can fail when you need it.

sounds like a myth to me. i dont know for sure though.

On cars with rear drum brakes, they are self-adjusting. Each time you use the brake, it adjusts. It's everytime you brake though, not just use the parking brake.

I don't think he meant an adjustment issue. More like a lack of use issue. Anything that doesn't get used for long periods of time is more likely to seize or fail in some way.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Maybe it's only an issue if you drive older cars 🙂

I also forgot that the handbrake, even though it uses the rear brakes, [obviously] does have a seperate cable to set it. Lack of use could cause the cable to "freeze" where it does not want to move and forcing it can break something. Also, the cable does need to be checked/adjusted every once in a while to make sure it is setting the brake enough to hold the car.

I went on a test drive with a customer on a CPO 04 Boxster w/6400 miles on it.
When she parked it, she put the handbrake on and let go of the brake and the car started rolling forward. The brake was to the normal level, it just needed to be adjusted.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I always use the handbrake cause I drive manual...but when i drive an automatic i don't

 

[theMan]

I never use the hand brake. One time I did, and the cable snapped, and the whole brake fell apart in the wheel so the wheel seized when I was driving down the road. That was really fun . . .

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: J0hnny
If you think about it, you technically can't put the car into park accidentally without doing the following:

1) Pushing the tranny into reverse (there should be some major noise here..)

That in itself could destroy the tranny.

If you run the selector through reverse and into park fast enough, the transmission will not engage reverse. It typically take a half-second or so for the transmission to engage reverse when selected and if you just pass through, it won't have the time.

ZV

 

[rh71]

say you're on a slight incline like your driveway... if you set the e-brake, put it in park, the car doesn't move after you release the [normal] brake. But if you don't set the e-brake, the car "drops" back and settles... is that bad for the car in any way - to be sitting with its weight on whatever is stopping it from going further ?

 

[PepePeru]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I use the hand brake on my automatic transmission car whenever I park on a hill, just because I hate that uneasy feeling of the car jerking forward a couple of inches after I put it in Park. That can't be good for the transmission!

ditto. i park at my apt complex and the car lurches forward after putting it in park.
i always put up the handbrake when parking there.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
EDIT: When I apply the e-brake in my Altima, usually because I'm parked on an incline, I make sure to apply it fully, that way if I happen to put it in reverse or drive, the car doesn't budge and I realize my mistake.

Sheik, can the Altima's brake not be applied all the way? One thing I noticed about my car is that I can't get the e-brake to work.. well I had it work once. I'm used to cars with it by the shifter (i.e. center console area) and not as a clutch-like pedal. When I'd go to my mom's house, I'd usually pop to neutral, apply the parking brake, let the car go back the tiny bit that it will and then put it in park. I'd keep applying the parking brake, yet my car would just keep on rollin' rollin' rollin'. I eventually just gave up with it, but now I'm curious if I maybe wasn't pushing it back all the way. Hrm, oh well, I have an appointment to get my car serviced tomorrow at the dealer and I'll see if there's any issues with it.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Having owned and driven manual transmission cars for over 10 years I got in the habit of setting the parking brake so I still use it religiously...even when the car is parked level in my garage.

I stand by this statement.

 

[zeruty]

Some cars that have four wheel disc brakes have smaller mini drum brakes on the rear that are the parking/e-brakes... so braking while driving should keep the front and rear discs from siezing or rusting, but if you don't use the e-brake occasionally, the drums brakes can sieze

 

[ViviTheMage]

If on a hill I would say use a handbrake with an automatic. Apply handbrake THEN put it in PARK, to keep the stress off of the car.

In my 2001 jetta 5speed, If I leave the handbrake up at all it beeps very loudly so you know not to drive off with the handbrake on.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: theman
I never use the hand brake. One time I did, and the cable snapped, and the whole brake fell apart in the wheel so the wheel seized when I was driving down the road. That was really fun . . .

I think it was more then the E brake that caused that...sounds like a case of criminal automobile neglect. We'll collect your man card now.

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
I always set the parking brake. I always heard that it wasn't good to have the car stopped on the transmission? Not sure if that's even mechanically correct but that's my reasoning. It's not very hard to check, theres a red light that comes on when the brake is engaged