Should I use the parking brake when parking in an automatic?

[MJinZ]

I've been doing it in this order:

1. Press firmly on brake pedal
2. Engage parking brake
3. Shift to park
4. Release brake pedal

When I start back up:

1. Press firmly on brake pedal
2. Release parking brake
3. Shift to drive or reverse
4. Release brake pedal

My car also locks the doors automatically whenever I shift out of park. I've already had to replace my driver door actuator once at a cost of a few hundred dollars. To save the wear on my locks, I've been shifting into neutral, engaging the parking brake, and letting my foot off the brake when I have to wait in drive-thrus and railroad crossings. Is that bad?

Your order works fine too.

Shifting into neutral is fine too at a stop.

 

[Throckmorton]

If I'm on a hill I do this:

Mash brake pedal
Shift auto trans to neutral
Pull parking brake
Release brake pedal so the parking brake takes the stress (I have rear drums so it's not an instant lock)
Shift the transmission to park

 

[Zenmervolt]

If I'm on a hill I do this:

Mash brake pedal
Shift auto trans to neutral
Pull parking brake
Release brake pedal so the parking brake takes the stress (I have rear drums so it's not an instant lock)
Shift the transmission to park

Yup. You and Obamanation got it right.

I do this all the time so it's habit now; I don't even think about it, the muscle memory just does it.

ZV

 

[franksta]

Yup. You and Obamanation got it right.

I do this all the time so it's habit now; I don't even think about it, the muscle memory just does it.

ZV

My daily driver truck and weekend car both have foot operated parking brakes. My wife's car is hand operated. If I happen to drive her car I look quite the fool pressing my left foot against nothing "applying the brake". She even gives me a weird look for my efforts. :awe:

 

[Zenmervolt]

My daily driver truck and weekend car both have foot operated parking brakes. My wife's car is hand operated. If I happen to drive her car I look quite the fool pressing my left foot against nothing "applying the brake". She even gives me a weird look for my efforts. :awe:

I've been in so many different rental cars with different parking brake arrangements that I now subconsciously perform both actions. :awe:

ZV

 

[vshah]

My daily driver truck and weekend car both have foot operated parking brakes. My wife's car is hand operated. If I happen to drive her car I look quite the fool pressing my left foot against nothing "applying the brake". She even gives me a weird look for my efforts. :awe:

i do the same thing if I get into an automatic car after a long time. At about 10-15mph, my left foot will be frantically stabbing the footwell and my right arm waving around in front of the dash

 

[LTC8K6]

My car also locks the doors automatically whenever I shift out of park.

With many cars you can program the auto door locks, so it's possible you can stop them from doing that.

 

[thescreensavers]

Parking brake on an incline for sure. You need to keep it in drive, put the parking brake on THEN put it in Park.

I did it the other way around once in my car and when I took off the parking brake and put the Tranny into D I heard a loud "Ping sound" something not healthy.

So If I ever park on a hill, while holding the brake, put the Parking brake on, and put it into park. When I get back in Hold the brake, take the parking brake off and then put it into drive.

I guess the Pin that slides in got removed with another gear putting tension on it and the gear spun and hit the Pin causing the noise. Any how I wont be parking on hills in Florida any more any how. This was in a parking garage lol.

 

[kornphlake]

My daily driver truck and weekend car both have foot operated parking brakes. My wife's car is hand operated. If I happen to drive her car I look quite the fool pressing my left foot against nothing "applying the brake". She even gives me a weird look for my efforts. :awe:

Next time tell her you're using the "air brakes"

 

[zerocool84]

Every woman I've seen only uses it on hills. Doesn't matter to me not my car. If I drive their cars though I always put it on cus I drive manual so it's automatic for me to use the brake.

 

[thomsbrain]

I always rest the car on the parking brake in neutral before shifting into park if I'm any kind of grade. On flat ground I just shift into park first and add the brake as a fail-safe.

 

[Sust]

For those of you who said "yes", what has your experience been like with rotor warp after park brake usage? Furthermore, how hard are you yanking on the park brake handle before you think you've got enough stopping force?

 

[JulesMaximus]

For those of you who said "yes", what has your experience been like with rotor warp after park brake usage? Furthermore, how hard are you yanking on the park brake handle before you think you've got enough stopping force?

I ALWAYS set my parking brake. I've owned this car for 7 years now and almost 90,000 miles and still have the original rear rotors on the car.

Why would the parking brake be any different between a manual transmission car and an automatic in the same make and model anyway? I've never heard of rotors warping due to using the parking brake. Sounds like a ridiculous urban legend to me.

I use as much force as is necessary to set the brake so that it keeps the car from rolling. I've never measured it personally.

 

[Supersonic64]

I never set my parking break unless I'm on an incline.

 

[nickbits]

I don't know anyone who sets the parking brake with an auto trans.

 

[Perknose]

I confess, I only set it when on an incline. :\

I've seen plenty of people abuse the pawls in their trannys horribly -- not setting the parking brake on an incline, slamming it into Park while still rolling somewhat -- but I personally have never known anyone who had one fail or snap anyway, have you?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I never set my parking break unless I'm on an incline.

What about your parking brake? Nobody cares what you do on your break when you're parked.

 

[jlee]

I confess, I only set it when on an incline. :\

I've seen plenty of people abuse the pawls in their trannys horribly -- not setting the parking brake on an incline, slamming it into Park while still rolling somewhat -- but I personally have never known anyone who had one fail or snap anyway, have you?

I've never even heard of one breaking - granted I haven't specifically looked for a case, but still. We haven't even broken one in a cruiser yet!

 

[LTC8K6]

For those of you who said "yes", what has your experience been like with rotor warp after park brake usage? Furthermore, how hard are you yanking on the park brake handle before you think you've got enough stopping force?

With 4 wheel discs, the parking brake often doesn't use the rotors.

 

[olds]

I only use it on an incline, not on flat ground.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i use it every time. just a habit.

 

[Viperoni]

Wearing on the parking pawl is nowhere nearly as important as wear to the motor and tranny mounts. Those also take a toll when you don't use the parking brake when parking.

 

[skyking]

No trailer and flat ground like my driveway, no. Any grade at all and I lock it down with the PB first as detailed above. I always use it with the trailer.

 

[BassBomb]

I always use it since I don't like the rocking

 

[CraigRT]

Use it.
When you stop using it, the time you go to need/want to use it, it will be seized.

At least here in Canada, that part is critical for a vehicle safety... Using it makes sure it always works.