I've once heard the phrase "dont use the transmission as a kickstand" and I'm aware that it holds the weight of the body if you dont put the parking break on, but is it significant? I know a lot of people who don't even bother and haven't ever had a transmission problem.
Also, what happens if you accidentally leave the parking break on while driving?
2007-01-03 09:45:50 · 5 answers · asked by Bobby D 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you have a manual transmission...Yes, Always. On an automatic if you are on a grade you should as this will prevent torque lock, which can and does happen (have had it happen myself) in which the weight of the car rolls against the parking pin in the transmission and can prevent you from shifting the car out of park...In a case like this you will have to have the car pushed up the grade slightly to be able to move the car out of park. It is nothing serious but can cause a few moments of panic. As far as people worried about the rear brakes freezing (or seizing) If the parking brake is used consistently there isn't much worry of that and certainly not if routine maintenance is performed on the brakes as it should be....myself I have found that always using the park brake keeps it working properly. Hope this helps :)
2007-01-03 10:12:31 · answer #1 · answered by alk99 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should ALMOST always use the parking brake. (not "break")
When it's wet and freezing, don't. Also, when I took my MINI to a fun day at the racing track they warned us not to use the parking brake as the pads could weld to the brake rotors from the heat -- track driving uses the brakes MUCH MUCH MORE than the hardest street driving!
Other than special circumstances like that, just always put it on.
If you drive with the parking brake on, the best that will happen is you'll wear out the shoes/pads and get lousy gas mileage, but the WORST is you can heat up the hub, boil out the grease, ruin the bearings, boil the brake fluid, lose brake pressure and then crash and die (since your parking/emergency brake is now toast too).
Don't do that!
2007-01-03 10:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by Berry K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply put... Yes.
The handbrake on any car is a secondary brake. On an auto you use Park. This mechanically locks the transmission. This should never fail as its locking your car into a held gear situation.
But to further help braking in other situations such as should your foot brake fail you, you are able to use the hand brake to stop. Dont forget the handbrake has never been called a parking brake, only by us, not the maker. It is always refered to as a secondary brake. So really for total peace of mind, just pull up the handbrake every time you park....
**************** Pop C ************
2007-01-03 10:04:37 · answer #3 · answered by pop c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're parked on any kind of hill you should use the parking brake.
If you with it on, you could bust the mechanism, but you'll probably just wear down the shoes.
2007-01-03 09:54:38 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Using the parking brake below freezing temperature [32 degrees faranheit] is just begging for back brakes frozen up and not releasing...
2007-01-03 09:51:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋