Should you put the emergency brake on when parking an automatic?

Question

I have always been taught to put it on but my girlfriend thinks I am crazy.

Answer 1

I agree with tkquestion on this one. You will be kicking yourself all the way to the tranny shop when that "parking pin" or gear chips/breaks. Manual trannys are expensive enough, lets not get into what the cost would be rebuilding an auto. Would you rather save 2 seconds getting out of your car, or thousands of dollars should the worst happen.

BTW, if that pin breaks, or that gear chips, your car will roll.

Go out to your car and put it in "P"ark, without the e-brake. Now go around to the front or back of your car and push it.....did you feel it move a little? That is all that is holding your car in place. Short answer, Yes, use it.

Answer 2

In cars, the hand brake (also known as the emergency brake, e-brake, park brake, or parking brake) is a supplementary system that can be used if the vehicle's primary brake system (usually hydraulic brakes) has a failure.

However, the most common use for an automobile emergency brake is to keep the vehicle motionless when it is parked, thus the alternative name, parking brake.

Automotive safety experts recommend the use of "Park" position on the automatic and the hand brake systems to immobilize a parked car, and the use of two systems is required by law in some jurisdictions, yet many individuals use only the "Park" position on the automatic transmission and not the parking brake. But clearly use both when parking on an incline.

Answer 3

On level ground, it doesn't matter much. On any slope, including the slight slope on some parking pads by convenience stores with small lots, use the park brake to take the weight of the car off the transmission lock. To do it properly, put the car in park while holding the brake pedal to the floor. Apply the parking brake, then release the brake pedal.

Answer 4

The "P"ark position on automatic transmission locks the transmission (thus locking the wheel) by putting a wedge in the gear. The emergency brake on most cars are drum brakes (even on disk on rear cars) that are mechanically pulled by a wire.

If you don't have the emergency brake pulled and the car was pushed, pulled, bumped, rolled, or moved in any other way, you run the risk of cracking or chipping either the gear or the wedge.

It is recommended you ALWAYS use your emergency brake.

Answer 5

I often use it, and always use it when parking on hills.
I have always had cars with emergency brakes that don't engage, or were so "gummed up" that they wouldn't release. In New York State, the emergency brake needs to work in order to pass inspection - so I often use it just so that the grease in the line doesn't get all "gummy".

Answer 6

A car is a complex mechanical device. Mechanical devices deviously fail at the very worst of times. Using an emergency brake everytime you park is smart. It acts as a redundant system to hold the car in place in the event that the park-pin in the transmission fails. You are right, she is wrong.

Answer 7

it never hurts. Park on an autmoatic tranny is pretty fail safe method for keeping the car still, but using ur parking brake will help the trannsmission if the car is on a hill or slope.

Answer 8

Most state laws actually say you have to put it on.
Yes, even with an automatic.
I do not, unless I am parked on a slope, but I know others who do this out everytime they turn the key off, the pull the brake on.

Answer 9

Only if you park on a hill or steep incline.

Answer 10

I agree with M.C.
E-brake should be on all the times when paked only on standard...