Parking Brake...do you use it??

[Thai]

Hey all,

For me, i ALWAYS use the parking brake. It is a habit now. Using it will prolong your automatic transmission life AND help out when someone rear-ends your car.

Conclusion: it is a lot cheaper to replace your parking brake than it is to replace your automatic transmission.

What do you guys think??

Thanks.

 

[mweakley]

I dont think I have ever used my parking break. That makes sense though, I could see how not using it would wear down the auto trans. after ahwile. The hard part is getting in the habit of using it. Thanks.

 

[Nerve]

When I had the '98 4Runner I used it religiously. It just became so much of a habit, plus it was so easy with it located on the center console... parking brake down, shift into gear.

Now with the 4th gen, I have to make a conscious effort to use it and disengage it. My left leg isn't used to doing anything besides stretching. I'll get used to it.

 

[dancojgl]

I used the hand brake all the time on my '96 4Runner.

With my '04, I'm forcing myself to get used to the floor-mounted parking brake. It's tough, since my '96 had a manual transmission

 

[Toyo_Runner96]

I use it pretty much on the trails only. And if I'm parked on a hill (which rarely happened in Arizona ) Except now I gotta extend my e-brake bracket cuz of the lift. Ahhh too lazy!

 

[jharris2]

Always use it. You never know when something could go wrong, and making a habit just gives you an extra measure of security.

 

[Ken Briggs]

Absolutely!!! If you've had an automatic transmission apart and seen the small size of the park detent, you would too. I wouldn't trust it. Maybe some of you automatic transmission techs out there can vouch for this.

 

[Iman74]

When I drove manuals I always did it without question. Then I converted to automatics with the handle for the break right next to the automatic shifter so I did it out of habit, but when I got my 03 Runner I didn't bother. I don't get how it can save your automatic transmission: can you explain that a little further? Keep in mind I know next to nothing about cars.

 

[Thai]

Quick explanation: the automatics have relatively small detents in it's gears to stop your vehicle from rolling. Over time, these detents can wear out due to excessive use on inclines/declines. Also, if you get rear-ended, then you may damage the transmission further.

The parking brake relieves stress on the transmission.

 

[Iman74]

What's the long explanation then?

That makes sense, except I am not sure I get what is detents.

 

[Thai]

The parking brake serves as a mechanical emergency backup brake system. Should your hydraulic brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop the vehicle.

Many people who have vehicles with automatic transmissions rarely use their parking brake. They simply put the transmission into park to lock the drive wheels when they park their vehicle. Even so, it's important to use your parking brake periodically.

Using the parking brake regularly helps keep the cables freed up so corrosion can't accumulate and cause binding. Applying the parking brake also works the self-adjusters in the rear brakes, which helps keep the linings in drum brakes properly adjusted for minimum pedal travel. On cars with four wheel disc brakes and locking rear calipers, using the parking brake keeps the threaded self-adjusting mechanisms inside the rear caliper pistons working freely to compensate for pad wear.

The "park" setting on an automatic transmission jams a little rod into the gears. The rod is big enough to hold the car in place even on a steep hill, BUT thin enough so it will break off if the car is pushed or if "park" is engaged while the car is moving.

If you live in like San Francisco, or anyplace hilly, then I'd suggest engaging the parking brake. It works a lot better if you engage the parking brake FIRST, then put it in "P." Less stress on the little Parking pawl, and the shift lever will be easier to get out of "P" the next time.

Hope this explains it.

 

[Vortec4800]

This was more of a problem in older cars, but I've heard of automatic transmissions sliding out of park or something breaking and your car just rolls away. I use the parking brake every time I park the car. I'd prefer it to be a handbrake in the center console like my Rover, but my pickup truck was on the floor too so its not all that strange. Did take a while to get used to the kick-again-to-disengage, as my truck had a hand pull thing to kick the brake back out.

 

[DaveS]

Use it if I am parked on an incline and most times in the Summer out of habit - NEVER use it in the winter unless I really have to - most people here warn against it because of the risk of the parking brake freezing up

 

[carina71]

Hey all,

For me, i ALWAYS use the parking brake. It is a habit now. Using it will prolong your automatic transmission life AND help out when someone rear-ends your car.

Conclusion: it is a lot cheaper to replace your parking brake than it is to replace your automatic transmission.

What do you guys think??

Thanks.

Okay, Thai, I agree with you, in part. Under fair weather conditions it is a good idea to always use the parking break. However, in cold weather using the parking break may not be a good idea. If the break discs/drums get wet and you use the parking break, the pads can and will freeze to the metal discs/drums--now we are talking very serious stress/wear on the transmission if you try to drive with you brakes frozen, not to mention the brakes themselves.

So, I use the parking break selectively. If I must park on a hill in the winter and conditions are right for freezing I turn the wheels so that if the car rolls it will go into the curb (you should do this anyway).

So, there are exceptions to every rule. Always using the parking break is a rule that can, and should be, broken from time to time.

 

[Wilmarbury]

Always do

When I first learned how to drive, that was what my dad and my driver's ed teacher taught me to do. So, in every car I've had or driven, I have always used the parking break.

 

[RickyCRX]

Just because somebody tells you to do something doesn't mean it's always the best thing to do.

If I am parked on an incline, I will use the parking brake. Any other time, I never touch it.

That's what I do in both auto and manual trannied cars and have never had a problem of any sort related to the use or lack of use of a parking brake.

 

[Boaz]

Always...!

 

[lexusnut]

I don't want to sound strange but i seen the automatic transmission in pieces, and there is no wear when you use it for parking. It is just one gear that has very square teeth on it and it gets jammed so it won't turn, so wear would not be a proper term for any auto transmission parking, but rear-ending is a problem. I also saw the same gear with a broken tooth on it which means that someone hit the car hard enough to break it off. Then that missing tooth got jammed in transmission's mechanics and that caused a problem... You get the idea. If you park wherever you may get into this kind of situation DEFINETELY use a parking brake!!! Big cities-- definetely.

Good luck.

 

[genlrony]

I drive three different vehicles all three pretty much dailly and putting the E brake on Before shifting into park or letting out the clutch is second nature in all of them though they all are in different places. thank god I dont live in a place brake freeze is a problem or even heard of.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

On hills I always use it to aleviate strain on the tranny but on relatively flat ground like parking lots I never use it since the more you use the brake it'll wear too and if you live where it snows and feezes the brake will sometimes freeze especially on the older pickups and Runners.