Who Uses the Parking Brake?

[sport2004]

Pretty much the same as the old drum brake systems. Remove rotor, inspect, clean, lubricate, replace any worn components, and adjust parts as needed. And, a regular schedule of 'exercising' the system to check for proper operation would be a good idea.

:thumb:

 

[4Executor]

I do not use the parking brake, mainly because I will sometimes lend my car to friends and I hate hearing that awful squealing, grinding sound when they drive off, coming back to tell me that they're pressing the gas pedal down all the way and it isn't doing much.

 

[johnbt]

I don't believe I'd loan my vehicle to someone who wasn't sharp enough to figure out how - and when - to release the parking brake. :doh:

 

[car_designer]

I always use the parking brake whether the car is an automatic or manual. In this area it is a case of use it or lose it.

 

[montana4runner]

I might be mistaken, but I believe, on the 3rd gens anyway, that using the P brake adjusts the rear shoes. There is no mechanical adjuster in the rear brake set-up like almost every other system.

 

[4Executor]

I don't believe I'd loan my vehicle to someone who wasn't sharp enough to figure out how - and when - to release the parking brake. :doh:

True, but many people are used to the prominent hand brake on the right in Corollas/Civics/Yugos/etc., while the 4Runner's low-profile foot brake on the left can be easily missed if they hadn't seen this configuration before.

 

[grave]

I've been getting used to the

N → set brake → foot off brake → put into park

sequence the last few days and i can already tell it's better for my Park pawl. I love learning new tricks like this. Thanks, T4R!

 

[sport2004]

N → set brake → foot off brake → put into park

What I have been doing, slightly different:

N - set brake - put into park - foot off brake

Does anyone know if either process is better? 6 of 1, half dozen of the other?

 

[grave]

i take my foot off the brake because i figure it puts any weight on the parking brake after it's set rather than the pawl.

 

[sport2004]

i take my foot off the brake because i figure it puts any weight on the parking brake after it's set rather than the pawl.

You could be on to something...