Who Uses the Parking Brake?

[Soupbean]

Absolutely correct

Its always a good idea to use your parking brake when parking.Thats why they call it a parking brake. when you put your transmission in park the only part that is holding your 4500+lbs vehicle from rolling is the parking pawl. locks the transmission from moving. Its also good to use your parking brake because it ensures everything is moving freely and doesn't seize from not being used.

(parking pawl in transmission picture. not a 4runner but a general picture on what it looks like)

Me.... All the time , every time

 

[Slowgoat]

Poor Checkov.

He didn't make it.

Thought his Jeep was in park.

Jeeps can kill.

http://www.dailywire.com/news/6746/27-year-old-star-trek-actor-dies

I've been lazy lately about the parking brake, but no longer.

Good thread. Thanks.

 

[johnbt]

Using the parking brake has been required in Texas since 1995. John

Driver Ticketed for Not Using Parking Brake | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

"But there has been a law since 1995 that requires Texas drivers to set their parking brakes every time they leave their vehicle.

§ 545.404. UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLE. An operator may not leave the vehicle unattended without:

stopping the engine;
locking the ignition;
removing the key from the ignition;
setting the parking brake effectively; and
if standing on a grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
Fort Worth Police Cpl. Tracey Knight says it may be an obscure law, but officers can and will enforce all laws."

 

[Slowgoat]

Using the parking brake has been required in Texas since 1995. John

Driver Ticketed for Not Using Parking Brake | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

"But there has been a law since 1995 that requires Texas drivers to set their parking brakes every time they leave their vehicle.

§ 545.404. UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLE. An operator may not leave the vehicle unattended without:

stopping the engine;
locking the ignition;
removing the key from the ignition;
setting the parking brake effectively; and
if standing on a grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.
Fort Worth Police Cpl. Tracey Knight says it may be an obscure law, but officers can and will enforce all laws."

Haha! Wow!

Did this guy write those tickets?

 

[Inv4drZm]

I've never used a parking brake and nobody I know uses one. Seems like it is pretty common with you guys though? Maybe it is because I live in flat Kansas.

 

[03v8raleigh]

Question: How does the parking brake work in 4 wheel disk trucks like my 4th gen? I know with my 3rd gen, the hand lever pulled a long cable and locked up the rear drums. For the 4th, does the foot lever engage one piston in each rear brake or something? I can't imagine how my parking brake could "stick" but it definitely does. The fear of it sticking again and causing more stuck caliper headaches is why I never use it (+ I never park on serious inclines or places where there is a risk of it rolling anyways). Do I need to get under there and grease something up?

 

[LandCruiser]

Park on enough of an incline in cold enough weather and you risk binding up the transmission pawl. Then the only way you're going anywhere is with a push uphill.

 

[NinjaOne]

Question: How does the parking brake work in 4 wheel disk trucks like my 4th gen? I know with my 3rd gen, the hand lever pulled a long cable and locked up the rear drums. For the 4th, does the foot lever engage one piston in each rear brake or something? I can't imagine how my parking brake could "stick" but it definitely does. The fear of it sticking again and causing more stuck caliper headaches is why I never use it (+ I never park on serious inclines or places where there is a risk of it rolling anyways). Do I need to get under there and grease something up?

Rear rotors doubles as a drums. Here's a picture of what the parking brake looks like (rotor removed)

 

[LandCruiser]

Rear rotors doubles as a drums.

But I think the force of the "grip" is a fraction of engaging the discs using the master brake cylinder.

 

[NinjaOne]

But I think the force of the "grip" is a fraction of engaging the discs using the master brake cylinder.

True, but for parking purposes it holds the vehicle fine (Tested mine with it in gear on a slope and didn't' get movement) That's the downside where the hydraulic system is your leg

Atm, mine needs to be adjusted as I didn't readjust it after replacing my pads/rotors.

 

[leftyguns21]

I have never used mine and now I am afraid to. the last time I did my brakes the spring/notch assembly came apart. it was a huge PITA to put back together. I am afraid if I set the brake now it will hose it all up. I hardly ever park on a hill so it hasn't been much of a concern, the rare times I do park on a hill I always set my tires on the curb to help with weight

 

[sport2004]

I appreciate all of the comments very much and learned a lot. When I think of it, I habitually use the PB when operating an auto transmission and parking on an incline, to avoid the 'clunk'. Now I understand where the clunk comes from and why it is good to avoid.

I guess I will start using the PB regularly, unless I'm on level ground. Even in the driveway, after shifting the Runner into 'P', then taking my foot off the brake, there is a brief, but pronounced, roll onto the pawl.

Edit to say, I better look and see where the PB release is!

 

[TechWrench]

Question: How does the parking brake work in 4 wheel disk trucks like my 4th gen? I know with my 3rd gen, the hand lever pulled a long cable and locked up the rear drums. For the 4th, does the foot lever engage one piston in each rear brake or something? I can't imagine how my parking brake could "stick" but it definitely does. The fear of it sticking again and causing more stuck caliper headaches is why I never use it (+ I never park on serious inclines or places where there is a risk of it rolling anyways). Do I need to get under there and grease something up?

The most common reason for the parking brakes to seize up on the older vehicles is rust forming inside the cable sleeve where the cable mounts to the rear backing plate. It happened to both sides of my '03. I had to replace both cables, about a year apart. Which is a BIG PITA. I guess, looking back, that spraying a lubricant into this area once a year or so wouldn't hurt, and frequent exercise of the cable would also be a good idea.

 

[Lolrax]

I use it almost every time I park, I hate the feeling of the weight of the vehicle bumping against my transmission so I engage it every time. Its also a habit I picked up from driving a stick for years.

 

[Yoyocruisin425]

Only on a hill

 

[Hapkijo]

I never really used it much on automatic cars, but when I had my 5 speed Maxima, I used it all the time. Just had the e-brake worked on a couple of weeks ago since it failed to work on the 4runner. This thread has me motivated, I will be using it from now on.

 

[ridefast]

Yes, it's actually a requirement in my house to park on any incline to avoid the KLUNK.

From drive shift to N with foot on brake set parking brake release foot from brake (let truck weight rest on parking brake) then shift to P

 

[sport2004]

From drive shift to N with foot on brake set parking brake release foot from brake (let truck weight rest on parking brake) then shift to P

Just came in from doing that for the first time! Then I guess to release, you just push it in some more and let go. (I hope)

 

[sport2004]

I never really used it much on automatic cars, but when I had my 5 speed Maxima, I used it all the time. Just had the e-brake worked on a couple of weeks ago since it failed to work on the 4runner. This thread has me motivated, I will be using it from now on.

Now that I think of it, I've driven sticks nearly continuously going back to the 70's. Couple Passats, before that a Sentra, another Nissan before that, Rabbit, and started out with a Beetle.

I also had household vehicles for second cars, GM's, Fords, but the import stick was the DD.

 

[JTR178]

Yes, it's actually a requirement in my house to park on any incline to avoid the KLUNK.

From drive shift to N with foot on brake set parking brake release foot from brake (let truck weight rest on parking brake) then shift to P

I'm with you. Our driveway is a pretty healthy incline. If I hear the clunk when she puts it into reverse she's going to hear about it through a parking break refresh course.