Hand brake next to useless - so how did it pass an MOT?

[PINBALL]

Bought this excellent value for money high mileage E280 from a dealer in Berkshire 6 or so weeks ago, where he provided to me a brand new MOT dated the same day as I collected it.

Havn't bothered to ask him the same question, as he'll probably come out with some silly explanation.

Thinking that perhaps you knowledgable Merc heads out there in Merc land can give me a better reason for this - hopefully!

Perhaps the handbrake isn't tested due to it being an auto box & the parking brake is sufficient to hold it.

Am told that handbrake pads can be easily wore down if driven when on for about a mile or so, and are rather expensive to replace.

Also am I in danger of shearing a tooth from gearbox when parked on a steep hill, as car clonks n judders when gearbox dissengages from park position.

Any advice gratefully recieved.

 

[pascal]

Firstly PINBALL, there is no handbrake on your car.

It is a foot operated parking brake.

Secondly, it is not recomended to put the auto box into 'P' in stop start situations. Just use the ordinary foot brake. There is more wear and tear disengaging and re-engaging gear, than hold it on the brake. The parking brake is really only for parking, as its name suggests.

Regarding the parking brake itself, it may need adjusting

 

[The Editor]

Pinball,

Having driven auto's since dinosaurs ruled the earth... What's a Handbrake/Parking brake??... Never used them !!

As soon as you put the thing in park it locks the transmission anyway and your vehicle ain't going anywhere !!

The yanks have had 'Parking brakes' since autos first appeared and they haven't used them for the same amount of time !!

It will probably cost more to repair something that's a waste of time using anyway.. I wouldn't bother.

Having said that... I agree with your comments as to how the hell the car got through our daft MOT system without an effective parking brake !!

Cheers

Mark

 

[PINBALL]

Many thanks to both of you for your input

Dohh!! Sorry to have used the wrong terminology, just took it tht you would know what I'm on about.

Dear Editor,
Your comments are very helpfull as regards to MOT, and I must agree that in all the cars I've hired in the USA, thier hand/foot brakes were pretty much useless also.

If the parking brake is ONLY to be used for PARKING ONLY, then how do you guys cope with standing starts in traffic on steep inclines/hills?

Even with the footbrake applied car rolls precariously backwards or forwards when ready to pull away - which only needs some nob-head to stop 6 inches away from yer bumper!

Am told there is some adjustment left on cable, but not enough to make a huge amount of difference and will/may cause footbrake shoes to bind/rub if adjusted fully up.

Thanks again.

 

[996jimbo]

I worried about the same thing (hill starts) but have found that the car holds itself pretty much stationary when pointing up hill in gear, so no need for parking / handbrake on hill starts.

 

[The Editor]

Hi Pinball,

If your E280 is an auto I'm surprised you have any issue with hill starts... usually there is sufficient 'creep' in an auto box to enable you to move your foot from the brake straight across to the accelerator without any backward roll (better still if you have a newer e class with a hold function on the brakes !)

Are you sure your auto box isn't slipping in 1st ??

 

[pascal]

OOps Mark,

You have never had an auto roll back on a steep hill whilst left in 'P' only. I did in my 300CE. There was a thread about this subject last month (but am too lazy to look for it:evil: ). In San Francisco, it is the law to also turn your front wheel towards the kerb, as well as 'P' and parking brake.
Regarding your car moving back in 'D'. I don't think it should on E280. I know the diesels do a bit. Solution: move left foot over on to brake whilst stopped, and accelerate slightly whilst releasing brake.

 

[The Editor]

Hi Pascall,

Ahhhhh... San Fran is a different kettle of seafood !!!... You might as well be a mountain climber there !!... I live in Lincs so we ...errr..... don't have any hills !! - I take your point.

That being said... I really cant remember the last time I applied a Handbrak/parking brake on an auto while leaving thing parked. (Only problem is... wife ALWAYS applies parking brake on her vehicle and when I jump in to use the thing I start it, put me foot on the brake, shift to 'D' and then wonder why the hell the damn thing doesn't move !!)

 

[Apial]

Hi Pascall,

Ahhhhh... I live in Lincs so we ...errr..... don't have any hills !! - I take your point.

QUOTE]

I live in Lincolnshire too, but I live on the Wolds. Try getting to Cadwell Park without climbing a hill, or ascending Lindum Hill in Lincoln. Even in Louth there are some nasty hill starts from T-junctions. All of Lincolnshire is not flat.

You could learn to left foot brake. That makes hill starts a doddle, especially if you have a horse trailer on your towbar! Towing a horse makes you more aware of the hills, thats for sure!

 

[mlc]

We had a very similar thread to this about 6 weeks ago, with all the same types of answers. Three points I would make:

The handbrake (even if foot actuated) should be used whenever the car is parked, thats why it is called the parking brake.

If you dont use your parking brake on a driving test on a hill, even in an auto, you will fail, just check the highway code.

The handbrake is the emergency brake, the park option of an auto box can not be used to brake a moving car, it only locks the transmission of a stationery car. This means that the handbrake should have been checked for the MOT, however I am sure that the tester would insist that it worked on the day and has since failed.

finally I dont think that the linings are expensive to buy, just a pain to fit.

Mark.

 

[tom7035]

I concur with mlc, it is a secondary mechanical braking system. Very probably its lack of use causes most of the problems - seizing up.