handbrake ??????????????????

[rollsroyce]

can someone tell me how the foot/handbrake works. how do you hold the car on a hill. i can find no gen i might be thick. when i pull the handle out nothing happens. is this just to lock the parking brake.

 

[davidsl500]

The foot operated parking brake operates a set of brake shoes that reside in the intenal hubs of the rear brake disks. When you pull the handle this should release the brake shoes. As most Mercedes are automatics the foot operated brake is not a problem since the car, like all automatics, will hold on a hill in drive with the engine running anyway - so it is really only used for parking. If you have a manual then you will have to practise the soft shoe shuffle....

 

[tom7035]

As David says above, the handle is the parking brake release - nothing else.

 

[rollsroyce]

brakes

so you mean to tell me that i am on a hill in a stream of traffic.i cannot hold the car on a handbrake.(senario) i am in gear (i have a manual box) i cannot hold the car as my left foot is holding the ****** clutch in can someone talk me through this as i think its down right ****** dangerous. whats wrong with a normal handbrake as on my cossy 190

 

[Grrrmachine]

You need to learn how to heel-and-toe Take a few lessons at Brands Hatch, they'll show you how to do it

 

[davidsl500]

so you mean to tell me that i am on a hill in a stream of traffic.i cannot hold the car on a handbrake.(senario) i am in gear (i have a manual box) i cannot hold the car as my left foot is holding the ****** clutch in can someone talk me through this as i think its down right ****** dangerous. whats wrong with a normal handbrake as on my cossy 190

Cant see the problem rollsroyce. Pull up on the hill, declutch as usual, right foot on footbrake as normal, select neutral, left foot off clutch, apply parking brake with left foot. When you want to move then left foot on clutch, select gear, find the "Bite" and pull the handle to release the parking brake and off you go...

 

[Silver Arrow]

when i pull the handle out nothing happens.

Perhaps it needs adjustment.

As the others have mentioned, if it is a foot operated, hand release system, it works like most Yank tanks. If however it is the hand operated dashboard system with no foot pedal then it pulls out, twist to release and return into the dashboard.
I managed that type of manual OK for years. I do tend to heel and toe on my other cars (I learned to drive on a crash non synchro box) so it never gave me a problem, but the chap who bought my last manual called me to see how I managed as his prior MB was an auto. It is an acquired art. Ergonomically the design leaves much to be desired as you pull out, twist and hold in a very unnatural manner, avoiding the tendency to brace yourself with your feet, which are, of course engaged in other matters at the time.

 

[robbi-wan]

One of the adjustments that i had to make to my driving when i got mine was NOT using the handbrake unless i was parking. If starting on a hill, select 1st, hold clutch and brake down, release parking brake via handle WHEN you have balanced the car on the clutch, then move right foot to gas and away you go.
Not sure if the clutch is hydraulic but (on mine) it is v.stong and the car will go forward on idle, even on a steepish hill!!

The only time to use the parking brake is when u want to get out!!!

You would not want to do your driving test in a manual merc, but I found it quite easy to get used to...
Let us know how you get on
rob

 

[mlc]

Its nice to see that I am not the only one that thinks the MB parking brake is mad!
Yes I know that people are offering workarounds, but that is what they are - workarounds.

The bottom line is that it is very difficult to safely use the foot - handbrake in a manual MB. For a company that puts safety so high on their list of features it just doesnt make sense.

Mark.

 

[rollsroyce]

brake

i think i know how to heel and toe being an ex rally driver. but you try it when the foot/handbrake is 3inches above the clutch.my point was its ok when you are the number 1 at the halt sign . i had it today i was number 3 in line so had to keep on stop/ starting. basically it was a ****** night mare. going be fun with the caravan on the back.( i just cant see the reason for it) maybe ok on an auto but a difinate no. no. on a manul shift

 

[television]

I think you will find that the foot parking brake is standard in the USA, but if you go there and hire one it will be an auto

Malcolm

By the way if you pull the handle and nothing happens have you put it on in the first place.

 

[mlc]

Television,

I dont think anyone is arguing that the system wont work with an auto gearbox, but our friend has a manual. The bottom line is still that on a manual MB this parking brake is at best difficult to use for hill starts and at worst dangerous.

Mark

 

[angus falconer]

Its nice to see that I am not the only one that thinks the MB parking brake is mad!
Mark.

It's just dumb. On an auto it kind of works but makes a horrible KERR-BANG! every time I release it. On a manual it's nonsense

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I would appear that MB are not prepared to put any enginering design into changing the handbrake to suit the manual gearbox. I don't know how many MB cars are sold with a manual box, I guess its a lot more than it used to be because of the numbers of smaller mercs sold nowadays.

Most of the bigger mercs however are sold with the auto box and it is obviously uneconomic for MB to fit two different handbrake systems. This unfortunately leaves people who are not used to the marque at a disadvantage when they purchase the car. The foot/hand brake works very well with the auto box but is renowned to be difficult in manuals. I personally think MB should bite the bullet and offer the traditional handbake for manual boxes.

 

[angus falconer]

I would appear that MB are not prepared to put any enginering design into changing the handbrake to suit the manual gearbox. I don't know how many MB cars are sold with a manual box, I guess its a lot more than it used to be because of the numbers of smaller mercs sold nowadays.

True - though oddly enough every Merc taxi in Belgium seems to be manual

But even so, I find the KERRR-BANG noise very strange every time I set off in my C43 - I'm not complaining but it's not as east to let the handbrake off gently as it is with a "normal" handbrake.

I think the Merc version might be what was called a "fly off" handbrake in old Brit cars from the -50's and 60's

 

[Mounis]

Ditto to the KERRR-BANG!!!

True - though oddly enough every Merc taxi in Belgium seems to be manual

But even so, I find the KERRR-BANG noise very strange every time I set off in my C43 - I'm not complaining but it's not as east to let the handbrake off gently as it is with a "normal" handbrake.

I think the Merc version might be what was called a "fly off" handbrake in old Brit cars from the -50's and 60's

Don't understand why the hand/footbrake releases with such a explosive sound...Always makes me wonder if there is any problem with such a sharp release i.e. will it cause a handbrake cable snap? Or is it just the mechanism that's releasing and the cable remains unharmed...

Anyway on any 'refined' car there shouldn't be any 'KERRR-BANG' noises....

 

[tom7035]

I too hate the 'bang' when released normally. I always depress the parking brake pedal slightly before using the release handle to prevent this. Ingrained training in 'car sympathy' I suppose. A daft system altogether IMO.

 

[turnipsock]

don't you let off the handbrake with your hand?

 

[tom7035]

I too hate the 'bang' when released normally. I always depress the parking brake pedal slightly before using the release handle to prevent this. Ingrained training in 'car sympathy' I suppose. A daft system altogether IMO.

Edited to help you work it out, turnip!

 

[television]

I know this is all about manual cars, but for those of us who can see no sense in pushing your left leg in and out all day we only use the parking brake when parked on a hill as the car can be left in P.

The reason it goes off with a bang is that you know that it is off,and it also helps the hard of hearing (not serious), I have seen so many people with hand brakes driving around with the lever one or two notches up.

Malcolm