Handbrake

[markdenning]

Hi chaps..would you all settle a friendly argument between my father in law and myself..i ask him to move my car off the drive earlier on today.which he did.but i dont use the handbrake as its an auto(my dad never did when he drove his sdi rover(auto).father in law gets out my car and says..y dont u use ur handbrake,u have to use the handbrake itl roll if u dont..i say dont need to its auto...whos is right


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[onefortheroad]

him tbh . if you saw the pawl that locks up the transmission , you'd use the footbrake/handbrake . on the flat is ok, on hills/banks id always apply it . using it also keeps it working come mot time .

 

[Blobcat]

It won’t roll if it’s in Park*

It might move an inch or two with the slack in the transmission but it won’t roll away.

*unless you jack up one of the rear wheels

 

[Srdl]

Father in law is right. “Park” will hold the car but you are then relying on the transmission to hold the weight of the car which will put unnecessary strain on some components.

 

[Wighty]

Yep , nothing on the flat , anything slopey I foot brake it .

 

[Srdl]

In fact, I have no choice in my car. Put it in Park and press the Engine Stop button and the car automatically applies the hand/foot/parking brake.

 

[joderest]

Agree, i use parking brake if theres a slope or have trailer attached, other times its just park

 

[Taffy7hfa]

I always use both, the old style foot operated parking brake's don't seem to like being ignored, the mechanism inside the drums tend to seize up.

 

[Blobcat]

I do like a nice “how to drive an auto” thread

 

[EmilysDad]

I always use both, the old style foot operated parking brake's don't seem to like being ignored, the mechanism inside the drums tend to seize up.

I wonder how many do actually seize up. My last 4 cars have had a top hat drum/disc set up at the back and the hand/foot brake has only occasionally been used ... steep hills & MOTs .... yet I've never had any problems with them seizing. In fact the last time I've had a hand brake stick on was on my now deceased Smart Fortwo's rear brakes which stuck after just a few days of standing idle, yet the brake mechanism was obviously in regular use.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Maybe I'm just unlucky

 

[Blobcat]

I wonder how many do actually seize up. My last 4 cars have had a top hat drum/disc set up at the back and the hand/foot brake has only occasionally been used ... steep hills & MOTs .... yet I've never had any problems with them seizing. In fact the last time I've had a hand brake stick on was on my now deceased Smart Fortwo's rear brakes which stuck after just a few days of standing idle, yet the brake mechanism was obviously in regular use.

I’ve had a few rust in (Smart being one) after sitting for a day. I use them occasionally when driving and “drag” them a bit to clean the surface. Apart from that I almost never park with it on (unless I’m on a steep hill)

 

[EmilysDad]

I’ve had a few rust in (Smart being one) after sitting for a day. I use them occasionally when driving and “drag” them a bit to clean the surface. Apart from that I almost never park with it on (unless I’m on a steep hill)

I do use the handbrake in the Smart .... it's not a.proper auto

 

[Blobcat]

I do use the handbrake in the Smart .... it's not a.proper auto

It’s not, but if you select reverse before taking the key out it holds.

 

[Chrishazle]

Which shows that a Smart is not a proper MB - as I can't take the key out in either car unless the transmission is in P!!

 

[Blobcat]

Which shows that a Smart is not a proper MB - as I can't take the key out in either car unless the transmission is in P!!

You can in a Mercedes with a manual box... theory doesn’t hold water

(Although why you’d want a Manual Mercedes is a whole different thread...)

 

[EmilysDad]

Which shows that a Smart is not a proper MB - as I can't take the key out in either car unless the transmission is in P!!

It says Mercedes on the engine so ...... it is a proper MB

 

[Jimbo1959]

I always use both, the old style foot operated parking brake's don't seem to like being ignored, the mechanism inside the drums tend to seize up.

Snap & Agreed!

 

[Jimbo1959]

Maybe I'm just unlucky

Nope I think you're smart, preventative use and all that. I do exactly the same 'cos with my luck it'd seize.

 

[Chrishazle]

I need an emoticon "tongue in cheek" - as do quite a few other posts I've seen!