Emergency Brake Yes/No

[Dokatd]

Use the handbrake all the time. I guess being brought up on manual cars its just second nature.

See, that's where I differ. My first car was a manual. Most of my current vehicles are manual and of course you have to use the parking brake. But in the few modern ish autos I have ai never use the parking brake.

Consider it like a motorcycle though. When's the last time you pulled the parking brake on your motorcycle

 

[Tazzieman]

Consider it like a motorcycle though. When's the last time you pulled the parking brake on your motorcycle

Yeaj but I'll bet you use the kickstand

 

[washingthegreaseoff]

Certainly not looking to be an Ass here, but that's not really how it works.

The transmission has a parking pawl. It engages a ring with multiple notches. There is virtually no wear in the design. An automated transmission parking pawl could function for multiple millions of miles with no trouble assuming no abuse. It's basically a cockroach. Try to avoid dropping into park while moving, but even that has minimal wear associated with it. Sure it can break in some instances but that usually means heavy abuse or a wreck when your vehicle is parked.

The pawl itself has relatively low forces on it due to it being ahead of the differential. The pawl is often in the tail housing of the transmission and is repairable without removing the transmission in many cases.

Yeah, I couldn't remember the word "pawl", however, I've heard it called a pin.

I'm sure you're right, and I've been told by a couple of experienced mechanics that I trust that the pawls are not that strong and you're better off using the emergency brake first, resting the vehicle weight on that, and then putting the trans in park.

Then there's the Car Care Nut on Youtube, believe him or not, anything I have to say about the guy is anecdotal.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULcSauSJrsY


My take on this whole conversation is it doesn't hurt to use the emergency brake first, then put it in park, but how you drive your car is your business. Most people don't keep cars long enough for any of this to matter. Which I think is still my point, for most people here, this is a moot point.

 

[Dokatd]

Yeah, I couldn't remember the word "pawl", however, I've heard it called a pin.

I'm sure you're right, and I've been told by a couple of experienced mechanics that I trust that the pawls are not that strong and you're better off using the emergency brake first, resting the vehicle weight on that, and then putting the trans in park.

Then there's the Car Care Nut on Youtube, believe him or not, anything I have to say about the guy is anecdotal.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULcSauSJrsY


My take on this whole conversation is it doesn't hurt to use the emergency brake first, then put it in park, but how you drive your car is your business. Most people don't keep cars long enough for any of this to matter. Which I think is still my point, for most people here, this is a moot point.

Most certainly you are right that it won't hurt to use both. But consider the parking pawl is about 100% secure. It can bind on steep hills though. However many parking brakes are more of a placebo. Put your parking brake on and see how little throttle it takes to drive through it. Sometimes it's poor adjustment and others it's just undersized.

My point is that the parking pawl even on a hill is either about 100% or it doesn't work at all to be fine with. But a parking brake may feel good at first but it relies on friction being maintained. The parking pawl lock into place and can't be disengaged without mechanical manipulation. I'd argue the parking pawl is far more reliable, again steep inclines aside.

 

[Dokatd]

Yeaj but I'll bet you use the kickstand

I mean, most of the time anyway.

Totally screwed up on my GS a few months ago and forgot somehow. I was flustered and trying to get out of an electric gate. Not my proudest moment.

 

[washingthegreaseoff]

Most certainly you are right that it won't hurt to use both. But consider the parking pawl is about 100% secure. It can bind on steep hills though. However many parking brakes are more of a placebo. Put your parking brake on and see how little throttle it takes to drive through it. Sometimes it's poor adjustment and others it's just undersized.

My point is that the parking pawl even on a hill is either about 100% or it doesn't work at all to be fine with. But a parking brake may feel good at first but it relies on friction being maintained. The parking pawl lock into place and can't be disengaged without mechanical manipulation. I'd argue the parking pawl is far more reliable, again steep inclines aside.

Like I said, I've heard different things. I know nothing you, your experience, or whether you're just quoting AI summaries from Google.

All good, you may indeed be the expert here, I have no way to know.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

I use it all the time, to help reduce wear on the pawls..

I have also established a routine where after lowering the brake, I reach out with a finger and push the button to disengage auto on/off

 

[Tazzieman]

I have also established a routine where after lowering the brake, I press the button it disengage auto on/off

You man of routine, you!
I'll bet you're a pilot!

 

[NQ94]

The e-brake hand brake use it, it's a safety device. Like others have said apply if first on a slope than move the trans into park it is a bit of mechanical sympathy for the transmission. If we don't use the park brake/hand brake/e brake prior to leaving the vehicle we can get written up at work and its a driving test fail in Australia.
I conduct QLD TMR statutory brake testing for the mines the standard is the park brake must hold on minimum 15% slope transmission in neutral and be used to pull a vehicle up from around 30km/h at 14% efficiency even on a vehicle at gvm. New electric park brakes have new procedures depending on the manufacturer. No large road going truck has park in an auto transmission and must hold on the park brake, friction brakes at gvm/gcm. In Australia it is an immediate major defect notice if a vehicle cannot hold on the parkbrake.

 

[Dokatd]

Love this one.

View: https://youtu.be/B3EBs7sCOzo?si=P2gxb2IbbfP_LrYs

 

[Ovrland Bill]

Most certainly you are right that it won't hurt to use both.

Yes, “belt and suspenders”

 

[ECrider]

Always. footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, footbrake, park.

unless leaving for week and beyond then reverse onto a large stone or brick and leave it off so doesnt rust on.

 

[Tazzieman]

Always. footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, footbrake, park.

Stop it! You'll do people's heads in with your logic and complex rules

 

[Tinerfeño]

Always. footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, footbrake, park.

I agree, but isn't it enough: footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, park?

 

[ECrider]

I agree, but isn't it enough: footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, park?

probably but its a habit. my only vice, honest

 

[landmannnn]

Some good comments on here, some (presumably ChatGP) nonsense too.

Have a look at this ZF parking pawl.


When you engage park the pawl may drop into one of the slots, or on a flat section.

If you engage park on a hill and the pawl is resting on a flat section the vehicle will roll until the pawl engages. That will eventually wear the pawl or the gear.

Note the pawl on the ZF HP8 is controlled by a solenoid using hydraulics, actually the solenoid disengages the pawl rather than engages it.

Just to be clear...
The primary method of stopping a parked vehicle from moving is the handbrake. For example normally an electronic parking brake is automatically engaged when the vehicle is stopped.

While unlikely to break, replacing a parking pawl and ring will never be cheap.

If a handbrake doesn't work, it needs adjusting or the pads/shoes replacing.

 

[Tazzieman]

It's like putting a wheel under the car when it's jacked up. Safety plus.
Each day after work I return to an inclined gravel driveway with a gate. I get out after engaging the handbrake and Park before walking in front .
This tragedy reinforced my lifelong habit.
And yes if I was lazy and loose with my cash I'd install an electric gate.
I'd need 3 though.

 

[Happyoldgit]

Always. footbrake, neutral, handbrake, release footbrake, footbrake, park.

unless leaving for week and beyond then reverse onto a large stone or brick and leave it off so doesnt rust on.

That’s what was drilled into me by my driving instructor over 50+ years ago albeit slightly different for manual transmission which were the norm in the UK back then. I asked my kids who were taught on manual transmission 6 & 9 years ago and they said the same with minor differences such as no need to use the handbrake at traffic / stop lights and other temporary stop situations, they were also reprimanded for using the gears and engine to assist braking which is what I was taught by my instructor (who was also an ex traffic cop and vehicle examiner). Back in the days of non servo drum brakes using manual gears and changing down when slowing was the norm especially on commercial stuff.

 

[ECrider]

That’s what was drilled into me by my driving instructor over 50+ years ago albeit slightly different for manual transmission which were the norm in the UK back then. I asked my kids who were taught on manual transmission 6 & 9 years ago and they said the same with minor differences such as no need to use the handbrake at traffic / stop lights and other temporary stop situations, they were also reprimanded for using the gears and engine to assist braking which is what I was taught by my instructor (who was also an ex traffic cop and vehicle examiner). Back in the days of non servo drum brakes using manual gears and changing down when slowing was the norm especially on commercial stuff.

Engine breaking all the way. Having had motorbikes it would be alien not to. I use padels in the Audi all the time and also manual shift on the Gren when off road and/or low range.

 

[Logsplitter]

Hand brake for me every time