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!