The purpose of the hand brake

[griobhta]

One of the girls in the office, who's car deserves to be burried in a very big hole, was told that one of the problems with her brakes was impropper use of the hand brake. (Its an old clio - manual like most cars here)

Apparently, according to this mechanic, you should never use the hand brake when the car is parked you should just leave it in gear, either 1st or reverse'. The only time you should use the hand brake is for hill starts and other necessary times when you are driving. By using the hand brake when you park your car you are causing your brake padds to lock together and eventually they will jam.

This really sounds like an odd bit of advice. So any thoughts? I will admit that i know very little about cars but find this hard to believe.

g

[Tarp2]

Thats strange, I had a Chevy Corvette that had the handbrake freeze from never using it. The cable rusts in place. I have never heard of a parking brake not to be used for parking.

Tarp

[wju425]

Not a bad advice. Another disadvantage of a hand (or parking) brakes are that it can cause your brake drums to go out of round if used for parking especially for extended periods of time. I use mine for emergency stopping if my brakes failed. If your car are automatic shifted then you use the parking brakes for parking on hills so it won't be difficult to pull your shifter out of park. Apply the brakes before putting in park.

\o/ Billy

[Centurion]

I have used handbrakes since a 1968 bettle - use the brake - cause they seize without use! however - they do need to be replaced - the cables that is on a regular basis. When I did deliveries - about once a year - before that once in the lifetime of the car.

C

[OuTpaTienT]

Yeah. It's called a parking brake for a reason.

I believe it's technically illegal to park your car here without engaging the parking brake. Transmissions can, sometimes easily, just pop out of gear. That would leave your car rolling downhill without a brake.

[Theophylact]

In many places, the use of the hand brake is required by law. I don't see how it can hurt, and a recent Car Talk show said the same... and here's a Car Talk column on the subject from way back in '95.

[griobhta]

exactly my thoughts on the matter. the foot on clutch issue was another thing she had to sort out before

g

[thekingofpain]

Hah!---I learned 20+ years ago about the "parking" brake and its use---
Had a '63 Dodge 4 door monster with a pushbutton automatic, parked it at a friends house on a hill with the wheels turned into the curb but didnt set the brake---
Came out later and the car was GONE!
High dollar neighborhood in San Clemente who would steal it???
Finally noticed a tiremark goin over the 12" curb---looked down the hill and there was a BIG hole in a wood fence---sure enough, the car had jumped the curb went about 300 feet down the street, jumped the curb again and was sitting in a guys backyard!
They wernt home---and no-one witnessed it---car was unhurt and I drove it out of the yard leaving a note on the front door---never heard from them, but noticed a new blockwall fence next time I visited---this time I set my parking brake...

[caddmannq]

This device used to be called the "emergency brake" years ago.

They changed the name to "parking brake" when they decided that these things really weren't powerful enough to stop the car well in an emergency.

Also from a liability issue, when you name something "emergency brake" you indirectly imply that there's gonna be an emergency.

...like when the "service brakes" leak down

[Jonty]

At home when the car is in my garage I never have the handbrake on, it's perfectly level so no need. Out and about though I apply the handbrake and also leave it in 1st gear.

Another tip, which I always do, is when starting the car, depress the clutch whilst starting, as this makes it easier for the starter motor to turn the engine.

Yet another tip - when using the handbrake, don't pull it up so it makes the clicking sound, but depress the button and keep it depressed, less wear then occurs on the ratchet mechanism.