Best order to park: shift then parking brake?

[paulri]

I recall hearing a while back, that when you park (let's use the two vehicles in my sig, and the vast majority of the time, it is on level ground, or only a slight incline), it is best to hit the parking brake first, and only then, to shift into the park gear. The explanation is that if/when the car moves a bit, it will not work against the transmission, but the parking brake (if you have hit the parking brake first).

Does this make any sense? Does the order matter at all? Or is it best to always hit the parking brake first?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I usually do that in automatics. Set the parking brake then neutral and park.

My Taurus would get stuck in park on the slightest incline if I didn't do that. More than once I had to push the car one way or another while trying to push on the brake and jiggle the shifter.

 

[RobertISaar]

You can shift into Park first, just don't take your foot off of the brake pedal before setting the parking brake.

 

[paulri]

I should have indicated that both vehicles are auotomatics--even the Civic. I honestly didn't know that they made compacts with automatic, but at the price that I paid for that car, I didn't question the matter.

Robert, if you are saying it is ok to shift into park, but only if you keep your foot on the brake--that is like saying that if you DON'T put your foot on the brake, you can hurt your transmission, isn't it?

 

[VetteElite]

Originally Posted By: paulri
I should have indicated that both vehicles are auotomatics--even the Civic. I honestly didn't know that they made compacts with automatic, but at the price that I paid for that car, I didn't question the matter.

Robert, if you are saying it is ok to shift into park, but only if you keep your foot on the brake--that is like saying that if you DON'T put your foot on the brake, you can hurt your transmission, isn't it?


What planet are you living in that you didn't know compacts came with automatics? Probably 90%+ of compact sales are autos...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: RobertISaar
You can shift into Park first, just don't take your foot off of the brake pedal before setting the parking brake.


+1, that's what I usually do.


On MT cars I just take it out of gear and set the PB, then put it back in gear after shutting off.

 

[Leo99]

I never use the parking brake unless I need to jack the car up or have it on ramps. Maybe if I had to park on a hill but don't see the need for parking brake on flat earth. If I did use it, I'd apply the parking brake before shifting into park.

 

[mk378]

Always stop the car fully with the brake pedal and hold brakes on during any changing among drive, reverse, or park.

If you're parking on a hill, also set the parking brake before letting go of the brake pedal. The parking brake isn't necessary on level ground.

 

[demarpaint]

On a hill I stop the car, put it in N with my foot on the brake and set the parking brake. I release the brake pedal and make sure the load is on the parking brake, then I shift into P. Really big hills I also turn the wheels toward or away from the curb depending on the direction the car is pointing on the hill and use them as a chock.

 

[ToadU]

What are hills? What are parking brakes? I live in Florida. I've never seen a hill. Lol

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Put it in neutral, parking brake, THEN park.

This way your parking brake preloads and then when you put in park, the parking gear is doing nothing unless the e brake fails.

If you put in park first, there will be a slight movement as your P gear engages, you can still use P brake, but the transmission is already being stressed.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: RobertISaar
You can shift into Park first, just don't take your foot off of the brake pedal before setting the parking brake.
+1

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: ToadU
What are hills? What are parking brakes? I live in Florida. I've never seen a hill. Lol


LOL Interesting point! Park on a hill in California and don't turn the wheels in the right direction and you'll learn about hills, and parking on them. It's called Hill Parking 101 taught by the Police, the first lesson is a ticket.

 

[ToadU]

Funny and true story. When I was a kid after my dad got out of the Navy he got a civilian job with a company vehicle--in this case a Chevy 1500 truck. Square style. Anyway our street was straight and on a hill. So one night dad comes home. Next morning we go outside to head to school no truck. Dad think someone stole my new company truck. Looks to left. Truck is in livingroom of Mr. and Mrs. Hallman, our neighbors about 5 doors down. They were out of town. To this day Dad maintains he put the truck in park and it must not have fully engaged park. Obviously he didn't use his emergency brake nor turn wheels...Florida boys here btw. He's obcessive about parking brakes and when I learned to drive and to this day set the brake every time. I was of course joking in my previous post about not knowing what hills and brakes are.

No he didn't get fired.

 

[ToadU]

Oh btw Dad's moral to story is don't buy anything made by GM. That was his first and last GM product. He's so dedicated to that he later was hired as VP of Monsanto Chemical and his contract called for a new company car every 18 months. He declined the job because at the time Monsanto only purchased GMs fleet wide and wanted to give him a Caddy or Olds. He really turned down the job because he wouldn't drive a free GM car. They came back and told him he could have a Lincoln or Ford. He had that put in writing and company wide he had the only Ford in the whole company car wise. Lol