Should I use the e-brake?

[coopns]

02 Camry. Don't think it has been used (I didn't get it new), had it for 2 years. Just put on new front brakes/rotors.

Should I start to use the ebrake a bit just to keep all those parts moving or leave it?

 

[Towncivilian]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2228406

 

[Astro14]

Always.

1. Recommended in the OM.
2. Keeps mechanism from rusting stuck.
3. Takes load off parking pawl, making it easier to shift.
4. Adjusts the rear drums on my truck.
5. Can be the law in some jurisdictions (think SF...).
6. Once had a Fairlane that liked to slip out of park...

 

[GearheadTool]

Is the E-brake the parking brake?

Ive never really used it. I usually put the car in gear on a stick-shift after turning it off, but.. if E-brake is parking brake, I dont. I also sometimes used to "gear down" to slow down.

 

[AlienBug]

Always use the parking brake. Your transmission is NOT a wheel chock.

 

[1999nick]

I always use the PARKING brake. On any sort of hill I always apply it and make sure it is holding before I put the transmission into Park. I have never trusted the parking pawl in an automatic transmission to hold if much pressure was applied to it.

I have never, in over 60 years of driving, had occasion to use the parking brake as an emergency brake. If my car is stopped and in Park, you can bet the parking brake is also applied.

A check in a couple of owner's manuals refers only to a "parking brake", with no reference at all to an "emergency brake".

 

[Donald]

I use it for several weeks before my annual NYS inspection. If you start using it, make sure to start checking for it to be on. I have driven with it on for a short distance when someone else had driven my vehicle and left it on.

 

[coopns]

I was just wondering at this stage should I use it. I did read the previous thread but I didn't want it to freeze something up or get stuck.

 

[GearheadTool]

If it is an auto trans, the "P" has the car locked.
If it is a manual trans, putting the trans in any gear achieves same result.
Both the above statements are to 1. Car off 2. Parked. Of course, on a steep hill, ratcheting the brake to all the way up and clicked to the maximum amount it can be would give more stability. But on 90% of surfaces, I never did use it.

What happens when you forget to take it off and drive off?
Also.. Parking brake IS e-brake, correct?

Gearing gown with the trans is something I only used to do occasionally. Car thieves like that parking brake. They like to yank it to put the car into a slide......

Quote:
A check in a couple of owner's manuals refers only to a "parking brake", with no reference at all to an "emergency brake".


+1 to this. I believe they maybe call it an "E-brake" in the UK.. and then people are under the impression the car has both an E-brake AND a parking brake.

In an emergency (brakes failed, etc,) the logic is that the parking brake can slow the car down.. but im not sure I see it doing it in time to be effective, if at all. Sorry...

 

[NHGUY]

If they try it at inspection time and it doesnt work,plan on paying them to fix it.

 

[RoGuE]

I always use it. It also can keep your car from rolling if you get hit in a parking lot and it breaks the pawl. Another good thing, although paranoid, is it can make it more difficult for the method of stealing cars where they just load it up on a flatbed and take it away.

 

[bdcardinal]

Always use it on every car I drive, manual or automatic gearbox. I have a weird habit when I use one on an automatic, I put the car in neutral, apply the brake, let off the service brakes to let the parking brake engage and then put the gearbox in park.

 

[wirelessF]

Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Always use the parking brake. Your transmission is NOT a wheel chock.


More like your engine mounts are not your parking brake. All that force going thorugh the parking pawl, to the trans case, to the engine block and finally resting on the engine mounts.

I shudder when I see a car or (worse) a truck when the owner just puts it in Park. You can see the vehicle rock back and forth.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: wirelessF
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Always use the parking brake. Your transmission is NOT a wheel chock.


More like your engine mounts are not your parking brake. All that force going thorugh the parking pawl, to the trans case, to the engine block and finally resting on the engine mounts.

I shudder when I see a car or (worse) a truck when the owner just puts it in Park. You can see the vehicle rock back and forth.


There IS a reason why the manufacturers put this in the car. Like others have said your tranny is NOT a parking brake or a wheel chock. Worse yet you are putting a stress (especially on an incline) on the parking pawl (auto) when you simply use Park.

The best procedure when you come to a stop to park, first foot on brake, then shift into park (keeping foot on brakes) then engage the "e brake" firmly. This puts the stress where it belongs and was designed to be by the engineers, on the e brake NOT the transmission.

 

[Towncivilian]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I have a weird habit when I use one on an automatic, I put the car in neutral, apply the brake, let off the service brakes to let the parking brake engage and then put the gearbox in park.

This is exactly what I do as well.

 

[mechtech2]

My general advice on parking brakes :
Always use it, or never use it.

Normally, it is preferable to always use it. It does not wear the brakes at all, and keeps things loose.
If a car never uses it, and then you start to , things may stick or break. Check yours to see if there are any problems when you are at home, first. [A full release and both sides operating.]

 

[Errtt]

Hummm - I never use it.

 

[coopns]

So in my case if it hasn't been used, leave it.

 

[andyd]

Yes and no. If you never check it, it could freeze due lack of use. It is a safety item for inspection.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I would try to use it on a day where you could monkey around with it if it stuck and then if it doesnt I use mine once in a while just to be sure it doesnt stick