When to release parking brake?

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This may sound like a newb question.. For parking, I know that i should apply the parking brakes before releasing the brake pedal and shifting to "P". But usually what's the correct way to release it when starting to drive off from a parked position? E.g.: Should i hold down the brake pedal, then release parking brake, then shift to drive/reverse?
 
There's actually a procedure for opertaing a parking brake with an automatic?
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I usually put it on after I put it in park but before I release the brake. When I go to leave, if I can just go straight to drive it will automatically release the parking brake, otherwise I will pop it after I put it in reverse.
 
My driveway is a on a pretty good incline. I always yank up or mash :) the parking brake before I set the trans in park. It takes the stress off the parking pawl in the trans. If you don't I get a Ka-POW! coming out of park in my vehicles. Bothers the heck out of me.

Joel
 
The load should be on the brake and not the transmission parking pawl. Keep your foot on the brake, set the parking brake, and make sure the car won't roll, then shift into park. When taking off, apply the brakes, put the load on them, release the parking brake and put the car into D or R. As long as the load is on the foot brake now and not the transmission all is good.

Frank D
 
On my automatic: Shift to N -> Apply Parking Brake -> Release Service Brake -> Shift to P -> Done.

On my manual: Clutch In -> Shift out of gear -> Apply parking brake -> Release Service Brake -> Engine Off -> Shift into 1st or R -> Done.
 
Keeping the brake pedal pressed is always good when manipulating the parking brake.
My opinion on parking brakes is to use them all the time, or never use them. Occasional use is when you see problems.

Many car manuals tell you not to use the parking brakes when it it REALLY cold out, as they can stick. When it is below zero and a cable sticks, I had to call an ex Navy sailor to provide the correct verbiage for the situation.
 
I agree with Demarpaint. I set the brake before my truck goes into Park. It drives me nuts when my wife drives it. She never uses the brake.
 
I remember when the Chevy Euro Lumina with the 4 wheel disc brake had many problems when it came to releasing the parking brake. The parking brake was built in to the rear disc caliper instead of having a separate parking brake system (one of the first gen).

When the operator would release the parking brake, they would normally have their foot on the regular brake pedal. When the parking brake was released with the regular brake engaged, the rear brake caliper would go out of adjustment and would not make contact with the rear disc. This would lead to premature front brake wear due to the lack of working rear brakes.

Cars do not have this problem anymore. I guess the original poster had a valid reason to worry.
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Originally Posted By: Highroller
This may sound like a newb question.. For parking, I know that i should apply the parking brakes before releasing the brake pedal and shifting to "P". But usually what's the correct way to release it when starting to drive off from a parked position? E.g.: Should i hold down the brake pedal, then release parking brake, then shift to drive/reverse?

I've never ever used the emergency brake for parking.
I know its all the rage anymore.
It does get very annoying pulling in a custtomers car from a level parking lot when they ratchet up that hand brake so hard their hand hit the roof.

Standard trans, I've always placed it in reverse, even on the street that was inclined where i grew up as that is how I was taught. Autommatics have a parking pawl that does its job to secure the car in "park".

If the rear brakes are adjusted by using the hand brake, applying it once a week would suffice for the adjustment.
Rear brakes usually last 100,000 miles, they wear very slowly.
 
Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
I usually put it on after I put it in park but before I release the brake. When I go to leave, if I can just go straight to drive it will automatically release the parking brake, otherwise I will pop it after I put it in reverse.

Im going to add, just because Im really bored, that if I try to apply the parking brake before I move it out of D, it wont lock, since the auto release mechanism keeps it unlocked. Pretty neat if I want to sit someplace for a minute stealthily with it in D. Or put it in N and lock it. Pop the gearshift down to D to be on my way with nary a reverse light flash.
 
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