Why they call it a parking brake

jhm · March 25, 2004

Two guys at work in one week had thier trucks in park (one was a std left in gear) without setting parking brakes. Both rolled, one hit the rear bumper of a 91 camaro, the camaro owner took it to a shop and got a estimate for $1500 in damage! The guy is fuming cause he dosent want to go thru his insurance, his kids already got a couple of claims on his insurance so he has to pay it himself. What is the deal with fear of using parking brakes? My wife bought a Honda and the salesman told her not to use the brake because it is not needed on an automatic and would eventually break! I told her to forget what the idiot said and always use the brake, that is why it is there!

techmanbd · March 25, 2004

I agree, besides with an automatic transmission, if you don't use the parking brake you will damage the transmission, especially with any kind of incline. Sale people half the time know SH&*.

bartlanz · March 25, 2004

The Resons many people up here in the northeast are afraid of using them are:

1. in the winter they can/could/have frozen

2. through lack of use they corrode and stick

and in all reality unless you are on a NASTY hill, you realy dont need to.

Bart

asepgrad98 · March 25, 2004

well if you have a 99+ silverado the parking brake most likely doesnt hold anyhow

i agree if you have a manual tranny it is a must.

MrQuadrasteer · March 25, 2004

I agree with bartlanz.

One other reason is you can egg-shape drums with the e-brake if you apply too much pressure and they're hot...

SteveCZ · March 25, 2004

well if you have a 99+ silverado the parking brake most likely doesnt hold anyhow

i agree if you have a manual tranny it is a must.

Wingnut · March 25, 2004

I have used the parking brake every time I shut off a truck since I started driving with zero problems from it, and I have driven them well past the 200k mark.

I also have had zero tranny problems for what it's worth.

MCourson · March 25, 2004

With auto trans. the parking pawl in the tranny is a lot stronger than the parking brake itself. But with the manual, you need the brake.

redvett · March 25, 2004

The rule is to put manual transmission in reverse if truck in headed down hill. If truck is on upgrade then it needs to be in 1st gear and always have wheels turned to complete clock left or right toward curb. Its a law in some states/citys. San Francisco CA. is one of them.

techmanbd · March 26, 2004

Los Angeles is as well. Found out that the hard way

JimG · March 26, 2004

I never use the parking brake on level ground (got an automatic tranny). However, whenever I park on an incline, I ALWAYS apply it. That nasty clunk you get when shifting out of Park can't be doing good for the tranny. Oh, and always apply it when doing maintenance work -- forgot to do that once on my roommate's Kia when I changed her tire, stupid car rolled back and off the jack. Real fun ...

Ben · March 26, 2004

The NBS's 4 wheel disc brakes had early failures of the "parking" brakes. the Drum/Shoe assembly had it come apart inside the hub. Ruined many. There is a TSB for early NBS and later factory units were supposed to have fixed.

Notice they no longer refer to it as Parking/Emergency brakes anymore?

The sizing of them is now only JUST good enough only for parking. No longer large enough to deemed "Emergency" brakes.

Poor design methology and should have sized large enough for both parking and Emergency braking.

MCourson · March 26, 2004

I always use mine on inclines too. The reason it is hard to shift out of park when on in incline, or that clunk is due to the weight of the truck restng on the parking pawl.

citydriver · March 26, 2004

I use mine every time I park,flat or incline.'95 w/original cables,156K mi...AND I live in Buffalo,road salt and all...yeah I know I have drum brakes on the rear,but from past experience,if you dont use them you'll lose them(cables) And they r a must for NY state inspections...AND w/drum brakes,regular use helps to keep the rear brakes in adjustment....

covvy · March 26, 2004

A buddy of mine left his (dare I say it) ford in the driveway which is on a 45 degree angle and went into the house. An hour later he got a call from the police asking if he was aware of the location of his truck. He went outside and low and behold it was gone. Gone strait down the hill backward into three other cars writing off two of them. What happened was the park pawl got worn out and slipped letting the truck roll back in neutral 200 yard down a 30 degree grade into then three other cars engine up inside a Civic. Only bent his bumper though to his amazement. Insurance said it was his fault for not having the vehicle in proper state of repair. Long story short is always use the park brake to avoid the fluke chance that this could happen to anyone. Plus as previously mentioned regular use keeps everything in motion.