Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) - Car Talk (2)

Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) - Car Talk (2) - Nairaland

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Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by ayobamiakinrind(m): 8:58am On Nov 05, 2017

xana101:
please where do u come from

Ibadan, I guess.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Barezzi(m): 8:59am On Nov 05, 2017

Very interesting... we learn everyday!

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by dokiOloye(m): 9:09am On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
So basically, this could be one of the causes of gear box failure?

Yeah

1 Like

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Reference(m): 9:09am On Nov 05, 2017

The Park selection is a gear function so the entire potential energy of the vehicle rests on the gearbox. For a heavily loaded vehicle or one on an incline this will put immense pressure on the gearbox components and you notice this when you attempt to drive out of a slope. I don't think this pressure goes without wear to the components so what is advisable is to engage your handbrake in any situation that will make the vehicle roll unaided (either by loading or incline) and to do so BEFORE gear selecting the park lever so the load is carried by the wheels/brake assembly and not the gearbox.

Modern gearboxes are robust and enduring but notoriously difficult to repair or replace when they eventually wear out and certainly much more expensive that the brake system of yoir vehicle so why stress them unnecessarily.

P.S: It is possible that modern vehicles will/or are being built with linkages between the 'park' selector and the brake system thus nullifying the need to have a seperate brake lever. But for the vast majority of vehickes on our roads today bith systems are entire independent and for a good reason too, one acting as a redundancy to the other in case of failure of which stopping a vehicle in motion is a serious priority. My two cents.

1 Like

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by nativedoctor(m): 9:10am On Nov 05, 2017

donkilluminati:
does Automatic cars even come with handbrake?? well, i've got no handbrake on my benz. no idea about other car brands.

It's actually called a parking brake.
In Mercedes it's usually a small pedal by the driver's left foot with a small release lever under the dashboard.

2 Likes

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by ogbevireo(m): 9:19am On Nov 05, 2017

dokiOloye:
Its not good to let d weight of d car rest on the transmission .
Not healthy for d transmission,especially automatic transmissions.

This is the answer.

1 Like

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by eromspete(m): 9:40am On Nov 05, 2017

Keep parking your car with the P gear (especially on slopes) and see what happens (it will take some time but there will be damage to the transmission pawl)
Handbrake serves a purpose to lock the wheels and reduce the strain on transmission components in an idle parking position.

chucksbadt:
Hello guys, out of my curiosity, I'll like to ask;

For Automatic cars, it's impossible for the car to roll when the gear is on Park(P), still i observe some people engage their handbrake while the car is on P.

As for me, the only time i use my handbrake for Automatic cars is while I'm on traffic and i want to relax my foot, i prefer to use the Neutral(N) gear (because it's more closer to D for a quick start) when I'm on a hilly road to prevent the car from rolling

What do you guys think

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by muzari: 9:41am On Nov 05, 2017

YES, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR A CAR HELD ON GEAR TO DISENGAGE AND KINET, IT'S HAPPENED TO MY C CLASS BENZ BEFORE.
NEVER HOLD A CAR WITH GEAR, IT'S VERY RISKY AND WEARS THE GEAR MECHANISM EASILY

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by dokiOloye(m): 9:57am On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
So basically, this could be one of the causes of gear box failure?

yeah.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by olaolaking: 10:59am On Nov 05, 2017

feelme3:
Obviously, dude isn't ready to take any other opinion outside what he knows. Just Google "Use of hand brake in auto transmission" and debate there.

He is ready to take opinions. He just wants a convincing enough reason that will override all other reasons

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by mywells: 11:04am On Nov 05, 2017

Every one in this forum are learners,most of you guys learn driving with Automatic car and few learn with manual car,which is the best way to way to learn how to drive,if you guys should have learn how to drive with manual this parking with hand break shouldn't have been a point of discussions,my advice is that you guys should go back to driving schools and get more knowledge into your tick skull have a nice day.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by DaV8King(m): 11:43am On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Hello guys, out of my curiosity, I'll like to ask;

For Automatic cars, it's impossible for the car to roll when the gear is on Park(P), still i observe some people engage their handbrake while the car is on P.

As for me, the only time i use my handbrake for Automatic cars is while I'm on traffic and i want to relax my foot, i prefer to use the Neutral(N) gear (because it's more closer to D for a quick start) when I'm on a hilly road to prevent the car from rolling

What do you guys think

@OP allowing the vehicle to rest on just the transmission is not the best.

Free rolling could happen and cause damage to the park gear teeth and locking pin/spall.

Not mechanically locking the wheels (handbrake) usually leads to future transmission problems.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by nemynely(m): 11:46am On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Bro where i come from, handbrake or not
Whenever we want to jack the car we must put stone behind the back tire first......so that can't be a criteria

Very funny! grin

. Abeg are u talking about a car or a poorly maintained lorry?

1 Like

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by DaV8King(m): 11:48am On Nov 05, 2017

mywells:
Every one in this forum are learners,most of you guys learn driving with Automatic car and few learn with manual car,which is the best way to way to learn how to drive,if you guys should have learn how to drive with manual this parking with hand break shouldn't have been a point of discussions,my advice is that you guys should go back to driving schools and get more knowledge into your tick skull have a nice day.

Manual in my opinion as you MUST master clutch control, unless you wan buy clutch tire grin

Also, you have more interaction with the vehicle as compared to auto.

To each their own wink

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by komodapson(m): 12:00pm On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Bro where i come from, handbrake or not
Whenever we want to jack the car we must put stone behind the back tire first......so that can't be a criteria

gbabe!!!

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Nobody: 12:15pm On Nov 05, 2017

There are two different answers here to the same question.

Some folks are saying to to place the vehicle in park and then engage the handbrake as a way of “double braking” and keeping your ride in the same spot that you left it. This is fine, there is nothing wrong with doing it this way and as someone pointed out this is how the manual says to do it.

The second answer people are giving is in regards to relieving the vehicle weight from the parking pin or pawl. Most of you that have parked your car on an incline or decline will notice that your shifter knob inside your car requires more muscle to move and make a clunking sound when taking it out of park. That's because at an incline or decline(basically the nose of your car is pointed up higher than normal) the car naturally wants to start rolling backwards. The only thing that keeps that from happening is the parking pin/pawl located inside your transmission. It keeps the transmission gears from turning thus preventing the tires from rolling.

It is possible if enough weight is placed on that pin, it would shear it off and the car would start rolling backwards in park. You can also shear your pin by placing the car in park while still rolling(I’ve done this one myself)

So, the goal with the parking brake is to help out your transmission by taking the load off the parking pin. You do this by engaging the handbrake/parking brake which is not part of the transmission and doesn’t work by using the single point of failure like a pin. Instead it uses your rear brake and basically keeps your rear rotors or drums pinched preventing movement.

So this is how it’s done. Once you’ve come to a stop on a slope or incline, keeping your foot on the brake pedal, engage your parking or hand brake fully. If your hand brake is functioning properly you can take your foot off the brake and even while not in park, the car will not roll. After the parking brake is engaged take your foot off the brake pedal, this allows the directional mass of the car to rest on the parking brake, then place your vehicle in park. Now none of the weight of the car is resting on your little parking pin. When it’s time to go, place your foot on the brake pedal, put the car in gear and then release the parking brake. The transfer of vehicle weight to the transmission is seamless, take your foot off the brake and away you go!

Hope this clears things up

8 Likes

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Noblewhiz(m): 12:48pm On Nov 05, 2017

Learn a lot from here....

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Emekayoung(m): 12:54pm On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
So basically, this could be one of the causes of gear box failure?

Exactly. Since i learnt about it. I always pull up my hand brake b4 putting my car on park..

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Nobody: 1:08pm On Nov 05, 2017

donkilluminati:
does Automatic cars even come with handbrake?? well, i've got no handbrake on my benz. no idea about other car brands.

Some modern cars don't come with the normal parking brake, some use electronic parking brake.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by OCTAVO: 2:16pm On Nov 05, 2017

greenhulk:
Ignorance. Handbrake is more useful than u think. Have u ever wondered why it is difficult to engage ur grear while u are parked on a slope? Ha ha u think it's normal and harmless for u to be engaging ur gear with force and a loud bang? That is because the transmission is resting on the slope, it can wear ur transmission faster. The right way to park is first engage ur handbrake while ur foot is on the foot brake. Then put ur car in park. That way the handbrake stops the car from rolling and the transmission will be free. So that when u want to get ur car out of park it will be so easy without that loud bang.

Also useful when u parallel park on a very steel slope, let's say a car is parked closely behind u. When u want to move forward, on engaging drive, u would want to take ur foot off the brake to accelerate, ur car might back up before going forward due to the steep slope thereby hitting the car behind u. But with handbrake engaged that can be avoided. Just floor the throttle before releasing hand brake.

I learnt something here.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Sunmolar(m): 2:43pm On Nov 05, 2017

Just incase you forgot to put it in park, the handbrake will help hold it place with little or no movement.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by AroOkigbo(m): 2:56pm On Nov 05, 2017

greenhulk:
Ignorance. Handbrake is more useful than u think. Have u ever wondered why it is difficult to engage ur grear while u are parked on a slope? Ha ha u think it's normal and harmless for u to be engaging ur gear with force and a loud bang? That is because the transmission is resting on the slope, it can wear ur transmission faster. The right way to park is first engage ur handbrake while ur foot is on the foot brake. Then put ur car in park. That way the handbrake stops the car from rolling and the transmission will be free. So that when u want to get ur car out of park it will be so easy without that loud bang.

Also useful when u parallel park on a very steel slope, let's say a car is parked closely behind u. When u want to move forward, on engaging drive, u would want to take ur foot off the brake to accelerate, ur car might back up before going forward due to the steep slope thereby hitting the car behind u. But with handbrake engaged that can be avoided. Just floor the throttle before releasing hand brake.

Really?
We learn everyday. People like dis make me always visit nairaland...to learn!

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by femi4: 3:02pm On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Bro where i come from, handbrake or not
Whenever we want to jack the car we must put stone behind the back tire first......so that can't be a criteria

Are you here to learn or argue

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by thunderbabs: 3:20pm On Nov 05, 2017

Yo, what is the meaning of Wi-Fi?

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by johnwell(m): 4:11pm On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Please gimme one instance when a car will roll while the front wheels are locked down

...according to him, the rear tires will run away since only the front is locked. grin

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Wisebisho: 8:47pm On Nov 05, 2017

blackylola:
hand brake is more active than P, parking will only hold the front wheels

Have been driving automatic for over 10yrs. have never touched the hand brake while the gear is on P

1 Like

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by ChikezieU(m): 9:20pm On Nov 05, 2017

chucksbadt:
Hello guys, out of my curiosity, I'll like to ask;

For Automatic cars, it's impossible for the car to roll when the gear is on Park(P), still i observe some people engage their handbrake while the car is on P.

As for me, the only time i use my handbrake for Automatic cars is while I'm on traffic and i want to relax my foot, i prefer to use the Neutral(N) gear (because it's more closer to D for a quick start) when I'm on a hilly road to prevent the car from rolling

What do you guys think

firstly the Park (P) works when the engine is off, it's capability to hold the car relies on the current strength of the engine(rings compressive strength) sometimes you may have seen a parked car attempting to move repeatedly and will gradually increase acceleration. This happens mostly as a result of weak engine(though sometimes gear problem/handling may occour)
secondly handbrake are independent of the gear system as it locks the two back wheels(if properly adjusted) ones it's drawn. So it's more reliable than the gear even when another vehicle rams the car it's more likely to accelerate if it's parked without the the hand brakes on.

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by Baso2019: 9:24pm On Nov 05, 2017

Sometimes I forget to release the hand brake and the car still moves, though reluctantly until I notice it and disengage it. Is it okay for it to move when the handbrake is still engaged?

Re: Why Use Your Handbrake When The Gear Is On Park(p) by femi4: 9:34pm On Nov 05, 2017

Baso2019:
Sometimes I forget to release the hand brake and the car still moves, though reluctantly until I notice it and disengage it. Is it okay for it to move when the handbrake is still engaged?

Replace the brake shoe