Parking A Car For 2 Weeks

[MondeoMan1981]

Help solve a debate please PH....

Parking up for two weeks.

Handbrake as normal or no handbrake and leave it in gear?

I say latter as long as not on a huge hill, as the brakes could get a bit stiff.

[trickywoo]

If there is no security or safety issue handbrake off. However, if everything is in good order two weeks shouldn't make a difference.

[sparks_E39]

Handbrake on.... it's only two weeks.

[anonymous-user]

Until recently I would have scoffed at even thinking about these things on a modern car, but a friend has a 3 or 4 year old Seat Ibiza where the rear drums seem to seize almost solid if you leave it alone for even a week! I had to get a big bit of wood and mallet out to free them up after a fortnight.

I'd leave the handbrake off if you can, but to be honest unless it's an oddball like that Ibiza you shouldn't have any trouble at all. I regularly leave cars standing for a month or more.

[Willy Nilly]

How long do you think new and used cars sit in parking lots and forecourts for?

[thatdude]

My dad layed his car up for 8 weeks following surgery. Handbrake on.

No problems when he rolled it out the garage once the doc gave him the all clear

[kambites]

I'd put the hand brake on and leave it in gear, personally.

[NashGT]

Hand brake on

[JDMDrifter]

If it has rear discs leave it on, if it has drums leave it off and leave it in the correct gear.

[Soupie69uk]

I never leave my handbrake on when parking unless I am jacking up the front of the car or parking on a hill. Always just leave it in gear.

Depending on how old your battery is you may want to disconnect it but if its decent I would just leave it.

[mikeyr]

Willy Nilly said:

How long do you think new and used cars sit in parking lots and forecourts for?

Yet my daily use Puma's brakes seized on after just 2 weeks of being parked up. Be interesting to hear from some car dealers on whether they leave them in gear or not...

[mini1380cc]

JDMDrifter said:

If it has rear discs leave it on, if it has drums leave it off and leave it in the correct gear.

I would go with this. If I leave my mini (drum rears) handbrake on too long, it is like a dog with worms when I try to drive off.