Running with handbrake up
Discussion
Not all cars need to pull down the handbrake to run. See what happens when a driver forgets to pull it down but is still able to drive without even noticing.
Very cool video: http://www.autoviva.com/tiagospeedy/member/1035?se...
Very cool video: http://www.autoviva.com/tiagospeedy/member/1035?se...
If the handbrake is on but not enough to keep the wheels locked up, and the handbrake operates on the wheel's primary brake, then doing this can overheat the brakes, which can lead to warped discs, pads catching fire, or brake fluid boiling and leaving the driver with no brakes at all.
I think.
I think.
Alfanatic said:
If the handbrake is on but not enough to keep the wheels locked up, and the handbrake operates on the wheel's primary brake, then doing this can overheat the brakes, which can lead to warped discs, pads catching fire, or brake fluid boiling and leaving the driver with no brakes at all.
I think.
This. One of the scariest moments in a car for me was in my mate's Frontera, fully loaded with three of us. 30 odd miles with the handbrake up, got to the end of the sliproad of the motorway and he just mumbled "sI think.
t". "Yeah I've got no brakes...". We were somewhat lucky the lights were green and it was the middle of the night 
Mad body roll though...Alfanatic said:
If the handbrake is on but not enough to keep the wheels locked up, and the handbrake operates on the wheel's primary brake, then doing this can overheat the brakes, which can lead to warped discs, pads catching fire, or brake fluid boiling and leaving the driver with no brakes at all.
I think.
Firstly, the Seicento won't have discs on the rear... It'll have drums...I think.
Secondly, The o/h has a Seicento sporting and the handbrake is sheeeeit!! It's a two handed job just to get it to apply properly!!
Thirdly, what a turnip that driver is!
As I came out of a petrol station shop the other day, I could smell burning. Looked at a car, billows of smoke pouring out of the rear drums. I tapped on his window 'excuse me, i think you handbrake is still on'. 'Yes, thank-you' the old boy said. Then he started the car and drove off, rear suspension was kangarooing, smoke still pouring out. 
poor car.
Should have stopped the old fella from driving off really, not thinking quickly enough at that time in the morning!
poor car. Should have stopped the old fella from driving off really, not thinking quickly enough at that time in the morning!
Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 11th August 13:53
I just did the 15 miles home from work (nightshift), got out the car, smelled a horrible burning, almost electrical in flavour. Went round the car, and discovered the rear nearside wheel is burning hot. Must be either the pads or the shoes. I'll look after a sleep, cos I've been up for 24 hours. The handbrake was definately off.
chunkol said:
I just did the 15 miles home from work (nightshift), got out the car, smelled a horrible burning, almost electrical in flavour. Went round the car, and discovered the rear nearside wheel is burning hot. Must be either the pads or the shoes. I'll look after a sleep, cos I've been up for 24 hours. The handbrake was definately off.
Had a similar experience with the golf a few months ago. The handbrake operates on the main rear brakes. The lever went down as normal but the cable was only releasing part way. Enough to allow the wheel to turn but enough to keep the pads in contact with the disc.Got out at my first stop for the morning, and I could smell what did smell like a burning car, but had driven past a car that actually was on fire ten minutes earlier and was just mildly surprised that the smell had drifted this far...
Coasting uphill towards a roundabout at one point on the second part part of my journey and the car felt like it was decelerating slightly quicker than normal but the difference was subtle enough to make me wonder if I was imagining it.
At my second destination I could still smell it, and this time there was smoke coming off the right rear pads so now I finally twigged that something was wrong with the brakes. It took an AA visit to tell me, in about 10 seconds, that it was the handbrake cable sticking....
My car had that peculiar smell like a train station for days after that (no, not that smell, I didn't apply any improvised liquid cooling methods to the brakes).
budgie smuggler said:
As I came out of a petrol station shop the other day, I could smell burning. Looked at a car, billows of smoke pouring out of the rear drums. I tapped on his window 'excuse me, i think you handbrake is still on'. 'Yes, thank-you' the old boy said. Then he started the car and drove off, rear suspension was kangarooing, smoke still pouring out. poor car.
Should have stopped the old fella from driving off really, not thinking quickly enough at that time in the morning!
it is people like him that need their licenses taking away poor car. Should have stopped the old fella from driving off really, not thinking quickly enough at that time in the morning!
Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 11th August 13:53
First time I went to see one of my mates with my 540, I let him have a quick run out in it (it needed moving on to his drive so I gave him the keys and suggested he take it round the block for a squirt) I just stood on drive and waited the five minutes for him to come back. As he pulled up saying how quick and grin inducing it was I pointed out I could smell quite badly smoked brakes to which he replied, I didn't drive it that hard. A quick look inside and the handbrake was still firmly on. 
To be fair his current steed was an old Xsara and he'd never driven an auto so he just chucked it in drive and set off and didn't notice the dragging due to the power difference over his shed.
To be fair his current steed was an old Xsara and he'd never driven an auto so he just chucked it in drive and set off and didn't notice the dragging due to the power difference over his shed.
stewjohnst said:
First time I went to see one of my mates with my 540, I let him have a quick run out in it (it needed moving on to his drive so I gave him the keys and suggested he take it round the block for a squirt) I just stood on drive and waited the five minutes for him to come back. As he pulled up saying how quick and grin inducing it was I pointed out I could smell quite badly smoked brakes to which he replied, I didn't drive it that hard. A quick look inside and the handbrake was still firmly on.
To be fair his current steed was an old Xsara and he'd never driven an auto so he just chucked it in drive and set off and didn't notice the dragging due to the power difference over his shed.
Poor car!!! I feel sorry for it To be fair his current steed was an old Xsara and he'd never driven an auto so he just chucked it in drive and set off and didn't notice the dragging due to the power difference over his shed.
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