Handbrake Use in Automatics
Discussion
My daily driver is an automatic, not by choice but if came along (and at least it's petrol 
)
I put it in drive when I park up and then let the car 'settle' esp as my drive is on an incline before applying the handbrake.......on flat surfaces (like my garage I don't bother with the handbrake).
My mate says that allwoing the car to 'settle' is putting pressure on the gearbox as the car is actually in a gear, just that it's not a moving gear, and he said I should put the handbrake on as soon as I've stopped.
Any thoughts ?
)I put it in drive when I park up and then let the car 'settle' esp as my drive is on an incline before applying the handbrake.......on flat surfaces (like my garage I don't bother with the handbrake).
My mate says that allwoing the car to 'settle' is putting pressure on the gearbox as the car is actually in a gear, just that it's not a moving gear, and he said I should put the handbrake on as soon as I've stopped.
Any thoughts ?
I don't think the makers of the gearbox would design it that way. Far to prone to getting damaged if that was the case.
Years ago I had a auto Cortina and a mate was driving it and some how put into "P"! It just clicked a lot and slowed down. Fast.
I did the same when coming to a stop and put it in park too early, it just clicks.
If anything it would be putting the car under pressure if you didn't let it settle first?
Only use the handbreak in my Merc now and then just to keep it free.
Years ago I had a auto Cortina and a mate was driving it and some how put into "P"! It just clicked a lot and slowed down. Fast.
I did the same when coming to a stop and put it in park too early, it just clicks.
If anything it would be putting the car under pressure if you didn't let it settle first?
Only use the handbreak in my Merc now and then just to keep it free.
You should use the handbrake in an auto.
1. If you don't use it the mechanism will seize or the friction surface will rust and you'll fail the MOT, ending up with an expensive repair bill for nothing. Use the handbrake at least once a day to avoid this.
2. The "Park" mechanism is just a pawl (small ratchet) inside the transmission, not a real brake.
- If you park on a slope the whole weight of the car is resting on it
- If someone hits your car while it's parked the pawl can also snap off
3. The Park pawl is buried deep inside the transmission and if you damage it an expensive rebuild is required. Brakes are much cheaper than transmissions.
So in summary, alweays use the handbrake at least once every day/journey to make sure it keeps working and always use the handbrake if you park on a slope. Ideally use it the same way as in a manual, although I expect few of us bother.
1. If you don't use it the mechanism will seize or the friction surface will rust and you'll fail the MOT, ending up with an expensive repair bill for nothing. Use the handbrake at least once a day to avoid this.
2. The "Park" mechanism is just a pawl (small ratchet) inside the transmission, not a real brake.
- If you park on a slope the whole weight of the car is resting on it
- If someone hits your car while it's parked the pawl can also snap off
3. The Park pawl is buried deep inside the transmission and if you damage it an expensive rebuild is required. Brakes are much cheaper than transmissions.
So in summary, alweays use the handbrake at least once every day/journey to make sure it keeps working and always use the handbrake if you park on a slope. Ideally use it the same way as in a manual, although I expect few of us bother.
Generally speaking, based on pretty much the logic behind 5 USA's post with one exception, I'll use the handbrake if the car is parked along the road or on a slope, but if it's in my garage or my (level) driveway I'll just leave it in park to avoid binding the handbrake on, particularly if I've been for a blat or it's wet and cold and the mechanism's likely to have moisture in it.
If you use park to hold an auto on any but the slightest incline you put a strain on the engaging/disengaging mechanism which it wasn't really designed to handle. Far better to hold it with the handbrake (which was designed for it) and use park in the same way as you would leave a manual in first or reverse (depending on the direction of the incline) as a backup.
For what it's worth, this is what i do (car has a DSG box). I'm not saying it's the "right" way, it just seems right to me:-
Foot on brake, selector into neutral.
Apply handbrake, then foot off brake and allow the car to "settle".
Foot on footbrake (to release selector interlock) and put selector into park.
Switch off and remove key.
For what it's worth, this is what i do (car has a DSG box). I'm not saying it's the "right" way, it just seems right to me:-
Foot on brake, selector into neutral.
Apply handbrake, then foot off brake and allow the car to "settle".
Foot on footbrake (to release selector interlock) and put selector into park.
Switch off and remove key.
5678 said:
parapaul said:
'Park' is for exactly that - when it's parked.
Handbrake for all the times you're stopped (including parking).
Footbrake to bring the car to a stop.
Into 'Park'
Handbrake on.
Footbrake off.
Easy, isn't it?
Exactly what I do.Handbrake for all the times you're stopped (including parking).
Footbrake to bring the car to a stop.
Into 'Park'
Handbrake on.
Footbrake off.
Easy, isn't it?
I've always just put it in P on every auto I've owned (Senator, 850 T5, Saab 9-5), if on a very steep slope I'd use the handbrake as well, but otherwise in all honesty I've never bothered.
Our new place has a sloped drive so I tend to put the handbrake on now when parking; stop on the foot brake, handbrake on, foot brake off, it goes through N to get to P so there's no strain on the transmission at all.
...thinking about it, half the time I just lob it into P and get out, and yes, it does give a resounding clonk when taking it out of P and driving off again. Many hundreds of thousands of miles doing this hasn't worn or broken anything, other than the handbrake rusting up on the Senator failing an MOT.
Our new place has a sloped drive so I tend to put the handbrake on now when parking; stop on the foot brake, handbrake on, foot brake off, it goes through N to get to P so there's no strain on the transmission at all.
...thinking about it, half the time I just lob it into P and get out, and yes, it does give a resounding clonk when taking it out of P and driving off again. Many hundreds of thousands of miles doing this hasn't worn or broken anything, other than the handbrake rusting up on the Senator failing an MOT.
Don said:
A benefit for other road users is that I do not sit in queues with my brake lights blindingly ablaze.
All well and good, but with a "high torque" engine the handbrake has to on very tight indeed to hold the car in Drive even at tickover. More heaving on the lever than it's worth.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff