no handbrake?

[matt 2LT]

well i was changing my rear subframe today on my E46, all went well apart from the handbrake cables which go through the subframe.

but the fkers would not shift at any point, i used all my strenth, but they just would not budge.

now after an hour or 2 of shouting and swearing at the thing, i lost it, got a hacksaw and cut them both ends of the subframe.

so now i have no handbrake.

now i park on a slope for work, so would i be fine just leaving it in gear?, or is it possible that it could jump out of gear?

or would i be best taking a couple of bricks with me?

im now off to get a nice cool bottle of magners

cheers

[davepoth]

Leave it in first, and angle the wheels so it'll roll into the kerb before it gets any speed up.

[Somnophore]

Anger management, haynes manual and some bricks

[WhoseGeneration]

davepoth said:

Leave it in first, and angle the wheels so it'll roll into the kerb before it gets any speed up.

Depends upon which way facing on the slope?
Facing down, reverse, up, first?
Sods law though says, poor OP will meet a VOSA check on the way to work.

[redtwin]

If its a diesel carry a couple of bricks as the gearbox may not hold it.

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

Take some rope and tie it to a tree.

[rb51]

A Diesel would hold better in gear than any petrol engine with the same ratio gearbox because it has a much higher compression ratio , had an e46 diesel and u could leave it on a fair incline in first gear no hassle

[matt 2LT]

it is a petrol.

its an actual carpark, so i can't point it towards a kurb.

i think i will take a couple of bricks just incase.

although i think i will roll it into the brick in neutral, then put in in gear so there is lots of tension onto the brick, else somebody will probably steal the bricks.

just got to remember when i leave that ive got 2 bricks infront of the wheels.

[matt 2LT]

hmm, ive tried leaving it in 1st, but the slightest hill it still rolls foreward.

so its a case of foot on brake, and slide a brick under the back wheel with my other foot.

i think i need to get it booked into a garage for some new cables.

unless i can find a way of getting the old cables out?

[mat205125]

redtwin said:

If its a diesel carry a couple of bricks as the gearbox may not hold it.

The higher compression ratio of the diesel would hold it better.

[iggletiggle]

matt 2LT said:

hmm, ive tried leaving it in 1st, but the slightest hill it still rolls foreward.

so its a case of foot on brake, and slide a brick under the back wheel with my other foot.

i think i need to get it booked into a garage for some new cables.

unless i can find a way of getting the old cables out?

Is it me or have you got abnormally long legs to be able to push the foot brake down AND slide a brick under the rear wheel with the other foot.. !

I'd get it booked in mate.

[Dave^]

matt 2LT said:

hmm, ive tried leaving it in 1st, but the slightest hill it still rolls foreward.

so its a case of foot on brake, and slide a brick under the back wheel with my other foot.

i think i need to get it booked into a garage for some new cables.

unless i can find a way of getting the old cables out?

It'll roll a few inch while the slack in the transmission is taken up...

Try again... You're doing it wrong... :P

[matt 2LT]

ah it does hold it in gear, but its amazing how far it does roll before it holds.

although i think its probably best to put the bricks under the front wheels then press the clutch so that the pressure is on the bricks rather than the gearbox.

ive just ordered some new cables at £11 each for eurocarparts, so just need to get the old ones out of the hubs.

ive dismantled the hubs/removed the shoes Etc, so the cable is free to come out, but the metal bit that goes into the actual hub is completely seized. and one any ideas?

[davepoth]

There's no abnormal force on the gearbox at all - improbably the car is being held in position by the pressure of the air in one of the pistons in the engine on the compression stroke. That's why it's first gear, as in higher gears the car may have enough force to overcome the compression.

[TheEnd]

Hammer and punch, they don't screw in, just seize tightly to the back bit of the flange

[busta]

1st gear would hold any manual car on any sort of incline you're likely to find a parking space on.

Ever tried bump starting a car in first gear? It'll lock the wheels up before turning the engine over. 1st gear is usually around 5mph/1000rpm, so to creep at 1mph it'd have to turn the engine at 200rpm- not gonna happen with no fuel or spark! I always leave my cars in gear, very rarely use the handbrake.

That initial bit of movement is just taking up the slack in the drivetrain.

[busta]

davepoth said:

There's no abnormal force on the gearbox at all - improbably the car is being held in position by the pressure of the air in one of the pistons in the engine on the compression stroke. That's why it's first gear, as in higher gears the car may have enough force to overcome the compression.

Also a fair bit of friction to overcome by the time you go through the diff, gearbox, bottom end, pistons and the valve train. This alone is enough to hold the car.