Who Uses the Parking Brake?

[RMoore]

Does “bedding” the brakes reduce the sticking due to rust from rain? I’ve never done that on any car I’ve had and only just learned about it from reading this forum so was wondering if it would help in this case or is the reason to do that unrelated to the rust issue?

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[ReelSweet]

I religiously use the parking brake - .just what I was taught.

solution to your problem - more road trips to Cannon beach so she doesn't just sit in the driveway

 

[buckbabes]

This is an interesting post. I've never experienced the noise mentioned. But I also haven't had to engage my parking brake. If I'm on a slight incline my car does it automatically. Also, the parking brake automatically disengages once I press the pedal.

 

[SnBGC]

Interesting, didn't know that. Does it disengage it automatically when moved away from the "P"?


Are you turning the wheels toward the side of the road?

I think so. When it sets automatically then I think it releases automatically as well. I will have to test it.

Yes, I turn the wheels if I park on a hill and there is a curb along side. If I am jacking up the car then I use wheel chocks. I also use my hazards when parked along side the road. Anything that will reduce the chances of an accident and its no extra trouble then I try and employ the safety measure. Sometimes I get into a hurry and then I will miss something. If I make it a habit, then I might do it even if I am confused or preoccupied.

People laugh at me when I use my turn signal while in a turn lane. It is obvious I am turning, I use the signal anyway. I am old school.

 

[SnBGC]

Does “bedding” the brakes reduce the sticking due to rust from rain? I’ve never done that on any car I’ve had and only just learned about it from reading this forum so was wondering if it would help in this case or is the reason to do that unrelated to the rust issue?

I don't think so. Bedding in the brakes just sets the bite point so it is more predictive and consistent.

 

[EagleDave]

Just a contrary opinion here...

I drove my Chevy Subburban to Lake Tahoe and set the emergency brake. During the night it rain/snowed and in the morning I could not get the e-brake to release because there was a clump of ice on the cable under the frame.

I had to get a pan of warm water and a turkey baster to splash water on the block of ice to get it to melt.

Ever since then I don't bother with the e-brake in flat parking areas...

I'm guessing this is not a problem with the Mach-e since it probably does not have such a cable (or maybe it does?).

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I used a parking brake back in 2001. My 1974 Power Wagon was super low geared and I worried about gravity overcoming engine compression. That was my last manual vehicle. Since then… nah.

 

[npgeorgeuw]

Use it every day, I live on a mountain and have a very steep driveway. I take it one step further than most as I put it into neutral, roll back and snug into the parking brake and then engage park. Same with my ICE vehicle. That way you know there is zero stress on the parking prawl or tranny.

I have had similar rust buildup (it rains here a lot) and I just ran down the mountain in Neutral braking a bit and it went away in a block

 

[QuRace]

I use parking break on all my cars every time I park it anywhere.

Very good advice - with the exception of longer periods (weeks/months) of standstill, esp. in the outdoors.

In such cases, the pads can stick to the disks so bad that both practically fuse. "Unsticking" them then becomes impossible using engine power, and repair shop intervention incl. new parts becomes necessary. Royal pain territory.

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[67 Stang Convertible]

I 2 am a habitual parking break user. Even more so with the weight of this EV.

 

[cjljr41]

I always use mine. Every once in a while I read a news article about someone being run over by their own vehicle because they didn't put it in park when getting out (and apparently didn't have a habit of using their parking brake). Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was killed that way.

 

[RickMachE]

I 2 am a habitual parking break user. Even more so with the weight of this EV.

Break?

 

[generaltso]

Break?

Even the brake can break.

 

[sockmeister]

Leftover habit from driving a stick -- I use the parking brake every time I park, in every car, no matter what. Extra precaution and generally a good habit. Plus, yeah, I don't like the feel of all that weight bouncing off the parking pawl.

 

[louibluey]

Use it every day, I live on a mountain and have a very steep driveway. I take it one step further than most as I put it into neutral, roll back and snug into the parking brake and then engage park. Same with my ICE vehicle. That way you know there is zero stress on the parking prawl or tranny.

I have had similar rust buildup (it rains here a lot) and I just ran down the mountain in Neutral braking a bit and it went away in a block

Interesting, I see the opposite (but, I do not know if one is better, or even if it matters, probably not). I do not take my foot off the brake until the e-brake is set. That way I do not get that last roll putting that last hard-stop force against pawl. I think (?) if they are not allowed to move freely to the mechanical hard-stop, there is less mechanical force on those parts. Again, it probably does not matter either way in the big picture of things.

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