[bsmart]

.....is crucial to proper operation of your rear brakes!

Who knew that?

I just had my 05' Honda in for a brake job and the owner of the shop shared a little known 'tip'.

'Be sure to use your parking brake several time a week when you park the vehicle. This keeps the rear brake calipers adjusted mechanically so they work to help the front brakes like they are designed to'.

Otherwise, the rear brakes will NOT support the front brakes, and the front brakes will wear out sooner than they are supposed to.

Works that way on all models, drum or disc style.

I never used my park break in the past, and the rear adjuster had 'frozen' in place.

It required solvent, cleaning and adjustment to free it up again to it will work properly.

Sooooo......use that parking brake frequently to prevent future problems.

 

[BrickPig]

It's always a good idea to use your parking brake, every time you park.

If you have an automatic and don't use your parking brake, then you are depending on your transmission "Park" position to hold your car, which is just a tooth that engages the starter flywheel. If the tooth breaks off it's an expensive repair.

If you have a manual, then you are depending only on the internal friction of the drivetrain to hold the car in place (assuming you did not leave your transmission in Neutral).

Regardless of your transmission, setting your parking brake helps keep your car immobile and safe. It's also an additional anti-theft device (makes your car harder to tow from the front).

 

[BrickPig]

...use your parking brake...when you park the vehicle. This keeps the rear brake calipers adjusted mechanically...

BTW something similar to this was mentioned in the owner's manual of my 1972 Toyota Corolla (which had front vented disk and rear drum brakes). So "rear brake automatic adjustment via use of the parking brake" has been done for many years.

 

[zinger]

I try use my parking brake occasionally too. I didn't know about the brake adjustment issue. I have been using it to keep the cable from freezing up. I have seen someone use their parking brake after years of never being used. The friction in the cable was more than the return spring could overcome and the parking brake was stuck on and they couldn't move their car!

 

[TrevorS]

Interesting, I use my manual transmission to anchor my car when parked, not the "parking" brake. Haven't noted any misbehaviors with my very occasional applying of the hand brake, and so not sure what to say. In any case, as far as I can tell, my rear brakes work fine.

 

[JonCordova]

Interesting, I use my manual transmission to anchor my car when parked, not the "parking" brake.

Wait, what? Are you saying you park the car by turning off the engine and leaving the stick in first? I didn't even know that was possible. I thought the car would roll away!

I kind of do the opposite extreme. A couple of times now, I've pulled the parking brake up farther than normal, so far that it's very difficult to pull it up and press the button to get it disengaged again. That can't be a good thing either, can it?

 

[zinger]

Wait, what? Are you saying you park the car by turning off the engine and leaving the stick in first? I didn't even know that was possible. I thought the car would roll away!

I kind of do the opposite extreme. A couple of times now, I've pulled the parking brake up farther than normal, so far that it's very difficult to pull it up and press the button to get it disengaged again. That can't be a good thing either, can it?

As long as it is relatively flat ground and you keep it in a low gear like 1st or reverse the compression in the engine cylinders should keep the car stationary. I've driven dump-trucks and farm equipment growing up. We always shut it down and put it in first. Trucks large enough to have air brakes though are a different story.

Also, on the topic of this thread, some cars adjust their brakes when you apply the brakes while moving in reverse (like backing out of your driveway or parking spot).

 

[BrickPig]

I've pulled the parking brake up farther than normal, so far that it's very difficult to pull it up and press the button to get it disengaged again. That can't be a good thing either, can it?

You risk stretching the cable by pulling too much. It should be pulled up enough so that when you later pull it up and push the button to let it go, it is not overly difficult.

 

[TrevorS]

Wait, what? Are you saying you park the car by turning off the engine and leaving the stick in first? I didn't even know that was possible. I thought the car would roll away!

I kind of do the opposite extreme. A couple of times now, I've pulled the parking brake up farther than normal, so far that it's very difficult to pull it up and press the button to get it disengaged again. That can't be a good thing either, can it?

Putting it in first gear is a darned good anchor, lot's of resistance to rolling. I'm a little adverse to using the parking brake since I've twice had a stupid dealer tech haul on it and damage my Eclipse rear brakes. The parking brake has its place, but can be seriously abused.