I drive a 5-speed and I always set the parking brake. I’ve never set it in the truck, which is an automatic, nor in our new Sonata, which is also automatic. However, I notice that the Sonata moves a bit after its parked and you take your foot off the brake. If I drove it all that time, I’d probably set the parking brake, but it’d confuse my husband if I did it now, so I don’t.
Manual transmission, so yes- always. I generally don’t leave it in gear, though, unless I’m on a hill.
Manual driver, so always handbrake + neutral when parking.
(I also frequently do this if stopped for a while at a red light. It’s the only way to rest both your feet in a manual, and also guarantee you won’t roll when you pull away.
I don’t quite get why most manual drivers just hold the footbrake instead.)
You Kiwis and your newfangled technology. Changing directions in a car. Hmph.
This doesn’t make sense. The hand brake engages the same brake pads as the foot brake — it just engages them “manually” instead of “hydraulically”. If you’re already stopped, there’s no further wear and tear. Unless I’m misunderstanding.
I’m merely repeating what I was told by a driving instructor, that sitting in traffic with your foot on the brake caused more wear and tear than using the handbreak. I’m not a mechanic, or petrolhead, so I dunno if he was being accurate or not.
I wasn’t going to reply on this point, because I’m no expert, but since no-one else has, I think the handbrake and footbrake engage the brakes to a different degree.
The footbrake mostly engages the front brakes and engages the rear brakes to a lesser degree, to prevent rear wheel skid.
Whereas the handbrake completely engages the rear brakes but not the front brakes. I’m not sure why this is, but it’s the reason why you can perform a “handbrake turn”.
Most of the time yes, but my CRV actually has a separate little drum brake inside the rear discs that is engaged by the parking brake.
I agree that what the driving instructor said doesn’t make much sense to me in either case though. If the car is stopped, where is the wear coming from? The only possible thing I can think of is that the brake lines and seals spend a little additional time under pressure.
I drive an automatic and always set the parking brake. Just a habit- I don’t even think about it.
I will also set it and put it in park when dropping or picking up passengers. That’s a habit I learned from driving school busses. Someone clobbers you while dropping passengers, it’s less likely they’ll get hurt. The passengers, I mean.
When I was a driving instructor, I taught everyone the same routine. It’s been a while, so I don’t remember if California requires it or not.
Data point: my 2001 Chrysler Town & Country minivan has bucket seats and a foot operated parking brake.
I drive an automatic. I occasionally engage the parking brake(emergency brake) while im traveling around 20 mph to make sure it works and to rub off any rust that may have developed from lack of use. also if you do not engage the brake regularly, it can lock up, and/or it can break and then not work in an emergency when you really need it. Too late
I use the parking brake when on a incline because otherwise it makes getting out of park a little more difficult and I read that switching to park and then allowing the car to roll a little as it settles in its parked position can wear at the transmission.
But for a manual, I dont know why you would ever NOT use the parking brake. Even on a flat surface, do you want someone rolling your car away??? Or better yet if your parked car gets hit by another car would u want it rolling into the car in front or into the street and receive more damage???
Use your brains people, and your parking brake.