Handbrake whilst parked up

bendrick · 26th April 2020, 08:46

Just a quick question on the best handbrake on/off scenario in order to stop it possibly jamming on when normal service is resumed.

During this long period of inactivity with the car lying idle outside my house is it best to just leave the handbrake on and

A) Forget about it

b) Just release it and move the car back and fore a yard every now and again

c) Leave it off and leave the car in park

Cheers

itcaptainslow · 26th April 2020, 08:55

Leave it off and the car in Park.

When you drive again apply it by a couple of clicks so the brake is dragging (but not locking) the wheels at walking speed to clean up the friction surface. This is good practice to do periodically anyway.

steve-45 · 26th April 2020, 13:50

I never use my handbrake when parked on my level driveway, but always leave it in PARK.

bendrick · 26th April 2020, 13:58

Just out of interest and please forgive my ignorance but what exactly is Park?

Obviously drive is drive with the engine engaged

Neutral is presumably out of gear and car can be pushed / freewheeled

What exactly is or isn't engaged when the car is in Park?

Snetty · 26th April 2020, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendrick

Just out of interest and please forgive my ignorance but what exactly is Park?

Obviously drive is drive with the engine engaged

Neutral is presumably out of gear and car can be pushed / freewheeled

What exactly is or isn't engaged when the car is in Park?

If you have an auto box then you would leave the handbrake off and gearbox in park, mine is a manual and I leave it with the handbrake off and gearbox in 1st.

bl52krz · 26th April 2020, 15:34

In an automatic car, there is a quadrant for the gears. As far forward as the gear-lever will go is P. ‘P’ is for park. I believe a pawl is applied to the output shaft of the gearbox to the wheels to stop the car from moving. You have to move the gear lever backwards to a gear to unlock the pawl from the main shaft to be able to move the car.

DMGRS · 26th April 2020, 16:07

The above is it, in a nutshell - a handy video if you want to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh988eSAPc8

The design varies from gearbox to gearbox but the concept is the same.
Personally, I seldom use the handbrake in my automatic - Park is my method of choice, I just roll a few yards once a month with the handbrake lightly on to clean the drums and shoes.

macafee2 · 26th April 2020, 16:09

Not only do I leave the handbrake off and the car in gear during long periods of the car being idle but also I winter, just in case water freezes the handbrake on.

macafee2

bendrick · 26th April 2020, 21:49

Thank you for all the answers, always good to learn something.

marinabrian · 26th April 2020, 22:00

If your handbrake is working alright, there will be no issue in leaving it on........I did 250 miles in my Firefrost 75 last year, it lives outside in all weather, and I park with the handbrake on.

I shouldn't worry about the lockdown affecting things, it's not going to last forever and the weather is fairly nice after all

Brian

26th April 2020, 08:46	#1
bendrick Gets stuck in Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barry Posts: 655 Thanks: 76 Thanked 266 Times in 155 Posts	Handbrake whilst parked up Just a quick question on the best handbrake on/off scenario in order to stop it possibly jamming on when normal service is resumed. During this long period of inactivity with the car lying idle outside my house is it best to just leave the handbrake on and A) Forget about it b) Just release it and move the car back and fore a yard every now and again c) Leave it off and leave the car in park Cheers

26th April 2020, 15:34	#6
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,397 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	In an automatic car, there is a quadrant for the gears. As far forward as the gear-lever will go is P. ‘P’ is for park. I believe a pawl is applied to the output shaft of the gearbox to the wheels to stop the car from moving. You have to move the gear lever backwards to a gear to unlock the pawl from the main shaft to be able to move the car. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

26th April 2020, 16:07	#7
DMGRS Discount MG Rover Spares Rover 75 CDTi, 2x MG ZS180 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hythe, Southampton Posts: 11,321 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,377 Times in 2,027 Posts	The above is it, in a nutshell - a handy video if you want to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh988eSAPc8 The design varies from gearbox to gearbox but the concept is the same. Personally, I seldom use the handbrake in my automatic - Park is my method of choice, I just roll a few yards once a month with the handbrake lightly on to clean the drums and shoes. __________________ Your trusted MG Rover specialist! Tel: 02380 001133 / Email: [email protected] We now have a 'chat' function on our site for even quicker replies. Give it a try! Remember - discount code FORUM5 for 5% off

26th April 2020, 08:55	#2
itcaptainslow Avid contributor 200Vi & 214 SEi Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Letchworth Posts: 196 Thanks: 36 Thanked 63 Times in 40 Posts	Leave it off and the car in Park. When you drive again apply it by a couple of clicks so the brake is dragging (but not locking) the wheels at walking speed to clean up the friction surface. This is good practice to do periodically anyway.

26th April 2020, 13:50	#3
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	I never use my handbrake when parked on my level driveway, but always leave it in PARK.

26th April 2020, 13:58	#4
bendrick Gets stuck in Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barry Posts: 655 Thanks: 76 Thanked 266 Times in 155 Posts	Just out of interest and please forgive my ignorance but what exactly is Park? Obviously drive is drive with the engine engaged Neutral is presumably out of gear and car can be pushed / freewheeled What exactly is or isn't engaged when the car is in Park?

26th April 2020, 16:09	#8
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,938 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	Not only do I leave the handbrake off and the car in gear during long periods of the car being idle but also I winter, just in case water freezes the handbrake on. macafee2

26th April 2020, 21:49	#9
bendrick Gets stuck in Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Barry Posts: 655 Thanks: 76 Thanked 266 Times in 155 Posts	Thank you for all the answers, always good to learn something.

26th April 2020, 22:00	#10
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	If your handbrake is working alright, there will be no issue in leaving it on........I did 250 miles in my Firefrost 75 last year, it lives outside in all weather, and I park with the handbrake on. I shouldn't worry about the lockdown affecting things, it's not going to last forever and the weather is fairly nice after all Brian