Parking brake

CavemanCharlie wrote:


The engine doesn't spin backwards any harder or differently then spinning forward.

I was attempting to (unsuccessfully) head off some further argument. Since the intake/exhaust timing is reversed, there can be some difference in compression pressures. Due to the very slow rotation, the difference would be slight. No it doesn't amount to a hill of beans, just something that nitpickers might bring up.

Lynnmor wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

d3500ram wrote:
I use the parking brake AND leave the transmission in second gear.

Interesting. We were always taught to leave a stick shift in reverse when parked. Course, That was 46 years ago.

Actually you should choose the gear that holds the best, since reverse is usually geared lower than low gear, that would be the best choice. Some argument can be made that the engine spinning backward would offset the advantage of using one or the other depending on direction of the slope.

The engine doesn't spin backwards any harder or differently then spinning forward.

Back in the carburetor days I drove home one warm day and the way I was driving got the engine good and warm. lol After getting to my yard I shut the engine off and it continued to run with the key off and without any spark. (Not that unusual really we called it "Dieseling" ) This time I quickly popped the hood; out of curiosity; and found out the engine was setting there running backwards. (Roughly of course.)As it began to cool it started running both forward and backward. Finally it shot a big gust of wind out the the carburetor (Making a sort of last breath type of noise) and then quit running . A few hours later it fired right back up and drove normally.

Bobbo wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

d3500ram wrote:
I use the parking brake AND leave the transmission in second gear.

Interesting. We were always taught to leave a stick shift in reverse when parked. Course, That was 46 years ago.

Reverse when nose of car is pointing downhill, first gear when nose of car is pointing uphill.

When parallel parked, turn front wheels toward curb when nose of car is pointing downhill, away from curb when nose of car is pointing uphill.

I suppose there is perhaps a proper gear in which to leave it, I only do second gear as that is generally the one in which I start out. The diesel has enough torque to get motivated in 2... if I had a gasser then perhaps I might star out in first.

Agree on the direction of steer tires in relation to slope on which the vehicle is parked.

I replaced the shift cable twice in our previous truck, a dodge Dakota. a mechanic suggested that it was due to excessive force required to get the truck out of park on a sloping driveway. now we use the parking brake on our new 1500 dodge ALL the time. im pretty sure the new electronic shifter system is quite a bit more pricey to repair than the Dakota's cable, the 1500 has the 8 speed with rotary knob(which we love!)

he also said to engage the parking brake while in neutral, let the truck roll in neutral that 1/2 inch or so to take up slack in the braking system and then put it in park. makes perfect sense to me and that's what we do

"use it or loose it" is very true, personal experience with several vehicles proves it to me

keep in mind too that park doesn't work well if you're parked on a slippery surface. one time many years ago we parked on an icy steep driveway in park only. the truck rolled down the icy driveway in seconds, I put the truck back up and used the parking brake, it engages both rear wheels, it stayed there

I just wished they put parking brakes on trailers, manually applied at the tongue, the parts are available from dexter and they should be mandatory

Terryallan wrote:

d3500ram wrote:
I use the parking brake AND leave the transmission in second gear.

Interesting. We were always taught to leave a stick shift in reverse when parked. Course, That was 46 years ago.

Actually you should choose the gear that holds the best, since reverse is usually geared lower than low gear, that would be the best choice. Some argument can be made that the engine spinning backward would offset the advantage of using one or the other depending on direction of the slope.

Terryallan wrote:

d3500ram wrote:
I use the parking brake AND leave the transmission in second gear.

Interesting. We were always taught to leave a stick shift in reverse when parked. Course, That was 46 years ago.

Reverse when nose of car is pointing downhill, first gear when nose of car is pointing uphill.

When parallel parked, turn front wheels toward curb when nose of car is pointing downhill, away from curb when nose of car is pointing uphill.

d3500ram wrote:
I use the parking brake AND leave the transmission in second gear.

Interesting. We were always taught to leave a stick shift in reverse when parked. Course, That was 46 years ago.

Parking brake can be vehicle dependent on it's propensity to stick. The newer vehicles of today have either electric actuated brake or the cable system is much better than of days passed. In older vehicles the parking brake cables were not sheathed and prone to rusting or sticking at sheeve and pinch/attachment points.

Personally, since all my vehicles have an automatic transmission, I don't use the parking brake except if I'm underneath and working on the driveshaft or rear end. If I'm towing and am worried about roll-away, I use a chock(s) against the tires.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
Many folks learned the hard way that the use of a parking brake in freezing temperatures was a bad idea. Cables or mechanisms freeze fast and you will go nowhere.

Total BS.

I HAVE been setting a parking brake on ALL of my vehicles since I started driving back in the early 80's and I HAVE NEVER HAD A FROZEN parking brake due to freezing weather.

I drive a lot of miles in heavy snow, slush and sub freezing temps..

The main reason folks have issues with their parking brake is due to LACK OF USE AND MAINTENANCE.

This is a "use it or lose it" thing, constant use keeps the cables free of rust and also helps move the grease that was used during assembly around.

Parking brake mechanisms just like any other mechanical item NEEDS some routine maintenance, inspect yearly and lubricate moving parts when inspecting..

You cannot get around this in PA, all vehicles must get a yearly inspection, the parking brake MUST work, otherwise the mechanic will fail the vehicle until fixed.

I remember watching helplessly while a unattended vehicle slowly traveled down a parking lot.. The vehicle owner must have just been relying on the manual transmission in reverse and engine to hold the vehicle in place.. Could hear the engine compression as the engine was slowly turning over..

Nope,, I agree with Lynnmor. I have had ,and know people that have had, the parking break freeze up in the winter when it gets below 0 f and you are bucking big snow drifts on county roads.

Of course, I don't go camping in the winter then it's below 0.

But, they also can get rusty and stick too.

The trick to parking brakes is to either use the regularly to keep them working or don't use them at all.

On my 2011 f-150 I use them to when backing to the trailer because they have less slop then the park in the transmission. So, because I am using it often I will keep using it.

colliehauler wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Interesting replies.
Several comments seem to indicate that the parking brake is a separate entity. As far as I know, a manual parking brake activates the rear brakes and there is only one set of rear brakes.

Not on my Ford the rear brakes are disk with separate brake shoes inside the hub for the e-brake. In the old days when they had drum brakes there was only one set.

That’s interesting. And I found out my own truck is like that.
Ain’t forums great?