Parking Brake - use it or not?

[canadiankorean]

I've heard when I got my first car back in 95 that I should always use the parking brake when I'm parked.

This prolongs the life of the brakes.

Is this true?

What are the benefits of using the parking brake?

[D-3vil]

I'm not sure about prolonging the life of your brakes (I don't see how that would work), but in a standard transmission it prevents your car from rolling downhill (if the grade is steep enough). In an automatic transmission, it also takes the strain off the transmission while keeping your car in place.

[dealmeone]

The way I see it, either you use it all the time or you don't use it at all.

If you use it all the time, it is far less-likely to seize on than if you only use it some of the time.

While it is extra protection for the transmission because the entire weight of the car is no resting on the transmission, it is also protection from other drivers who prefer to "park by feel" against your car in the parking lots.

[mr_raider]

An auto trans can get the parking prawl locked on inclines. I say use it. It doesn't hurt.

[zoolander]

I used to have a vehicle with a parking brake that seized due to lack of use.
I also knew a girl who bought a 300Z back in the day and drove it from Hamilton to Wasaga with the parking brake on, this was shortly after she became a stripper

[eastwood]

I dont think I've ever heard of it prolonging the life of the brakes (overall system). Though using is regularly will help keep the hand brake from seizing. Use it or lose it kinda thing.

As for the question.....I only use it if I am park on an incline. Such as parking garages, hills, knolled driveways, etc... .

[angel_wing0]

i drive manual and yes i use my parking brakes.

[luxome]

use it or lose it.

just use it, it's there for a reason. i've also heard that it'll seize up if it's not used overtime (mostly for older cars).

[hightech]

Both my cars are automatic and I always use the parking brake. As other mentioned, using it daily keeps it from the following:

- Getting seized
- Easier to service (spraying the linkage vs. trying to un-seize the parts)
- Helpful to stop a car in an emergency,
- Puts less stress on the transmission from holding the car in place (especially when parking on grades)

[Jucius Maximus]

Is it true that if you use the parking break in the Winter, it can freeze up on you and fail to disengage?

[mannyb]

Is it true that if you use the parking break in the Winter, it can freeze up on you and fail to disengage?

Yes. It's happen to me a few times where I've had to pull on the parking brake handle several times to try and get it unstuck. When it's really cold out, I don't use my parking brake.

[techwiz]

i drive manual and yes i use my parking brakes.

Yeah, that.

[l69norm]

On some cars (with rear disk brakes), there is an adjuster built into the parking brake. If the parking brake isn't used, the rear brakes eventually stops working (as the pads wear down). The pressure can get so low in the rears that it will set off the dash brake failure light.

[umop]

So the hand brake should still be used when parked on a perfectly level surface?

[Jucius Maximus]

So the hand brake should still be used when parked on a perfectly level surface?

I use it. The main issue is that if you don't use it, then it can seize up and fail to work when you actually need it. I always use my parking brake, and I have an automatic transmission.

This sort of thing was a big problem when I lived with my parents... they never use the parking brake. Ever. I had to keep a sign in the car that I stuck between the seats, warning the next driver the the parking brake was engaged, otherwise my parents would never remember to disengage it.