Handbrake question (Manual vs. Auto)

[mikeukrainetz]

Its a great idea on autos to use the ebrake, especially on inclines. Im not 100% sure about newer tranny's but older makes had a parking pin for 'park' if you let the car roll forward onto the pin sometimes it would jamb and take a lot of force to get it back into gear.

[PSU Yaris]

auto and always...i like the sound and plus it doesnt "clunk" into reverse if it rolled back a lil when i parked

[Andrew Chalmers]

ok... this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone not using the handbrake... is this a common American thing? When you park - you use the handbrake. That's just common sense and taught at all driving schools & is a tested behavior in the driving exams.

Is there something I'm unaware of?

[ChinoCharles]

Holy push-your-nose-up-in-the-air. Excuse us, Mr. Chalmers. Would you like a crumpet to go with your apparent social ineptitude?

For MANUAL, you should always use the handbrake. Yes, you can leave it in gear in a flat lot and it probably won't run away on you, but all that weight applied right to the gearbox can't be good for your car.

For AUTO, I owned a Cadillac STS and my family has always been an automatic-only kind of crowd, and I have never once seen them use the handbrake and I myself never used the handbrake on my Caddy. It never rolled away and the tranny never exploded.

Granted, I never went to driving school. I'm admittedly less-than-proper.

[rstb88]

On June 23, 2006 I recently completed a drivers course and NO WHERE in that book did it state you have to use the ebrake. And my test person never checked to see if the ebrake was used.

[Bones]

For auto, when you put the gear into park a SMALL pin in the tranny engages.

The proper way when you're parking is:
1) Press on brake (of course)
2) Engage parking brake
3) Shift to park

The proper way when you're moving from park
1) Press on brake
2) Shift to drive or reverse
3) Dis-engage parking brake

This way the car won't move, especially when you're on a hill, and lean/ stress the pin inside the tranmission

[07WYarisRS]

Oh I though the question was do you use your hand brake to PARK...

as in drive the oposite direction steer in, couter steer, steer in again (over steer) and yank up the hand brake and spin the car 180 degrees into the parking space.

Either way.

[Chaad32]

Good one 07WYarisRS....that is what I use mine for.

[swng]

Originally Posted by rstb88

the auto adjuster is on the rear brakes but has nothing to do with the hand brake itself. if you go in reverse and do a series of quick stops(don't have to go fast) it cause the star adjuster in the drum to click one notch per stop, which adjusts the pads to sit correctly against the drum in the even of braking

But you may also use the handbrake to achieve that, right?
Please see: http://www.echodrivers.com/forums/vi...t=6455&start=0.
I am not trying to debate as (after reading the information you wrote) I have learned that the rear brake self adjuster has nothing to do with the handbrake itself. Thanks for that. I just think the information in the link may be relevant and may interest other members discussing on this thread.
Simply put, using the handbrake for parking may result in some good side effects which may include rear brake self adjustment.
As for whether the Yaris has a self adjusting handbrake, now I am not so sure. Probably some may have that though (please see the last post done on 06 Jan 06 through the quoted link).
Note: We have members from many parts of the world and they drive different versions of the Yaris. It's so hard to cover all bases .

[ECHOKnight2000]

I've always used the handbrake since I could drive and still do use my handbrake and I have an auto...my parents use it so...not to say they are always right, but just growing up that way...I read that its hard on the tranny cause its holding the weight of the car, but maybe that's for manual than auto??? I remember I was test driving an xB and the sales guy was with me and when I was done, out of habit I put the handbrake on, he was like you don't need to do that...I was like why? I guess you don't need to do it with an auto but I just do it out of habbit, yes I'm crazy!

P.S. does any one know if it makes a difference with an auto?? I wouldn't think so...maybe i'm a caution freak.

[swng]

Originally Posted by Bones

For auto, when you put the gear into park a SMALL pin in the tranny engages.

The proper way when you're parking is:
1) Press on brake (of course)
2) Engage parking brake
3) Shift to park

The proper way when you're moving from park
1) Press on brake
2) Shift to drive or reverse
3) Dis-engage parking brake

This way the car won't move, especially when you're on a hill, and lean/ stress the pin inside the tranmission

Makes very good sense! I follow these steps myself. I would recommend to fellow members to follow them, especially when parking on slopes.
Note: I am only recommending these steps. In the community where I live, I believe there are lots of people who do not use their handbrakes when parking, especially when they have automatic transmissions and when they are not parking on slopes. I personnally do not have a problem with that.

[Chaad32]

Originally Posted by Bones

For auto, when you put the gear into park a SMALL pin in the tranny engages.

The proper way when you're parking is:
1) Press on brake (of course)
2) Engage parking brake
3) Shift to park

The proper way when you're moving from park
1) Press on brake
2) Shift to drive or reverse
3) Dis-engage parking brake

This way the car won't move, especially when you're on a hill, and lean/ stress the pin inside the tranmission

I agree with you....makes good sense.

[Andrew Chalmers]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

Holy push-your-nose-up-in-the-air. Excuse us, Mr. Chalmers. Would you like a crumpet to go with your apparent social ineptitude?

What did I say that was offensive ? In my country we have a standardized testing/licensing/learning system - and that is what everyone is taught. I asked a question - where was the holy push your nose up in the air/social ineptitude?

[Chaad32]

Good to see that most of the manual people out ther are using the handbrake. I'v started using it on my Auto and I do believe it is better for the tranny.