Parking Brakes: How often do you use them?

Torpedo Fodder · 12-07-05, 02:10 PM

Now that we've had the thread about what cars Subsimmers drive, there's one question I've been curious of: How often do you use your parking brake? I drive an automatic, so technically I don't need to use it, however the owner's manual for my van reccomends the parking brake to be used even on relativly flat surfaces, and given I am aware that the only thing that prevents the car from rolling when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake set is nothing more than a little piece of metal that locks the transmission's output shaft to the casing, and since that parking pawl can break (and even if it doesn't you're still subjecting the drive train to constant stress when the vehicle is parked, especially on a hill) I naturally feel uncomfortable leaving the parking pawl as the only thing holding the vehicle from rolling, especially since my ride has a curb weight of nearly 4,000lbs. Therefore, I set the parking brake every time I shift into park. It's a really simple thing to do, so I really see no reason not to do it.

So what about everyone else?

View Poll Results: How often do you use your parking brake?
Never, save for emergencies	5	12.82%
Only when parked on steep hills	8	20.51%
Whenever I leave the vehicle unattended for more than a few minutes	1	2.56%
Every time I shift into park	5	12.82%
I drive a manual stick: Of course I use the parkng brake	15	38.46%
I drive a manual, but I just leave it parked in gear	5	12.82%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

12-07-05, 02:10 PM	#1
Torpedo Fodder Ensign Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Whitby, Ontario Posts: 234 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Parking Brakes: How often do you use them? Now that we've had the thread about what cars Subsimmers drive, there's one question I've been curious of: How often do you use your parking brake? I drive an automatic, so technically I don't need to use it, however the owner's manual for my van reccomends the parking brake to be used even on relativly flat surfaces, and given I am aware that the only thing that prevents the car from rolling when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake set is nothing more than a little piece of metal that locks the transmission's output shaft to the casing, and since that parking pawl can break (and even if it doesn't you're still subjecting the drive train to constant stress when the vehicle is parked, especially on a hill) I naturally feel uncomfortable leaving the parking pawl as the only thing holding the vehicle from rolling, especially since my ride has a curb weight of nearly 4,000lbs. Therefore, I set the parking brake every time I shift into park. It's a really simple thing to do, so I really see no reason not to do it. So what about everyone else? __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for war. "Those who turn their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't"