Parking with car in gear vs. Handbrake

[HSE2]

I get the car to hold on the park brake before selecting either park or 1st gear if it is a manual. I never let the transmission take the weight of the car. Apply the footbrake- apply handbrake (using the detent button) -release foot brake for car to move -then select the transmission gear.

[Uni]

i park with the handbrake on on a flat surface, and on hills i park with the car in reverse and HB on. on hills i always park with it in reverse so that if some nong tries to start it in gear the back of my car gets munted and not the expensive pointy end :

i'm trying to get into the habit of putting it in gear on the flat


Uni/.

[svo347]

Originally Posted by HSE2

I get the car to hold on the park brake before selecting either park or 1st gear if it is a manual. I never let the transmission take the weight of the car. Apply the footbrake- apply handbrake (using the detent button) -release foot brake for car to move -then select the transmission gear.

Bingo.... we have a winner!! :king:

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by HSE2

I get the car to hold on the park brake before selecting either park or 1st gear if it is a manual. I never let the transmission take the weight of the car. Apply the footbrake- apply handbrake (using the detent button) -release foot brake for car to move -then select the transmission gear.

Very Good!!!

Only on a slope (even a gentle one) though, on a level surface like in the garage it doesn't matter. If in the garage I dont use the handbrake as there's no need. I even just leave it in 'N' in the garage at home.

With a manual car, I do the following:
In the garage - neither handbrake nor in gear.
On a slope - handbrake and in first gear.
In the carpark at work where no-one will bump me - only in gear.
In the shopping centre carpark where its relatively level - handbrake only.

Two things:
I don't want to stretch or wear the handbrake cable unnecessarily.
I don't want it in gear when someone nudges the car like at the shopping centre.

[Silver Ghia]

I forgot to mention...

If parallel parked on a slope with a kerb next to the car, I also turn the front wheels toward the kerb, so if it rolls, it will run toward the kerb and hopefully help it stop.

[bob^]

My BA's auto takes the weight of the car when parked on an incline as the handbrake won't hold it...

[AshMan]

Originally Posted by fat289

You " NEVER " park a truck in gear !!!!!!!

And if the truck is auto, there usually isn't a park gear... you park it in neutral.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by bob^

My BA's auto takes the weight of the car when parked on an incline as the handbrake won't hold it...

I'd be worried. Suggest you get the handbrake correctly adjusted.

[EB Pete]

at work i use the hand brake to stop it and then jump out. with my car i can't remember as it has been to long.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Very Good!!!

Only on a slope (even a gentle one) though, on a level surface like in the garage it doesn't matter. If in the garage I dont use the handbrake as there's no need. I even just leave it in 'N' in the garage at home.

With a manual car, I do the following:
In the garage - neither handbrake nor in gear.
On a slope - handbrake and in first gear.
In the carpark at work where no-one will bump me - only in gear.
In the shopping centre carpark where its relatively level - handbrake only.

Two things:
I don't want to stretch or wear the handbrake cable unnecessarily.
I don't want it in gear when someone nudges the car like at the shopping centre.

Sounds like you could write a thesis on parking a car.

Stuff me. I just pull on the handbrake, chuck it in park, turn off the engine and climb out the door. That's complex enough for me.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by Abacus

Sounds like you could write a thesis on parking a car.

Stuff me. I just pull on the handbrake, chuck it in park, turn off the engine and climb out the door. That's complex enough for me.

Just looking after the car to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. This way the handbrakes there for when I really need it.

[aumexican]

Think about kids (yours or others) in or around the car and get in the habit of using both in case the unthinkable happens.

[Steffo]

With my Fiesta (and any manual), on a slope with the nost pointing down, I park in 1st gear with the handbrake up.

On a slope with the rear pointing down, I leave it in reverse with the handbrake up.

On flat surfaces I leave it in neutral with the handbrake up.

[anakha]

Funny story. I once parked my manual ED on a steep hill. At that time I was not in the practice of leaving it in gear. When I returned about 15 min later it had rolled downhill and miraculously stopped mere centimetres from another parked car. Must have moved 10 metres. To my amazement I had left the keys in the car. A good samaritan who lived across the road saw the car slowly rolling back and came over and tightened the handbrake and put it in gear

Only time I ever forgot to take the keys but what luck! I always do it these days. Handbrake is not reliable when the car is on a slope.

Originally Posted by Steffo

With my Fiesta (and any manual), on a slope with the nost pointing down, I park in 1st gear with the handbrake up.

On a slope with the rear pointing down, I leave it in reverse with the handbrake up.

On flat surfaces I leave it in neutral with the handbrake up.

: The right idea but wrong way around. Always 1st gear uphill and reverse gear downhill. Its not nessessary to leave your car in gear on a level surface but always good practice.(manual)

The handbrake is the first thing to be applied and the last thing to be released.(auto or manual)

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by one

: The right idea but wrong way around. Always 1st gear uphill and reverse gear downhill. Its not nessessary to leave your car in gear on a level surface but always good practice.(manual)

The handbrake is the first thing to be applied and the last thing to be released.(auto or manual)

When I bought the car I actually tested my theory. In first on a hill it just rolled straight down, in reverse it didn't move (rear pointing down the hill) and the opposite was true when the car was turned around.

Also when we were working on one of my mate's cars, '97 Seat Cordoba GLX, manual, with the car up, front wheels (its FWD), in first, you could turn the wheel backwards with one hand, easily, but you couldn't make it budge to go fowards, and likewise in reverse it would go forwards easily but not move backwards.

[Kenaz]

When you pull the handbrake up are you supposed to hold the button in or not? I always pull it up without holding the button.

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by Kenaz

When you pull the handbrake up are you supposed to hold the button in or not? I always pull it up without holding the button.

It’s a pet hate of mine. Drives me crazy so I am going to say don't do it. My old man used to hit me around the ears if I forgot but in reality it probably doesn't matter. You have to understand how it works to see any reasoning on why you should do it one way or another, but the reason not to, apart from the horrible noise, is to do with mechanical sympathy.

[NA XR6]

Originally Posted by bob^

My BA's auto takes the weight of the car when parked on an incline as the handbrake won't hold it...

Same a mine

[Pinkbits]

Originally Posted by Steffo

With my Fiesta (and any manual), on a slope with the nost pointing down, I park in 1st gear with the handbrake up.

On a slope with the rear pointing down, I leave it in reverse with the handbrake up.

On flat surfaces I leave it in neutral with the handbrake up.

I'm sure i was taught the opposite.

Originally Posted by REDXR8BLOKE

I'm sure i was taught the opposite.

You most certainly were.

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

I'd be worried. Suggest you get the handbrake correctly adjusted.

LOL. If I did that it would cost me and almost every other BA owner $60 each and every fortnight as thats how long it takes before they reach their limit after an adjustment. Ford charges $60 per adjust. BA handbrakes are cr4p.

[shane3]

Before the auto packed it in I always relied on just whacking it into park and not worrying about the hand brake, But now when I park the GT I put it in neutral with my foot on the brake apply the hand brake and then take my foot of the brake then put the car in park, no stress on the auto.

[bob^]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

I'd be worried. Suggest you get the handbrake correctly adjusted.

Been there done that, 7 times. I gave up in the end. It was either a very weak handbrake, or a car that constantly went SHH SHHH SHHH SHH as you drove.
I don't park it on many inclines so opted for the first one.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by bob^

Been there done that, 7 times. I gave up in the end. It was either a very weak handbrake, or a car that constantly went SHH SHHH SHHH SHH as you drove.
I don't park it on many inclines so opted for the first one.

My handbrake was readjusted a couple of weeks ago during its service, and its still tight as a drum. 3 clicks to max, and its tight. Perhaps they're not adjusting it correctly, or a problem with it?

[DazBA]

Originally Posted by deesun

LOL. If I did that it would cost me and almost every other BA owner $60 each and every fortnight as thats how long it takes before they reach their limit after an adjustment. Ford charges $60 per adjust. BA handbrakes are cr4p.

What is it with BA handbrakes??? Mine does this too, and it $h!ts me no end. Why can't Ford get something as basic as a handbrake to work properly. The POS Mitsubishi workvan I drive has a handbrake which is 1000 times better than the BA.

[feebs]

BA's do have a ***** handbrake..
but if your getting a shh shh shh when driving then your handbrake is LOOSE.

Have a bigger winge next time you get it serviced.. or maybe just learn how to fix it yourself. I am mates with my mechanic, I nag him all the time and I still have to park in P.
:-(

[4.9 EF Futura]

I always park in gear with the handbrake. Even in perfectly flat concrete basement of our building.

Not because its needed - because its a good habit. When i park on a hill, i put it in gear and use the handbrake without thinking about it... because that's how i park habitually.

EDIT: Oh, and the POS i drive at the moment runs on a bit when you kill the ignition on a cold night, so gotta pop the clutch in 1st to get the bloody thing to stall

[Low Orbit]

Originally Posted by Kenaz

When you pull the handbrake up are you supposed to hold the button in or not? I always pull it up without holding the button.

It's a mechanical thing. After years of pulling up on the handbrake without releasing the button first will wear the pawls out. After that happens there is nothing stopping the handbrake from leaping free. I've been told that in the UK you actually fail your driving exam if you don't do this.

Anyway, being an auto, it's almost always left in park, with the handbrake on. Usual hill rules apply.

[S3SR]

handbrake on flat ground, gear (if i remember) on an incline... handbrake hasnt failed me yet! also a few mates always start their cars in gear instead of nuetral so i do what ever the situation is