When do you set the parking brake?

[Gig'em]

I've heard differing opinions on when you should set the parking brake on a truck.

They range from "everytime you turn the engine off" to "only on a hill" to "only when I'm under it."

I've always been in a habit of setting it when I park the truck, hill or not. I assumed that it took a little load of the drivetrain since it didn't rock forward or backwards. What do you think?

Thanks in advance.

[avroflyer]

I do it anytime I put it in park and the truck oozes forward or backward. Then I know there its a probably a good time. Any more technical minded folks have a better description of when the park brake should be set?

[z3axv]

Originally Posted by avroflyer

I do it anytime I put it in park and the truck oozes forward or backward. Then I know there its a probably a good time. Any more technical minded folks have a better description of when the park brake should be set?

I set it before I put it in Park.

[Sammy Sandbag]

Before you put the truck in park, then let off the foot brake to let the transmission rotate to a neutral point, then shift into park. Otherwise you could be resting the weight of the vehicle on the transmission, rather than the parking brake.

[Gig'em]

Sounds like the (4) of us are in agreement. I'll just keep doing it.

[mjw357]

yup, I usually hold the regular brake with right foot and set P brake with left, then with the trans in neutral I gently release the regular brake till I feel the P brake holding the truck. then I place the trans in park. that way I know the P brake is holding it, not the trans.

I use it every time. keeps the load off of the parking pawl in the transmission.

[titansurveyor]

set it before I put it in park, always. Better for the drivetrain.

[ringo]

i must be a moron. i've NEVER set my parking brake on any of my vehicles for the past 20 yrs unless i'm on a boat landing with a trailer. never had one transmission problem ever. i must be lucky. in fact, my manual trans cars i rarely used it. left the car in gear and it was always there when i got back. hmmm...

[Kronk]

I use mine before putting the trans in park every time. Not only does put less strain on the transmission but it keeps the parking brake in good working order. I've known several people that never use their parking brake and then when they need it, the cable snaps or it's froze up.

[amati5]

I have a steep driveway and using the parking brake and how to use it make a difference. If I press the parking brake before shifting to park, the car still rolls backward before stopping. And when I get back in the car and shift to Drive, it's harder to shift and makes a loud clunk. If I shift to Neutral first, set the parking brake and then shift to Park, the car still rolls backward before stopping. But when I get back in the car and shift to Drive, it's much smoother and no noise.

I've got the advice from here to shift to Neutral first and it works very well for my steep driveway. The only problem is when someone borrows your car, you have to remind them undo the parking brake. I've seen people drive with the parking brake on when they drive someone else's car.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by mjw357

yup, I usually hold the regular brake with right foot and set P brake with left, then with the trans in neutral I gently release the regular brake till I feel the P brake holding the truck. then I place the trans in park. that way I know the P brake is holding it, not the trans.

I use it every time. keeps the load off of the parking pawl in the transmission.

Exactly! do the same thing myself. Do not want the truck to be resting on the stop in the tranny nor do I want it difficult to move out of park when starting back up.

[Texas_Titan]

only on hills... which is extremely rare where I'm at.

[geece1]

I rarely use the parking brake, like if I am jacking up the truck, or parking on >30 degree grade etc, or power braking during high speed evasion of law enforcement.

[mjw357]

Originally Posted by amati5

If I press the parking brake before shifting to park, the car still rolls backward before stopping. And when I get back in the car and shift to Drive, it's harder to shift makes a loud clunk. If I shift to Neutral first, set the parking brake and then shift to Park, the car still rolls backward before stopping.

The only problem is when someone borrows your car, you have to remind them undo the parking brake. I've seen people drive with the parking brake on when they drive someone else's car.

You are not fully setting the parking brake. It's one of those things, if you are going to set it, SET IT. If the brake is set and adjusted properly there is no way it can roll or be driven down the street.

[amati5]

Originally Posted by mjw357

You are not fully setting the parking brake. It's one of those things, if you are going to set it, SET IT. If the brake is set and adjusted properly there is no way it can roll or be driven down the street.

That's the reason I brought the car in to the dealer because I didn't think the parking brake work well even when pressed all the way down (11 clicks as I rememeber). They told me it was normal and that was when I posted to ask for the opinions here and was advised to shift to Neutral first. I still don't know if my parking brake works properly or my driveway is too steep for such a heavy vehicle or may be both.