I never seem to need to use the handbrake!

[Wildoskar]

Originally Posted by kj5cott

In previous thread there was mention that the handbrake would unbrake when you pull away providing you were wearing seatbelt. I tried this earlier and it would seem the seatbelt has no bearing on this as it unbrakes anyway. Do you think this feature is for autos only or could the car have a fault?

I think its only a featrure on Geartronic. If I try and pull away without my seatbelt on I get a message to release the handbrake, at this point if I forget to press the footbrake before releasing the handbrake I also get a message telling me to press the foot brake.

[wimorrison]

I had made some comments in other threads about never needing to use the handbrake as the car is an auto (as have been my last 3) and I was chastised for suggesting that it was not required - in some cases for valid reasons

I now find that I use the handbrake a lot more than I did, mainly to protect the transmission train.

When you use the gearbox to hold the vehicle (P) then all the running gear up to the gearbox can still move - you can see this by pushing the car gently, it will rock a little bit. The advice that was being given is that by using the handbrake you are locking the vehicle at the wheels, thereby protecting the tranmission if anyone should hit the car. It also protects the transmission when on a slight incline as it means that the strain is taken at the wheels - not in the gearbox.

All makes emminent sense to me

[r-designbob]

Was reading an article about Transmissions (Sorry can't remember where) and it gave an analogy of the P (Park) position in that it is similar to a bolt on a door being closed. My assumption to that was that the box is locked in P.
Would you say that was a correct analogy?
I still prefer to use the E brake tho.

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by r-designbob

Was reading an article about Transmissions (Sorry can't remember where) and it gave an analogy of the P (Park) position in that it is similar to a bolt on a door being closed. My assumption to that was that the box is locked in P.
Would you say that was a correct analogy?
I still prefer to use the E brake tho.

You are correct in that the 'box is locked and will not move anywhere. The issue is that the drive train will be taking the strain rather than the brakes if you do not use the E-Brake. This means that on the AWD the complete transmission would be stressed if the car is parked on a hill or, God forbid, if someone hit you without the E-Brake on then the transmission would be subject to severe loading. Clearly on a FWD there is less transmission to take the strain.

In a past life I recall many of the Landrovers coming in for repair where the axle halfshafts and/or universal joints on the prop shafts were damaged, often beyond repair which meant expensive works being undertaken. This was almost always caused by the fact that Landrovers then had a transmission handbrake that acted at the back of the gearbox, rather than a conventional handbrake that acted on the wheels.

I think that there may be a salient lesson in this experience from the past.

[Clan]

firstly it is illegal to leave a car on a public highway without the parking brake applied for very good reason .
Secondly , yes the full strain of the car when in P with no parking brake applied is taken on a small pawl which locks into the final drive , so if someone reverses into you the shock can snap off the pawl and the car will roll away .
Thirdly when locked in P on a hill the front wheels are still free to rotate in opposite directions so if just one wheel is on mud or ice it can roll away down the hill with the wheel on the slippery stuff rotating backwards ,
USE THE PARKING BRAKE !!

[r-designbob]

thanks guys, makes excellent sense...... E Brake to the fore