Long Term Parking Brake Use

[Zrush]

While my husband gets his joys out of his 77 280Z the 72 240Z has been sitting for quite a while. It's parked in neutral with the e-brake on. Now when I go to move the car it tends to hesitate after releasing the e-brake. Do you think it's best to leave the car parked in neutral with the e-brake off and just put something behind/front of the tires. Also, is it true that it's not a good idea to leave any car in gear when it's parked for a while? Heard this can stress the tranny. Opinions, suggestions, comments.

Vicky

[Ed]

Hey Vicky,

I never heard anything negative about leaving a car parked in gear. Maybe one of the tranny experts can elaborate.

About leaving the e-brake on for a long period. I know that the brake shoes can freeze in place (rust). I've seen where some of them are frozen so bad that the wheel won't move. Maybe try pulling and releasing the brake a couple of times before you go to move the car.

Another suggestion like you said putting something behind the tires. I've seen these plastic "chalks" that you could probably buy at an automotive supply store. They are used in the garage and you just drive on them. They are to help you guage where to park your car in the garage. The bump on them is small enough to drive over but big enough to feel. They would be big enough to prevent the car from rolling away.

Ed

[Bambikiller240]

Nothing to worry about in parking your car with transmission in gear. (I'm no "tranny expert"), but I have never heard or experienced any problems and I've been parking my cars in gear for 35 years.

The only time I am 100% sure to use the E-brake in addition to leaving the car in gear is when parking on a grade (up or down).

As far as operating the E-brake lever several times before moving thecar, you would need to be careful of doing that too often as operating the E-brake handle excessively can adjust your rear brakes tighter, and tighter until they are locked.

[mperdue]

Only problem I have with parking in gear is that I always forget it's in gear when I start the car so it lurches forward when I let off the clutch on startup. I always use the parking brake and leave it in neutral.

[Ed]

As far as operating the E-brake lever several times before moving thecar, you would need to be careful of doing that too often as operating the E-brake handle excessively can adjust your rear brakes tighter, and tighter until they are locked.

Ooops, glad you caught that Carl, sorry bad idea :stupid: .

[ChrisA]

They are to help you guage where to park your car in the garage. The bump on them is small enough to drive over but big enough to feel. They would be big enough to prevent the car from rolling away.

Ed

I have those in my garage, keeps the cars the right distance away from the work benches, shelving, and tool chests.

Cant comment on the e-brake issue because I dont ever use it. I would think leaving a car in gear would only stress things if it's parked on a relatively steep hill. My 72 is an automatic and its usually parked in the P postion so I wouldnt see any harm to leave a manual in first. Come to think, my 73 is in the garage in reverse right now.

FWIW

Chris

[Bambikiller240]

If you only drive manual trans cars, it gets to be 2nd nature to depress the clutch pedal as you get ready to start the car. When I drive an automatic occasionally, my foot still searches for a clutch pedal as I get into the car.

[ChrisA]

If you only drive manual trans cars, it gets to be 2nd nature to depress the clutch pedal as you get ready to start the car. When I drive an automatic occasionally, my foot still searches for a clutch pedal as I get into the car.

Ditto!!!!!

[mperdue]

If you only drive manual trans cars, it gets to be 2nd nature to depress the clutch pedal as you get ready to start the car. When I drive an automatic occasionally, my foot still searches for a clutch pedal as I get into the car.

Yeah I too step on the clutch when I start my car even though I don't have to. I picked that up from driving my MT sentra which had a switch forcing you to do that. But I never left it in gear either - always used the brake.

[Ed]

Carl, I was trying to figure this one out and this is what came to me:

The arm on the adjuster won't allow it to tighten past a certain point of resistance (shoe on the drum), that's why the "lugs" on the adjuster are canted and not straight cut.

If your idea were the case, you could only use the E-brake once in the life of the car.

[2-4-T-Z-MAN]

Vicky,

As Ed has said the shoes can weld themselves to the drums. Another problem that can take place is the e-bracke cable will corrode and freeze up, or not fully release.

I'm currently having to replace mine.

[MikeW]

Out of habit I engage the parking brake and leave the transmission in gear. If you're ever parked on a slope this will provide more resistance to rolling. I suppose it's kind of silly to always do this since my garage (all garages?) are perfectly flat. All new cars won't allow you to turn the starter over if the clutch pedal is not depressed.