Handbrake Use With Automatics!

[MarkeR]

Had my car in a merc garage today to get a fly wheel changed and I asked them to check out a faint rubbing moise I could hear from the rear wheel area.

He seemed shocked when I told him I always use my handbrake when I leave the car! Seemed to think that the park "gear" is good enough!

I park on a slight slope at night, so I would always put it on then, but on a day to day basis what does everyone else do?

 

[Begbie]

I never use the handbrake, unless of course I'm doing a handbrake turn.

 

[Mujja]

Never use handbrake unless parked on a slope.

 

[DodgeeRascal]

I drive a Jaguar XF and (i think) i use the handbrake when parking. Definitely do when parking on a slope and fairly sure for flat parking as well.

 

[Scania]

My old mans 528i failed every mot it had in his ownership due to sized handbrake, he never used it just left it in park, once I bought the car and started using the handbrake occasionally it was fine.

No you don't technically need the handbrake with an auto left in park but over time it'll seize up through lack of use.

 

[Clarkey]

Never use the handbrake, it has one of those foot parking brakes which is clearly not designed to be used, you have to be a contortionist to operate it just like every other car I've used with one.

 

[Jez]

Not used a handbrake on an automatic (only drive autos generally) in years and years. I'm happy for it to just get adjusted at MOT time should it seize up.

 

[Sagalout]

I always use mine - just habit I guess

 

[Blackhawk47]

Worth noting I think you need to use it on a car with dsg. Mine will roll if I only leave it in park.

 

[Siliconslave]

I always use mine - just habit I guess

doesn't the RR SRV have an automatic handbrake? Wife's Evoque certainly does...

Always use mine, but its dsg - doesn't roll but certainly seems to move a fare amount if you don't use it... may also be force of habit?

 

[Sherbs]

I use mine. Why not?

It's a habit from driving manuals and even after knowing people just use the parking gear, I still use it.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I use Auto Hold, so my handbrake is automatically applied whenever I stop.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

I always use the hand/parking brake when parking an automatic car. Doubly so with Yank rental cars that all seem to lurch like a drunken sailor going into/out of Drive.

 

[George Hincapie]

We never used the parking brake until we had an MOT and failed it because the park brake wouldn't hold the car on the ramp. So we changed it and always use it now.

 

[Howard]

I use mine when parking on an incline. It doesn't seem right to rely solely on the parking pawl.

My car has hill launch assist so I don't need to use it for hill starts (double clutch box with a small delay as the clutch engages).

 

[Jumper118]

i've seen some bad things happen after people not leaving handbrakes on. like a pickup driving through the wall at our garage. that was great to watch on cctv

 

[Mysterae_]

Always use the parking brake, like Sherbs says it a habit from driving a manual for so long.

I sometimes use it when stopped in queue of traffic out of courtesy to the driver behind me - stops my brake lights from burning out their retinas. Wish more drivers would do the same. Autohold still puts on the brake lights on too though.

 

[Sirrel Squirrel]

Automatically comes on in the RRS. I was always under the impression you shouldn't only use park since it just puts a small pin into the transmission shaft, which isn't overly strong?

 

[Uther]

Always use it, force of habit as others have said.

 

[acemastr]

Never used it in any of my automatics, completely pointless unless you're on a hill and want to lower stress on the parking brake pin