My parking brake goes from no braking at all to locked up,, with nothing in between.
Years ago, they used to call them "Emergency Brakes" I think, until someone discovered that engaging the parking brake while driving created a bigger emergency that the one they were trying to solve.mlc said:Is that bad? Don't tell me your using it to slow down
If you drive a fwd car much in the snow, it is very handy to help overcome the push / understeer you often get.mistermike said:Years ago, they used to call them "Emergency Brakes" I think, until someone discovered that engaging the parking brake while driving created a bigger emergency that the one they were trying to solve.
Yeah, I rember years ago, when FWD was a novelty, seeing SAAB racers using the parking brake to kick out the tail. I don't think I'm a good enough driver to try that myself. Most of the cars I've had, the parking brake was pretty grabby and unpredictable.rschumacherfan1 said:If you drive a fwd car much in the snow, it is very handy to help overcome the push / understeer you often get.
Also, if you watch much rally racing at all it's standard practice for them.
While back my brother parked his brand new 87 5 speed camaro at bottom of his rather steep driveway. Put on parking brake, not sure if in gear or not. Next morning came out-- My car is gone! Stolen! Woe is me. Well, it was at bottom of gully some 50 feet down. :slap: Took rather big wrecker to get out and mucho bucks to fix the front. Don't rely on the parking brake to keep if from moving on anything but a level parking lot. In gear, wheels turned or whatever it takes. ( Maybe those loose wheel chocks in the trunk)Adam4356 said:The only thing you need the parking break for is keeping your M6 from rolling down a hill. :
Back in the early years I got a knock on the front door of the house. The neighbor said 'Maybe you should use the parking brake' as he pointed to my challenger leaning up against a telephone pole. The next morning my dad had to use the neihbors phone because the pole moved and the phone line ripped from the house. A week later the town was digging up the street because the pole move enough to break the water main in the ground. I use my break all the time... now. Funny, no damage to the car. Got to love those heavy steel bumper.While back my brother parked his brand new 87 5 speed camaro at bottom of his rather steep driveway. Put on parking brake, not sure if in gear or not. Next morning came out-- My car is gone! Stolen! Woe is me.
another advantage for an all or nothing hand brake. Ive driven cars before (different to GTOs) where you have to forcibly pull the handbrake, just to make sure the car wont roll.While back my brother parked his brand new 87 5 speed camaro at bottom of his rather steep driveway. Put on parking brake, not sure if in gear or not. Next morning came out-- My car is gone! Stolen! Woe is me.
I think subconciously it goes back to learning to drive a stick in a car without a synchromesh first gear, but no real logical reason - I just leave it in gear and second is the one it is.leafbumperin said:Why do you leave the car in second? I always use reverse, it's got the greatest ability to hold the vehicle.