Auto parking brake

[Guy]

Also the handbook says the brake should always be applied when the vehicle is parked. Not sure just how important that is though.

LVision that is interesting. The implication here is that the brake will not be applied automatically if the engine is turned off when selector is in P position.

Handbook would say that for H&S/legal reasons! Can't envisage any tech reason for its application - but standing by to be corrected.

And I reaffirm that I do not think the HB is applied when you switch ignition off at 'P'

[ScotMac]

If you are on the flat it is in park and not going to roll away. I often do not apply handbrake - when in my garage for example.

[goron59]

There are times when you should never apply the parking brake. Eg, when just completing 6 or 7 smoking laps of a medium sized race track :)

[Mcanny]

if I am parking on a flat surface I never engage the parking brake as I always hate the feel of the brakes grabbing when you initially move off either because the brakes were too hot when applied or its been left standing in wet / damp conditions.

[Chilgrove]

I agree about not using the parking brake when parked on a level surface. Although I don't have a garage, I park at the rear of our house on a level surface and normally prefer to leave the handbrake off but with this new car I have been following the makers' instruction.
If I was parking on the street, on a level surface and with a manual gearbox I would always leave it in neutral but with the handbrake on, just in case the car was rear-ended. Kinder to the gearbox!

[goron59]

One Porsche service guy said to me, somewhat wryly: If you don't use the parking brake, you won't need to change the pads so often.

[SPL]

Anybody tried the emergency brake yet?

Put on the handbrkae when driving - no I am not kidding. Just don't do it when someone is behind you.

It works great and I have told my wife and kids so if I fall ill at the wheel (or they decide not to come with me ) they can stop the car..

[goron59]

Yep, and used it on a real road too :)

Note well that it doesn't "put on the handbrake" - it just initiates a full on emergency stop using the regular brakes. It just happens to use the little P brake switch .

goron592016-03-09 17:00:22

[Chilgrove]

Just been out for a wee test. Firstly I confirm the parking brake releases automatically when starting to move in either forward or reverse. So we do not ever have to manually release the brake. Wow so that saves us a lot of effort in pressing the little button.
I am now confused about how or when the brake automatically engages when turning off the engine. A few days ago the brake came on automatically although I do not know what position the selector was in when I turned off the engine. Today I could not get the brake to engage automatically no matter which position it was in (although I did not try doing it in the R position).

So there must be some other factor coming into play. But what?

Chilgrove2016-03-09 18:09:38

[wilko]

On my last 6 cars, and the wife's last 3, so >10 years, the parking brakes electronic or otherwise have only ever been on when picked up from a dealer after a service.
Put the box in P. Ignition off, get out, and walk away. They've always been exactly where I left them.