Does putting the parking brake on before putting the car in park do anything?
Posted by IcePokeTwoSoon@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 239 comments
I had heard from my dad, who was (and still is) a huge car guy, that using the parking brake on an automatic transmission before putting the car in park (while in neutral) was a good way to lengthen the life of your transmission, because it puts the tension weight on the e-brake rather than on the transmission, particularly at any stopping point that is hilly. (Pittsburgher here, so I’m parking sideways on a hill 90% of the time). Is this true? Or am I doing this every time I park for placebo?
(Saw an earlier related post, and figured I’d ask this in the larger forum so it isn’t lost in those comments.)
momalle1@reddit
Is it true? Yes. Will it really affect the life of your transmission? Probably not. It's a good idea to exercise the parking brake mechanisms though, that way they'll work when you actually need them!
Vivid-Software6136@reddit
Wont kill the transmission but if your parking pall fails itll start rolling when in park which could be dangerous.
BlitzFortyV@reddit
This doesn't really happen in modern cars. It went from "uncommon but possible" to "freak accident" in like, the 80s
NoEmu5969@reddit
More common in steep streets like San Francisco. Prolonged parking with stress on engine and transmission mounts can deform them prematurely.
Euphoric_Local3265@reddit
this is the real issue. the pawl doesnt give af what you do to it.
NoEmu5969@reddit
Guibos get strained in ways they weren’t designed for too.
dlaff1@reddit
This happened to my dad’s 2003 F150. He never used the parking brake.
maasmania@reddit
This doesnt happen anymore... not for a very long time now. Parking pawls undergo similar mechanical testing as airbags and seatbelts.
Lumpy-Scientist6834@reddit
I’ve heard this my whole life. I’ve also been a professional mechanic in a busy shop for 20 years, and I’ve never even once seen a parking pawl fail.
BMWs are hard to put into neutral if they don’t start. I’ve seen tow truck drivers drag them onto the flatbed with drive wheels skidding in park, then shake them off when they get to the shop. Never seen it damage a parking pawl.
vilius_m_lt@reddit
It is true. You should always use your parking brake, that’s what it’s there for
IcePokeTwoSoon@reddit (OP)
Is there science to the specific rule of applying it when the car is in neutral THEN putting it in park though?
710HQ@reddit
Stop the car, put on the brake, shift to neutral and let off the brake so the car rolls into the brake, then shift to park.
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
It's best to load up the brakes first before putting load on the parking pawl. Going into neutral first means your motor mounts are not loaded up when loading up the brakes.
bullowl@reddit
How does that work with newer cars that don't have a physical parking break you can engage? I've got a Lexus that just has a park button; is that automatically going through the process correctly?
bimmer4WDrift@reddit
Yes the button just sets a motorized cable pull. As long as the foot release is last you're good.
vilius_m_lt@reddit
“Motorozied cable pull” is very rare, most current vehicles use electric motors integrated in the calipers to set the brake
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
I'd just keep my foot on the brake pedal until the parking brake is engaged.
chris77982@reddit
Not just engine mounts. Transmission mounts, cv joints, differential. All take the load from the parking pawl.
Sig-vicous@reddit
Putting it in neutral when you apply parking brake, then remove your foot from the brake pedal, and let the car roll to be fully settled against the parking brake, then shift to Park.
Note noticeable in some cars, sometimes you'll get a bit of roll before it settles against the parking brake, so doing it the above let's that roll happen before you shift it into park. Otherwise it may still settle on the parking pawl and result in a clunk when you shift out of park later.
This definitely helps in our Subaru, but I've noticed theres no roll on our Ford so I don't bother.
This is just a little bit of mechanical sympathy. If someone told me that it doesn't matter in the long run, I wouldn't argue with them.
StormFallen9@reddit
I've always put my foot on the brake, shifted to park, set the parking brake, then released my foot. If I don't set the parking brake I'll get a little roll back, especially if I'm on a hill, but if I do set the parking brake it doesn't. Figure that means the weight is where it needs to be
organschisms@reddit
Depends on the person. If you’re able to load the break enough so it doesn’t roll you’re fine. Some people can’t, so the neutral thing is a catch-all. (For ratcheted systems.)
nathanb131@reddit
Our subaru had more "roll" to its transmission too. When going from park to drive or reverse, there was a much longer wait before it engaged compared to any other car I'd driven.
I worked with this "car guy" who was always bragging about rebuilding and modding subarus. So I asked him about this very obvious transmission difference, thinking he'd feel special to drop some insider knowledge. His response was to basically call me stupid and delusional. It reminded me that you can be a pretty effective mechanic without having an "engineering mind".
AKADriver@reddit
I dunno about that guy's attitude, but most Subie performance car enthusiasts don't really give a damn about the automatics. The 4E-AT was a good reliable transmission for your aunt and her long time companion to drive to the farmers market but it wasn't a 'performance' automatic so the kind of guy who builds big horsepower WRXs probably just never cared to learn anything about the auto and is just covering for lack of knowledge with attitude.
nathanb131@reddit
Yep. He was definitely covering with attitude rather than admit he didn't know something. I'll never understand people like that. I'm a mechanical engineer and never assume I'm the smartest guy in the room, even if it's my strongest area. There's always more to learn and I don't have anything to prove.
BlurryMadFish@reddit
In my Pilot, if I don't put the parking brake on first and I let the car roll back in park first, then when I put it back in gear it gives a noticeable thud and can actually be a little difficult to change the gear.
Not sure if that's just a sign of the transmission finally going out, though. I got the car at 100k and it's now at 200k and I haven't had any major work on it yet.
SigmaINTJbio@reddit
This is the way. My driveway is sloped. When I park, I set the parking brake, shift to neutral and release the regular brakes, reapply the regular brakes, then shift to park.
verymuchbad@reddit
Imagine you have two things that do the same thing. Like let's say a starter's pistol and a loud voice that yells "go". If you shoot the pistol (and the race starts) and then yell "go" a second later, yelling didn't do anything. If you yell (and the race starts) and then shoot the pistol a second later, shooting didn't do anything.
It's the same here. If you engage the parking brake and then release your foot from the brake pedal, the weight of the car is being completely handled by the parking brake. Putting the transmission in park after that doesn't put any force on the transmission. It's really only burdened if your parking brake fails.
But if you put the car in park and then take your foot off the brake pedal, The weight of the car is being completely handled by the transmission. Engaging the parking brake after that doesn't put any force on the parking brake.
You want to be applying that force to the parking brake and not the transmission.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
Is this something we should do every time we park in our garage, perfectly flat? Or just on hills?
verymuchbad@reddit
Flat it probably doesn't matter. Hills for sure.
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
Thank you for your reply. Trying to keep my vehicle in good shape.
crazyTarHeel@reddit
This is a great explanation of how these things are different. It is one piece of a complete answer. You explained this piece better than any other response that I read.
The active debate seems to be about the other piece: whether it can be harmful to load the transmission’s “parking prawl”. My personal intuition is “maybe, so why take that chance.” Nothing is gained when someone elects to not use the parking break, or to use it incorrectly. One exception: do not engage the parking brake when the brakes are glowing hot.
I’ve had experiences where the pop that happened when shifting from park to drive was so unsettling that I questioned if harm was done, or if the prawl could fail the next time it is heavily loaded. Those experiences cause me to favor loading the parking break. The parking break is engineered and included at additional cost for the purpose of avoiding this risk.
tidyshark12@reddit
To start off, it keeps your parking brake from getting rusted in place. Furthermore, if you get hit while parked, your e-brake will keep your car from rolling off the parking pawl gets broken. Also, it makes it much easier to put the vehicle in to gear. Finally, you wont have to worry about your car rolling into anything when you park it.
InfiniteBoops@reddit
Yes, that way there’s zero tension on the transmission. Neutral, ebrake, release foot brake, park. Done.
rklug1521@reddit
Haven't you heard the loud clunk the next time you take the vehicle out of park if you don't do this on a very steep hill?
fdnM6Y9BFLAJPNxGo4C@reddit
Yes your father is right.
Now I don't actually know about modern cars personally, if there is any mitigation in place.
But older cars, absolutely. The parking pawl is a mechanical interlock for safety and isn't really designed to be the weight bearing component holding your car on a hill.
The steeper the slope, the more important.
When I was a kid, we had a car that would never come out of park if the weight of the car was resting on the pawl, enter me... the kid shaking the car while my mom tried to get it out of park. She never used the parking brake, and caught a fair bit of flack from my dad regularly about getting stuck/stranded because sometimes my scrawny ass didn't have the oomph to move the car so my dad had to come rescue us and shake it too. Lol
buckytoofa@reddit
Yes I do this. You will notice when you set it in neutral and then let off the brake the vehicle moves a small amount in the downhill direction, then put it in park. This puts all of the strain on the parking brake, it is of course designed for this. When you put it in park then set the parking brake, the load of the vehicle will still often be shared between the transmission parking paw and the emergency brake rather than the parking brake itself.
Wigberht_Eadweard@reddit
All you need is your foot on the brake while applying the parking brake and the car will be resting on the brake instead of the paw. People overcomplicate it. As long as you don’t shift to park, let off the foot brake, then apply the parking brake, you won’t be on the paw. If you think about it—shifting gears while not moving isn’t going to do anything.
9BALL22@reddit
No, but you should apply the parking brake before releasing the brakes and moving into "park", you can do this while still in "drive" or "reverse". The important thing is to apply the parking brake BEFORE you release the pressure of your foot on the brake pedal.
Dexford211@reddit
As long as the car is stopped, it doesn’t matter if you put it in park first or parking brake first.
Reason being, your foot is still on the brake pedal when you are shifting to park or setting parking brake.
ridinderty@reddit
Wonder when they switch the terminology from Emergency brake to parking brake? Or was Emergency brake never officially the term?
tucsondog@reddit
Both are correct, but modern vehicles with the electronic brakes aren’t as good in a true emergency.
Most parking /e brakes use mechanical linkage to activate an independent set of brakes, that will function even if you lose hydraulic pressure to your regular brakes. In that sense it can be used in an emergency to stop the vehicle.
Friendly-Inspector71@reddit
Modern electrically actuated brakes can definitely be used in an emergency.
Don't be afraid to use it. The button just needs to be held to signal to the car that it's not been hit accidentally.
Try it out at a slow roll. The electric ones can easily lock a wheel while driving, while you really have to pull hard on some cable actuated ones.
And if it's not in great shape then cable brakes might not even manage to lock the wheels.
ColonClenseByFire@reddit
Always has been "Emergency make your car smell funny lever"
wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals@reddit
That wasn't exactly the question thouhg
letsgocaca@reddit
It is true, OP should park the car instead of leaving it in drive and jumping out the car.
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
Your dad is correct. Especially when parked on any type of hill. Anyone who says otherwise has never seen the puny parking pawl inside of an automatic transmission.
cbf1232@reddit
Technically you could hit the brakes, come to a stop, put the car in park, then engage the parking brake, then take your foot off the brake pedal. Since the brakes were on the whole time there would be no stress on the parking pawl.
EdibleOedipus@reddit
This is what I do.
Parking_Chance_1905@reddit
Same, stop, pull parking brake, shift to neutral, let off regular brake, shift to park.
mentul77@reddit
Why shift to neutral?
dkbGeek@reddit
If I stop in my kinda-steep driveway, put my automatic pickup in Park, set the parking brake, and then release the service brake there's usually a perceptible motion and I can't tell if it's settling against the parking brake or the park pawl.
To be sure, I put the transmission in Neutral, set the parking brake and release the service brake. Sometimes there's a slight downhill motion, sometimes the parking brake prevents any perceptible motion at all. Then I put it in Park and shut off the engine, confident that the parking brake it what's holding it in place and there's little or no pressure on the park pawl.
sakatan@reddit
The movement comes from the wheels that are not being held by the parking brake. They roll a tiny bit after relieving the tension from the suspension/frame/chassis when you release the service brake from all wheels. The tension, in the first place, comes from the car not coming to a smooth stop (like rolling in neutral on a flat) but being "jerked" to a halt by the brakes, perking up in the suspension and being held there. It's like a spring held by your fingers, compressing it a tiny bit.
If those wheels are driven wheels, they might put pressure through the drive train onto the pawl.
Parking_Chance_1905@reddit
Habit from learning on a manual.
Happy_Hippo48@reddit
A bad habit for an automatic trans. It does put additional wear each time you move between drive and neutral in park. It's probably negligible But again, completely unneeded
mentul77@reddit
Oh heavens, I park my manual Jeep in gear. My parking brake on that would never hold it on a hill in neutral.
kwajr@reddit
I was always told to park a manual in gear or at least put it in gear when you are getting out
sypher1187@reddit
While parking in gear is still a very good habit, if your parking brakes doesn't hold your car, even on a hill, your brakes needs to be adjusted. Your brakes should absolutely hold the car short of a failure.
One_Evil_Monkey@reddit
You shift your manual to neutral, set parking brake, shift to reverse, turn off vehicle, then release foot brake and clutch.
Parking_Chance_1905@reddit
I put it in park, neutral is just to make sure the brake is holding with no movement.
Liroku@reddit
What he is saying though, neutral isnt needed. Stop and keep holding the brakes down, put it in park, parking brake, take foot off brakes.
Parking_Chance_1905@reddit
Probably true but I guess I still do that from manual days.
Super_Direction498@reddit
Assuming there's zero play in the parking brake
cbf1232@reddit
In many vehicles the parking brake uses the exact same braking system as the foot brake, just with a different way to actuate it (cable or motor). So if you engage the parking brake when you've already got the foot brake enabled there's no additional play that is possible.
Super_Direction498@reddit
Just saying, depressing the brake pedal all the way, then the parking brake, then shifting into park, then releasing the brake pedal, is not guaranteed to take the stress of the pawl. If there's any movement after you release the brake pedal the weight is now at least partially on the pawl. With a cable operated parking brake that is still engaging the same cylinder as the hydraulic brakes, slack in the cable can still result in movement after releasing the pedal.
theblanklook@reddit
Only if by "movement" you mean the car rolling down the hill.
If the parking brake is correctly engaged, it will hold the weight of the car on a hill. Slack in the cable isn't a thing as parking brakes have been self-adjusting for decades.
EdibleOedipus@reddit
Then you can gently let off the brakes until the parking brake catches.
Andy_850TB@reddit
That's how I do it if I'm parked on any kind of slope. I don't want the vehicle's whole weight putting stress on that parking pawl.
maasmania@reddit
I am an automotive industrial engineer, specifically, for automotive automatic transmissions.
Parking pawls are incredibly strong and can handle disengaging with the weight of the vehicle on them. They arent prone to failure, nor do they use a design that "wears out".
Putting the vehicle in park while its still rolling will risk breaking the mechanism, but most modern units have features that allow it to ride across its seating surface and bounce until the vehicle slows to a reasonable speed, as a safety feature.
This is only pertaining to modern vehicles, cars in the 70s and 80s did occasionally have worn pawls that could let the vehicle come out of park under very rare circumstances.
railmanmatt@reddit
Puny Parking Pawl. Has a nice ring to it.
Electronic_Film_9904@reddit
Say that 10 times fast . PPP, not that, that, that ....
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
He does his best with what hes been endowed with.
textstringfor@reddit
It's a good size. Pretty big actually
SneakyPetie78@reddit
Thats what she said. He's hung like a light switch.
908118investing@reddit
You’ve heard the old saying hung like a horse… maybe more like a seahorse…or horsefly…
Good_Selection@reddit
Good name for a rockabilly band!
Internal_Essay9230@reddit
Cool name for a band, too!
abees_knees@reddit
r/BandNamesInTheWild
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Resident-Cobbler2189@reddit
And Reddit username
NetDork@reddit
Every guy named Paul who works valet should always be named Parking Paul.
railmanmatt@reddit
Is he related to Roger the Shrubber?
NetDork@reddit
A shrubber?
railmanmatt@reddit
Yes. They arrange, sell, and design shrubberies.
NetDork@reddit
Ni!
atlgeo@reddit
And if he's a really short guy...
Mr_Style@reddit
I heard of the Puny Parking Pawl sees its shadow then it’s 6 more weeks of winter!
prof-bunnies@reddit
It has more of a "Ping" when you have a 'Error'
AlmondFungus@reddit
I saw them in concert a few years back...
AussieDran@reddit
I read it on Hulk's voice honestly.
wallyinct@reddit
Does that come with a cheese dip?
Comfortable-Figure17@reddit
I have their album
kritter4life@reddit
I have never come across a broken pawl but I don’t do transmissions.
ff942da7ca2a@reddit
I've never come across a broken pawl but I only do Nissan CVT's
SanFransicko@reddit
It's not so much about putting the parking brake on before shifting to park as it is about putting the parking brake on before releasing the regular brake. I grew up in San Francisco, parking pretty much exclusively on hills. My wife is from the fattest part of Texas. I've gotten in her car to move it and felt that clunk shifting out of park and it's sickening. I'm still working on that.
The parking brake is just one of the rear brakes but those are designed specifically to stop the car and are easily and frequently replaced compared to an inner transmission component.
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Depends on the car. Most are both rear wheels. In fact Im curious what car you have that its only on one because ive not personally seen or heard of one only being one wheel.
kwajr@reddit
Lots of cars simply had a cable that went to a back brake shoe at least back in the 90s
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Well yes, but what Im saying is that its WEIRD that it would only go to one wheel, normally its to both rear wheels.
kwajr@reddit
Not on cable driven I have only seen one wheel with a cable driven e brake
jlelectech@reddit
There are two cables, going to each wheel. A one wheel parking brake would again be a single point of failure. Also if you are moving and apply parking brake in an emergency, if it's only one wheel it can cause you to lose control since only one side will brake. When only one wheel is locked, it becomes a pivot point and the vehicle will rotate about that point.
Which_Initiative_882@reddit
Exactly this. One wheel brakes make zero sense.
SanFransicko@reddit
2018 Chevy Tahoe was the last one.
Fair-Season1719@reddit
This is the correct answer
djltoronto@reddit
How many DOZENS of DECADES does the average parking pawl last?
Have you ever even seen a broken one?
Striking-Garage-4103@reddit
Nope
SirGeremiah@reddit
I don’t think putting the brake in before putting it in park has much effect there. Putting the parking brake in before releasing the foot brake would be what matters.
That’s assuming the parking brake is working properly, so it holds immediately.
yert1099@reddit
The Triple P
orfnorfdorfnorf@reddit
Hey, it's not puny, it's comfortable.
EmperorGeek@reddit
The key is to apply the Parking Brake before releasing the regular brake. This keeps the car from rolling forward/backward onto the Parking Pawl. It’s not just putting the brake on before shifting to park.
SoloWalrus@reddit
Except loading the parking pawl does nothing increase wear on the transmission.
I agree, use the parking break because the pawl is scary small, but the reason why is to have 2 lines of defense against the car rolling away - not to reduce wear.
Parking_Chance_1905@reddit
Its a little smaller than the end of a chopstick for anyone wondering.
JonAmonster@reddit
Yep - once seen a parked car barely hit, pop out of park and roll down a hill
Living_Natural1829@reddit
My pawl is quite substantial, thank you very much.
CaptainJay313@reddit
or seen one fail.
nauticalcummins@reddit
Saw a parking pawl break on a brick nose f250 at the boat ramp. Truck went for a swim. Water didn't get to the engine though. Truck was quickly traded in. Parking brake was not set.
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
Usually stamped steel or cast. They don't mind getting used until they break. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.
Briggs281707@reddit
The parking prawl and "gear" it locks into is quite big. It doesn't mind getting used
methlabforcuties@reddit
it's exactly where it wants to be 🫦
Other_Programmer5239@reddit
Yes that is true when parked on a hill ypu lock the wheels in place then put it in park. It keeps the transmission and the linkage from locking up and putting in a bind from hill parking. Ps. Push emergency brake till it grabs and the car dont move. Don't not push it all the way to the floor if its tight. A guy I worked with did that had to tow to dealer ship and $3,000 later they got it freed and parts got bent and needed to replace.
Livid-Influence-5320@reddit
Most will say it is not needed...may years back, my ex-wife parked one of our vehicles (column shifter) on our driveway, slight incline, and let it roll onto the park detent. I went to move it and the shifter was very stuck. I tried to get it into gear, but ended up breaking the plate that was attached to the column and shift arm. Many dollars and hours later I had it fixed
She didn't really learn a lesson even after she went without the vehicle while waiting on the part.
Use the parking brake, save your transmission and maybe some heartache. Brakes are way easier to replace.
Shadowcard4@reddit
Modern cars youll typically wear out all the other parts in the car first unless youre always parking on stupid steep areas or someone hits your car. The best part of that practice is mainly you keep your e brake from locking up with corrosion and debris. For reference i basically play the role of fixing totaled cars for cheap guy and ill typically be on rust holes and suspension 2-3 times before a car hits like 3-4k
One_Locksmith_8304@reddit
I have a 2019 Chevy Cruze. It and every automatic I’ve had before like to roll back a little when put in park, putting pressure on the parking pawl. It’s basically a little pin. When you use the parking brake it helps prevent that rollback (especially on inclines/declines) and helps prevent accidentally shearing the pawl. Another benefit is that when you have pressure on that pawl and go to shift into Reverse or Drive, you’ll hear a load clunk from the bind the pawl was in; parking brake will prevent that loud clunk noise
KnowledgeSpecific246@reddit
Putting on the parking brake first helps keep the brakes adjusted.
snajk138@reddit
It's more about not letting go of the brake until the P-brake is engaged, but yes.
Beefgrits@reddit
Are you not holding the brake the entire time before parking brake is set either way?
bear45188721@reddit
For sure uphill or downhill this is correct. There's a part called a parking pawl that will have too much torque on it and may break under pressure.
PyroNine9@reddit
Ever have a car settle it's weight on the parking pawl so you have to yank the gearshift and you hear that PONG sound? That's a lot of stress on an expensive part that didn't need to happen.
Always brake, then park. When ready to go, take it out of park before releasing the brake.
kocoman@reddit
Why does one front wheel roll forward while the other front wheel roll backward while in park? What is this called?
Krivukas@reddit
Your dad is correct. When you put in park what essencially happens is small metal rod is extended between gears and that rod prevents your transmission from rotating and moving your car. So imagine you put massive weight on a single tiny rod. It easily can get damaged and bent. And repairs are very expensive since you have essencially take apart whole transmission to get to it.
nonstopgooon@reddit
After you shift into park and let off the brake and the slight roll, that’s your car rolling up to the parking pawl. Doesn’t happen if you put emergency brake on before park.
Least_Definition_345@reddit
When parking always engage the parking brake before releasing the foot break. Before traveling always engage the foot break before releasing the parking break. Don’t they teach this is driver’s ed anymore?
Suspicious-Spinach-9@reddit
Definitely a goof idea when parking on an incline
Substantial_Team6751@reddit
The order shouldn't make a difference because you have your foot on the brake.
or
Same result.
This would be bad:
Worse to do on a hill. Doesn't matter much on flat ground.
elickx@reddit
thx for actually clarifying... I always knew not using the handbrake was terrible news, just couldn't describe why
IOI-65536@reddit
I'm going to kind of disagree with everyone else, but not in a way that matters. Assuming you're at a complete stop with the brakes still engaged, it doesn't matter if you put the parking brake on in neutral or park. It does matter if you put the parking brake on before you let your foot off the actual brake.
The transmission holds the car in place on park with a tiny "parking pawl" that goes into the gearset. If you put it in park and let your foot off the brake the car will move slightly while it transfers the weight of the car to that pawl. If you then put on the parking brake you've basically made it so the parking brake will catch the car if the pawl breaks. If you put it in park and engage the parking brake and then let off the brakes the car will not move because it's still on the parking brake. That's what you want.
Magnum-3000@reddit
Of course it’s assumed your foot is already on the brake because you are about to shift to park. Nobody stops their vehicle by slamming it into park.
dand06@reddit
Could you imagine though? You’d not have any transmission to worry about anymore, because you’ll be buying a replacement one
IOI-65536@reddit
No. My distinction is between before shifting into park (doesn't matter, but is what OP asked) and before releasing the brake (does matter).
beardedbast3rd@reddit
He’s right and wrong.
If you’re holding your brake down, put the car in park, and engage the parking brake, and only then remove your foot brake, then it doesn’t matter if you did that, or engaged the parking brake before putting into park.
The problem occurs when you put the car in park, let go of the brake, and then engage the parking brake. On a flat surface, not likely an issue. On any sort of incline, your vehicle will roll a bit when you let off the foot brake, putting its weight, on the parking pawl, which is just a small pin inside the transmission, that stops it from turning anymore. If this brakes, you can’t park your vehicle anymore without the parking brake.
MarshXI@reddit
It’s funny cause manual enthusiasts will tell you to park in gear and not have faith in your parking brake 😂
H0use_Plant@reddit
Okay the parking pawl or whatever, but I say use it also because I’m pretty sure the engine/transmission mounts take that force too. The extra ugga dugga from putting it in park probably stresses them out more. I notice less movement in park without the brake after replacing all of my mounts so this be why I’m forever using my parking brake.
seaofboobs9434@reddit
Yeah it turns the parking brake on lol
Lee_Bv@reddit
Yes, do it.
BuzzGotSchmoes@reddit
I would like to post for importance for you or others that see this.
If you have an older car, or a car in the rust belt, be careful using your parking brake if it hasn’t been used in a long time. If you have a 15-20 year old car and the parking brake has never been touched, you might have to deal with them locking up. Thank you.
Flimsy_Fortune4072@reddit
Stop, hard on the brake, parking brake, park, done. It is failproof and will not damage any components.
HoldingThunder@reddit
If you are driving a manual you can also leave it on first or reverse in case the parking brake fails.
20Factorial@reddit
Never park a manual in neutral. Always set the parking brake, and always leave it in gear.
NuclearPotatoDK@reddit
Why is that?
Flimsy_Fortune4072@reddit
Parking brake fails, car is sailing away if there is any incline.
Unlikely-Beat@reddit
It’s important to note too situationally which gear to leave it in based on any incline you’re on whether big or small. If your car would roll backwards have it in first, and if it looks like it could roll forward have it in reverse. Of course at the end of the day it’s all situational because maybe you would want your car to roll backwards for example if it’s on your driveway you would rather it roll backwards into your garage/house as opposed to rolling out onto the street
Flimsy_Fortune4072@reddit
You absolutely should, especially on a hill.
gary_a_gooner@reddit
I’ve read/seen that in an automatic, you should put it in neutral first then parking brake and finally park.
croppedcross3@reddit
When you're at a complete stop in an automatic it essentially is in neutral anyway.
_-Dreams-_@reddit
Actuating the parking brake in park or neutral makes no difference. When you put it in park the awl is activated but there is still room for the vehicle to roll and then put stress on it. Putting it in neutral is just an extra step. Just dont put it in park and let off the brake. Stay on the brake, engage parking brake, put in park and done
Flimsy_Fortune4072@reddit
I’m sure that is the technically correct way, but almost every automatic on the road in America is being stopped, and then shifted to park with no parking brake, and they don’t have issues.
Wanderer-2609@reddit
I always put the car in park then put the handbrake on.
Mike734@reddit
Do it.
quik916@reddit
That's funny... the parking pin is not a wear item. It will outlast the transmission. Engagement of the parking pin when the vehicle is stopped makes zero "wear"... so its silly to use ebrake to save transmission. Sure there's t8kes to use the ebrake... but its never to save transmission wear.
BuildingBetterBack@reddit
I started in a manual and worked in auto shops for a number of years. When I had an automatic for awhile I'd always put it in neutral and then set the parking brake before going into park. People would question me about why I do it and to me it always made sense not to stress the parking prawl. Many cars have a bit of roll to them after you put it in park and let off the brake. And when you shift out of park depending on the vehicle and age it can sound and feels kinda rough so to me it makes sense.
Available-Skirt-5280@reddit
If you put it in park, take your foot off the brake, then engage the parking brake, most of the weight of the vehicle is on a tiny little pin in your transmission. Putting the brake on first keeps the weight of the vehicle on the brake and the transmission pin is just a back up for brake failure
Specific_Marketing69@reddit
Especially if your transmission is a dial or push-button type they have a motor in the transmission that selects the gear instead of a mechanical linkage from a shift handle you manually move from Park to Reverse or Drive
CryptoCrash87@reddit
So you can test this.
Go-to a hilly parking space. Hold the brake down. Put car in park. Pull E-brake. Take foot off of brake.
The car should not move.
Now. Put foot back on brake. Take the parking brake off. Then take foot off brake.
You'll notice your car rolls a bit in the direction of the hill. That's because the transmission is rolling to over to rest on the parking prawl. Which is to say the whole weight of your car is now rest on a tiny piece of metal in the transmission.
You'll also notice that it is really hard to shift out of park when you try to move later. It's just a lot of unnecessary wear and tear added to your vehicle.
RunningAtTheMouth@reddit
When parking flat I rarely use the parking brake.
When pulling a trailer or parking on any kind of incline, I DO use the parking brake. I put the car into park first, and apply the parking brake while my foot is still on the brake. Same general effect.
This keeps stress off the parking pawl. It ALSO keeps the parking brake functional, and is less likely to fail inspection because you KNOW about it working (or not) before inspection time.
AlanofAdelaide@reddit
Of course in a hill park you turn your wheels into the kerb
TimeWarrior3030@reddit
Park Car > Neutral > activate Parking Brake > Take foot off brake pedal > Press down on brake pedal > Shift to Park.
This is the way…
jonnno_@reddit
Neutral isn’t necessary.. Park in an automatic is Neutral plus the parking pawl. The order doesn’t matter as long as the parking brake is set before taking foot off the main brake.
Old_Celebration5871@reddit
Yes. In fact, you can feel a difference when you do this
frustrated_egg@reddit
duh
hapym1267@reddit
It can help limit damage if the vehicle is bumped while parked.. On a hill it is the best way to park.. I have seen people use two hands to get an automatic out of park , from the pin binding up..
L0quence@reddit
It would be mainly for hills yes, so you don’t have the whole weight of the car resting on the transmission park gear. That’s why when you shift out of park on a hill without park brake, there’s a lot more resistance in the shifter and often times you feel and hear it more.
Outback-Australian@reddit
Order doesn't matter. Come to a stop. Put the car in park, pull the (e-brake or parking brake or handbrake) then let off the brake.
Any order BUT always letting off the brakes last.
HoLeeFuk19@reddit
It is true. It puts the load on the parking brake rather than the transmission pin (in automatics) or on the gear in a manual transmission. It’s good practice.
Glum-Welder1704@reddit
Listen to dad. I apply P-brake, let vehicle roll a bit so the weight is on the brake rather than the transmission, and then put it in park. Essentially, it saves wear on the parking pawl, which is the bit that stops the car rolling in park. That pawl being jammed is the reason cars sometimes need to be forced out of park if you park on a hill.
dreadberri@reddit
Mostly if on a hill
MycologistAny1151@reddit
I pull my brake every time i park my car.
nevertolatePOMO@reddit
That’s accurate! It’s called a parking brake because it’s designed to be used for parking. Trust the cable operated brake never the tiny transmission pawl.
Ogre6956@reddit
There is a part in older transmissions called the parking pawl. On some models it was literally sheet metal as thick as a body panel. When the wheels were allowed to roll in park before engaging the brake the entire car's weight was being held by that piece.
You could tell it was stressful because it was hard to get out of park and sometimes there was even a bang when you shifted. My father in law parked on their steep driveway and didn't like parking brakes because his 55 had it lock up once on him.
Admirable-Berry59@reddit
The sheet metal part to engage the pawl stripped out in my K5 blazer on a flat parking lot. Had to have it towed, then pull the pan to replace that little $12 piece of sheet metal. Good times.
Ogre6956@reddit
Absolutely infuriating. I was thinking of the TH 350 while trying to describe the faults of the system. My 79 K10 had been shifted into park while moving by the PO so many times that I just chocked and parking braked it.
enclavedzn@reddit
Correct, you're simply offloading the load to your parking brake rather than your transmission.
DizzySample9636@reddit
on a steep hill YES
Worldly-Ad-7156@reddit
Had an older Isuzu and sometime it would not get out of park, I believe the park gears just had too much tension on them. If we rocked the car it would leave park. If the parking brake held all the car, then the park gear wouldn't bind.
jasonsong86@reddit
Yes. It unloads the weight of the car off the parking paw.
One_Evil_Monkey@reddit
Your dad is correct, especially on hills.
It keeps stress off the tiny parking pawl.
I've seen folks park on enough of a hill without setting the parking brake (it should be set while still in neutral then placed in park or placed in park and set before releasing the foot brake)... that when they go take the vehicle out of park it will NOT come out of park because the weight of the vehicle has so much stress on the pawl.
bradland@reddit
This is one of those things that people obsess over (I'm guilty), but really doesn't have much consequence either way. It comes down to something called mechanical sympathy.
Parking pawls are small, but the way their mechanism is implemented, they have a lot of holding force, and they're not subject to much wear when simply sitting there under stress.
Putting your car in park engages a little metal latch that catches on a toothed ring. The toothed ring is attached to the transmission, and when the pawl is engaged, it prevents the transmission output shaft from moving. This holds your car in place.
The thing to remember is that your transmission's job is to accelerate your car. The twisting force applied to the transmission while accelerating up a hill is much greater than simply sitting in park on a slope. Also, simply applying this twisting force while the transmission is sitting still doesn't cause much wear. It's the friction that occurs during rotation that wears parts out.
That "tension" on your transmission is like worrying about the spring in a pen wearing out because it's always under compression. Or worrying about the steel in your chair wearing out because your weight is on it. Or worrying about the walls of your house wearing out because your roof is heavy. All of these are static loads, and static loads are easy to support when the materials are designed for it, like your transmission is.
So why do I put my parking brake on before I put the car in park if it doesn't hurt anything? Because of mechanical sympathy. I really love my car, and I don't like the sound it makes when the parking pawl releases under tension/pressure. It doesn't hurt the car to engage the parking brake, so it's no harm either way.
Mysterious_Coach1100@reddit
Yeah, your dad’s right, especially on hills. Using the parking brake before putting it in Park helps prevent the transmission “parking pawl” from taking the full weight of the car. On an automatic (like a Toyota Camry or similar), this reduces stress on the transmission over time, especially when parked on an incline. It’s a small thing, but it’s good practice and not just a placebo.
MoaiTrist@reddit
Back in the late 80's, if you worked as a valet in an upscale area, one of the first things they would tell you is to set the parking brake before putting the transmission in park. For whatever reason, Jaguars and Rolls Royce cars were particularly fragile and would easily break the Park pin. You didn't want an expensive car rolling around on its own in a crowded parking lot. Fun times.
Murpet@reddit
Only reason I can think of is non American design.. it seems uniquely American to only use Park on the transmission and not the parking brake.
I’m in the USA often and really amazes me how often people just drop it in park and walk away.
plasmamaniac@reddit
On flat ground it's unnecessary, but on a hill you absolutely should
OkBag3711@reddit
When I first started driving I would pull the emergency brake every time I stopped. Eventually something on the emergency braking broke. It was a pretty expensive repair. I rarely use the emergency brakes since then.
hemibearcuda@reddit
It can, it also prevents the parking brake cables from seizing with regular use.
Unlucky-Hair-6165@reddit
There’s no reason to put in neutral first if you never release the brake. Pull up, keep foot on brake, shift to park, set parking brake, release foot brake. That way the pawl is never loaded.
LoHungTheSilent@reddit
I can't find fault in his logic and do the same.
obxhead@reddit
Your dad is 100% correct.
ppepitoy0u@reddit
Reminds me of my friend who loves Nissan altimas and has been through like 3 transmissions the past 6 years. He consistently switches to drive when car is still in reverse motion above 10mph. I keep trying to tell him that this is probably why he goes through a transmission every few years but he just blames it on poor quality transmissions from jatco smh.
Natural_Psychology_5@reddit
He is right. You don’t need to go to neutral you just need to engage the PB before you remove your foot from the break
teleskier97@reddit
This is correct. Put in neutral. Use parking brake to ensure the parking brake is holding the vehicle then put it in park. I cringe when I see people not do this, especially on a hill and watch a several ton vehicle bounce off a puny parking pawl.
The_real_bandito@reddit
You can do that or you can change the shift from D to P and not let go of the brake, pull the handbrake and then let go of the brake.
mocl4@reddit
Park is just neutral with a parking pawl engaged. No need to shift to neutral explicitly. Set both park and the parking brake in either order as long as you remove your foot from the brake pedal last and you can never worry about this again.
BouncingSphinx@reddit
That only works if you apply the parking brake while in neutral, release the foot brake to allow the vehicle weight to settle onto the parking brake, then shift to park. If you’re not releasing the foot brake after applying the parking brake, it’s functionally no different than shifting to park before applying the parking brake. The arguably most wrong way to set the parking brake is to apply after you’ve selected park and removed your foot from the brake. This doesn’t put any weight resting on the brake and only uses it as a backup to keep the vehicle from rolling.
It won’t mess up any gears by not doing this, but there’s a very small chance that it could cause extra wear to the parking pawl, which is what locks the transmission from turning while in park, specifically if you let the brake go suddenly while on a steep hill or have to force it out of park due to being on a steep hill.
xnoxpx@reddit
A few points, if you're unsure if the parking brake was used often get it checked to make sure rust doesn't cause it to seize the first time you use it.
The rule I was taught was if you use the parking brake, lways use it, it you don't, then never use it.
Parking pawls are designed to be pretty robust, in normal dy to day usage, they're not going to hurt the transmission, they can however pop out if they didn't fully seat, especially on a hill where there's more load on them.
And if that happens, and you didn't turn the front wheels into the curb, you're looking at a major OH #$\^#\^# situation ;)
Since you live in an area with lots of hills, it would be a good idea to get in the habit of regularly using your parking brake to keep the cable moving freely
not1or2@reddit
Your dad is bang on. Otherwise all the weight is on the transmission.
S_balmore@reddit
The more exact advice is to engage the parking brake before you take your foot off the brake. Being in park is actually irrelevant, as there's no load on your transmission until you release the foot brake (because until then, the load is on your brakes).
Regardless, it doesn't make much of a difference whether you engage the parking brake or not. The transmission is designed to hold the weight of the car. The only time it might be risky is if you're parked on a steep incline, but even then, I don't know if there's objective proof that parking on an incline would significantly lessen the life of your transmission. The key word he is "significantly". Most people sell or crash their cars before they ever need to replace the transmission. In the event that the transmission does fail early, it's usually a design flaw that has nothing to do with how you park your car. For example, some Nissan CVT transmissions have been known to fail no matter what you do.
So if you're parking on a steep hill, it's best to engage the parking brake just as a matter of safety (you don't want the car rolling down the hill and killing somebody). When it comes to the long term health of your transmission, I really don't think it's something worth worrying about.
GrassGriller@reddit
Not that I've been able to convince my wife of it, but I have always done this in any vehicle I've owned (automatic or manual). The brake can hold the weight of the vehicle for decades. Engine mounts, transmission, etc? Not so much.
kc_kr@reddit
If you wonder if this is necessary, park on a hill without it and listen to the massive clunk your transmission makes when you shift out of Park the next time you drive. Then do the same thing with the parking brake on and notice how the clunk isn’t there. You don’t want that clunk.
EarnestWhileBanned@reddit
I used to slam it into park before the car was stopped...
New_Line4049@reddit
Absolutely true.
Maleficent_Hotel3293@reddit
Just keep your foot on the brake before you have shifted to park and and don't release until the parking brake has engaged. Keeps the tension off the park pawl in the transmission to prevent failure.
tigers692@reddit
It keeps the gears from being jammed up, makes sense, idk how much it adds, but it adds something.
Key-Ad-1873@reddit
It's less about engaging the parking brake before you "put it in park" and more about doing it before you let off the brake pedal. If you don't use the parking brake and just set it in park and let off the brake, the car will likely rock forward/back and rest on the pin or whatever that is locking the transmission together and preventing movement. There's some play (hence the rocking forward/back, and the pin isn't the most substantial thing in the world, it can and does wear out/break. Setting the parking brake before the car has a chance to rock just ensures your not putting unnecessary tension/pressure on the transmission parts that are holding it. As a bonus, you could also add shifting to neutral first, then engaging the parking brake, releasing the brake pedal to make sure the parking brake holds the car in place, then shifting to park (which may require pushing the brake again). I have found this to be the most reliable way of ensuring nothing is in tension and shifting the car the next time is buttery smooth.
Unboxious@reddit
Incidentally, I once came across a scene where a Chevy Suburban had been parked on a hill and because they didn't engage the parking brake it rolled down the hill and into somebody's house. After seeing that I always use the parking brake regardless of whether I'm on a hill. It's not like it costs anything, so it's a good habit to be in.
JustaYnLivin@reddit
I only use the parking brake on a hill.
eSJayPee@reddit
This is how I was taught as well.
However,!I was also told the cable could freeze in place during the winter months, making it impossible to disengage. Truth or urban legend?
Aromatic_Balls@reddit
Could it happen? Sure. Is it a thing to worry about? Nah.
Albert14Pounds@reddit
I've seen this asked many times and there's rarely agreement because it's very very rare that it ever causes issues. But it is technically stressing the parking pawl and increasing your risk that it might fail in some way someday. And it has happened before if you trust mechanics word of mouth, but it's also rare enough that some mechanics will swear it's not an issue because they've never seen it happen.
You probably do 100 other things to your car that are also "not ideal", and this is low on that risk scale. But it's also easy to just put on your parking brake. And IMHO it's a good habit to put it in park and using the parking break because that's two things to forget instead of just one, and might some day save your from a rollaway car scenario.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I've seen two parking pawl failures in my life, and both were from the same thing - someone with a heavy boat on a trailer on a steep ramp. Did not look fun.
Solid-Bug2054@reddit
This is true . Brake first,then park.
upsidedown-funnel@reddit
Just want to reiterate that you should always use your parking brake, especially the electronic ones. Use it or lose it, basically. Some cars can be programmed to automatically engage the electric brake, which is the most convenient. (Even then, you keep your foot on the brake til the car is off and it engages).
VirginiaIsFoLovers@reddit
I may be wrong, but I've wondered if applying the parking brake (which I always do, regardless of whether it's automatic or manual) before placing it in Park also might avoid putting extra force on the motor and transmission mounts, which could make them last a little longer.
I could be way off, but I have wondered whether that might be another benefit.
_-Dreams-_@reddit
You dont have to put it in neutral. At my work I park on a hill. When I roll into the space and brake/fully stop I activate my parking brake then put it in park. You have a little play (your car will roll) when you put it in park. Doing that still uses/puts the stress on the parking brake and if for whatever reason it fails you still have the parking awl to possibly stop your vehicle from rolling away
Ok_Two_2604@reddit
I have never, in my entire life, 30+ years of which I parked on hills without the e brake, heard of a single parking pawl failure damaging a transmission if it wasn’t slammed into park while moving. I have, on the other hand, personally and with people I knew, had parking brakes fail.
choppysmash@reddit
How many people have seen a parking pawl actually break on a modern vehicle? I’ve seen inside a handful of transmissions from ZF, Aisin and GM and the parking pawls and corresponding gears are like half inch thick hunks of metal.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against adding layers of protection by using the parking brake in an automatic.
Seanthesheep0711@reddit
It is true. You can also put the car in park then engage the parking brake before releasing the brake pedal, which is what I do (as a Pittsburgher too)
Briggs281707@reddit
Doesn't matter a bit. The transmission doesn't care. The parking prawl and all related parts are nice and big.
The only thing it does is make sure the ebrake doesn't stop working
Flat___________@reddit
Dad was spot on.
Stop in D
Parking brake on
Then shift to Park
What you definitely don’t want to do is. Stop in D. Shift to P. Take foot off brake pedal THEN apply parking brake! 😬
Explorer335@reddit
This was more of an issue before modern metallurgy, but it's better to hold the car with the brake rather than the parking pawl in the transmission. You avoid the big CLUNK when you pull the car out of park.
I've never seen a failed parking pawl on a modern vehicle. The ones that I have seen on ZF and GM transmissions are pretty robust.
When dealing with mechanical things, noise traditionally indicates wear or problems. Grinding a gear on a bad shift is enough to make any car enthusiast wince. The loud CHUNK! of taking the car out of park with pressure on the parking pawl is the same concept, even if it doesn't typically damage anything.
LSBm5@reddit
That is correct! Your dad was a smart guy
PckMan@reddit
Yes it's true. When you put an automatic transmission in Park a small metal claw catches on a gear on the output shaft to prevent it from rotating. The only thing holding the car at that moment is that small metal claw. When you put the car in P and let it roll until it stops that's the gear catching on the pawl, and the car rolls because the teeth on said gear have wide spacing. This means that the car can pick up some momentum before being stopped by the pawl and it takes the brunt of this force even though it's just a little metal thingymajig. Over time, across many years and thousands of parks, this can eventually either break the pawl or its mount on the transmission case, which is a very annoying and pricy fix.
If instead you first use the handbrake and then put the car in park, the car does not roll, the pawl is not stressed, and your car is actually much more likely to stay put and resist movement. The pawl is not meant to be the sole thing keeping the car stationary when parked. People just don't understand how cars work and assume that just because the gear position is called "Park" that it's what you're supposed to use to immobilise the car.
HoldingThunder@reddit
To be more accurate, it doesn't matter if you put on the parking brake before or after putting it in park, it matters when you take your foot off the brake.
If you foot is on the brake, the weight of the vehicle is being held by brakes. This is when you want to put it in park, so the hand brake is applied before the weight of the vehicle shifts to the transmission.
Being in neutral or drive or park doesn't matter, as long as you put on the parking brake before you lift your foot off the brake.
Thereelgerg@reddit
Yes, it locks up the parking brake and keeps the car from moving.
shredlikebutter@reddit
Using your parking brake will make other Americans riding with you ask "why are you doing that?" This gives you the chance to educate and be completely ignored by them :)
corvak@reddit
I never really thought about it, though I do this out of habit from learning on a manual.
IBringTheHeat2@reddit
You don’t have to put the emergency brake first then park. Just don’t let off the brake while you put the car in park and then put the emergency brake
Mr-Zappy@reddit
Sorta. The main thing is that you want to put the parking brake on before you take your foot off the brake.
It doesn’t matter if you set the parking brake, then put it in park, then take your foot off the brake or put it in park, set the parking brake, and then take your foot off the brake. The effect is the same either way: the parking brake takes some of the force so the transmission doesn’t (because the transmission doesn’t really take any of the force until you release the main brake).
But the most important things are to point your wheels the correct way and at least setting the parking brake at some point before exiting the vehicle.
treegee@reddit
On paper, yes, you should engage the parking brake before putting an automatic in park. In practice, all it's likely to do is stretch the cable out faster from being used more. I personally only use the parking brake if I have to park on a steep hill. Especially when it's cold. Sucks when the brake freezes on.
Short answer is that no, it doesn't really make a big difference in modern vehicles. Just extra insurance.
Frequent-Felcher@reddit
yup
Jumpy_Blood_1261@reddit
Yes, use your parking all the time the only other thing holding your car parked is a little piece of metal hooked into a gear on your transmission
SirWrong3794@reddit
I never let the weight of the car rest on the transmission. Only the parking brake
Dry-Discipline-2525@reddit
Yes. It's a good habit and won't hurt anything. Your park gear is just that a gear. If on a hill, it's better to have the weight of the vehicle resting on brake pads than resting on transmission gears.
Worst case scenario, you spend an extra 5 seconds getting out of your car every time.
Best case scenario, you avoid transmission problems in 150k miles from now
Cheever-Loophole@reddit
I'd say generally that's a good idea. Some cars can be difficult to get out of park if on a hill without parking brake applied.