When the car is put in park the transmission is locked, not sure if still call a still called the transmission bolt.
When people who park a lot on steep hills don't use the parking brake, then that bolt can wear out or break. But for normal situations I don't think will will effect the transmission either way.
There is no disadvantages to applying the handbrake when parking as long as you remember that you applied it and take it off before moving/ trying to move again. As far as helping the transmission, that really hasn't been proven and can't really say either way until it is. But applying the handbrake is good in many cases, for example on inclines.
But, if you think about it, you have more brakes holding your wheels still. So if a car hits you, your car will put up more resistance towards the car hitting you which could cause more damage to your car. (But this is obviously, a strenuous circumstance.
It normally makes no difference, although automatic transmissions have been known to slip out of park.
It makes no difference in transmission life. The transmission does not go into park by jamming gears (which would not keep the car from rolling anyway because the torque converter would still slip) but by dropping a pawl into any of various slots on the output shaft. That part of the transmission virtually never fails.
On the downside of using the parking brake, in freezing areas it can freeze the rear brakes if the brake shoes or the cable get wet. I had that problem a few times before I learned not to use the parking brake in winter.
Mostly the parking brake is an assist brake. It will barely hold a car on a steep hill by itself. Yet the auto trans parking pawl can hold the vehicle very well by itself. Now a manual is different as neither the parking brake nor the manual trans in gear hold the car very well on steep inclines. They both need engaging at ALL times when parked. For piece of mind ti won't hurt to use the p-brake with an automatic. Actually they could freeze up with corrosion from nonuse. And some inspecting states require that brake to work.
On flat ground it doesn't make a lot of difference. If you don't ever use the parking brake the cable may rust and become inoperable. In cold/freezing areas its best not to use it because it can become frozen and not be able to be released. On hills if you don't use it the parking pawl in the transmission my become jammed, and you may not be able to get it out of park, without moving vehicle uphill slightly. It has been reported that the park pawl has slipped out or even broken on a hill. If someone pushes the vehicle in park the parking brake can help to protect the transmission from damage.
It's put there for a reason, it's best to use it at least some of the time. If you didn't need one the manufacturer would save money by not putting one in their vehicles. It's up to you.
To get this right for you, the handbrake/parking brake is there to be used - that's why they provide it. Use it whenever you park, and then back it up by using the park facility on the transmission.
It's always wise to secure the car with two methods, better than having it rolling away!
USE IT. MAKE A HABIT OF IT.
it helps most cars to stay in good repair and helps you have a feel for it.
it saves your park gear and park pawl.
They jam when on a hill, and you have to jerk it back out,
that causes excess wear in a shorter time.
newer cars have a cable. this makes it pop apart more readily, so do not wait till you break it.
Your brake cables will thank you too because they stay free to slide when used regularly.
If your system gives you grief, get it looked at right away before you run over some old lady at the parking lot who cant run.
Using it all the time is actually a good idea, not a bad one.
The reasoning behind that is when you use it consistently, it won't seize. Compare that to the person that never used the E-brake and the one time it is used or needed, it either won't budge or it applies but then cannot be disengaged.
Just so long as you remember to disengage it everytime. I sometimes forget and it is on Lightly so it wears out the back brake shoes prematurely. So I avoid using it. Put the car in PARK and you are locked. If a standard shift then if the car is aiming uphill, you put the gearshift in first gear. - If the car is sloping down the hill, then you put the gearstick in reverse gear.
Auto or stick, it don't hurt to apply the brake!! It just may save some wear and tear on the car tranny!
I drive my mom's car and I read online that putting the handbrake on everytime I park helps the transmission last longer. Is this true? Is there any disadvantages to applying the handbrake? (the car is an automatic by the way)
As long as you remember to release it when you are going to drive it, it shouldn't hurt anything. But I wouldn't do it if you are planning on leaving your car sitting for a long period of time.
using the parking brake is a good thing to get use to but i can,t see why you would need it on the level !
If its automatic there is no need to put the hand brake really its irelevant and i had never heard about helping the transmition last longer
The hand brKe has 2 known uses...
1st its for cutting (drifting) in the corners (thats why i use it for)
2nd to keep the car from gettin away .
It can help tranny last longer, bc when you put in "park" it actually engages 2 gears together, which creates a mechanicsl lock (2 different ratio on 2 set of gears on each shaft, they are locked)
It puts loads on it, especially if you park on highly incluned roads.
Put ebrake 1st then park.
with an auto, you do nothing like that, good or bad.
