Rfong

In the old days, an automatic transmission could be put into "P" (Park) and it made the parking brake redundant. Even in hilly San Francisco, I can't remember the last runaway car. That includes some of the 15 million tourists who have never seen a hill, let alone parked on one, and had to curb the wheels. They just shove that rental car into "P" and the car is still there when they return.

Of course a car with manual transmission required using the Parking Brake except for those who chose to put the car in gear opposite to the direction of roll. But that always reminded me of clenching your teeth at night.

Now with the dual clutch PDK, is it essential to use the Parking Brake. Or just use it when parked on hills for belt and suspender double protection?

What do you do?

simsgw

I have to admit that I rarely use the parking brake, but I do think of it on hills. I parked in Berkeley a few weeks ago and used the wheel canted to curb method, the transmission in park, the parking brake, and considered throwing out an anchor to the uphill side. Turned out I left the Danforth in the garage at home, but everything turned out okay.

I remember the days when the 'park' setting in an automatic transmission was mostly a throwback to manual transmission days. A pawl engaged a gear on the driveshaft...[?] well, one of the shafts anyway. That pawl could be rounded off with wear and tear, and could pop out of engagement. Darned if I know how they do it with a PDK, but I'll bet two things. No, three:

• It isn't one percent as likely to "pop out" as the original automatics;
• Manufacturers will be telling us to use the parking brake also long after automatic Danforth deployment systems are standard;
• I never will feel comfortable in Berkeley without a parking brake engaged.

Gary

Mike in CA

They do it like this......

chuckbdc

Thanks for that diagram. Now that I know what is going on with all that "machine shop" sound when engaging and disengaging it, I may start doing it more!

I'mAllIn

I always use the Park Brake. I'm probably a little old fashioned, but I prefer the "load" to be on the brakes than the gears, or park paw, in the tranny. I do this on all my vehicles and even on flat ground.

simsgw

Basically, the same technique automatics always have used. Makes sense, but I'll bet the guys at Stuttgart put a little extra thought into that traditional problem of pop-out.

Gary

certified_prime

I just wish it automatically engaged the parking break when turning off the car. I've got a manual, and that would be a nice feature. Especially if the setting could be toggled via the PCM.

KINGSRULE

+1

holminator

I'd use the parking brake, but that's the hand I hold my beer in so I guess I don't use/don't need the e-brake. No offense to the good people that do use it.