Member Since: 13 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 407
Handbrake - To use, or Not to use ?
I must admit, I very rarely use the handbrake, (probably once every couple of months) although it works perfectly fine when I do..
What's the best way to prolong it's life ? Continue as I am, or is frequent use good for it ?
20th Jul 2021 10:17 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
There’s an old saying, use it or lose it, I always use if not on absolute flat Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
20th Jul 2021 10:40 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72742
I used it all the time, it was prob one of the more reliable items on the car.
20th Jul 2021 10:45 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3056
- Stop vehicle
- Apply parkbrake
- Take foot off brake pedal
- Allow vehicle to 'sit'/roll into the brake until it stops
- Put foot back on brake pedal
- Put gearbox into park
- Release brake pedal
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - WTF does this button do
20th Jul 2021 11:14 am
discovery3ski
Member Since: 25 Dec 2012
Location: leicester
Posts: 734
Use mine every time I park it. Rarely if ever on a trip.Discovery 3 tdv6 HSE 2007
Alfa GTV CUP
Alfa 156 JTS
Alfa Spider TS
Alfa GT Cloverleaf
Volvo XC70
Take a look at how small the pawl in the gearbox is that otherwise is holding just under three tons. It can shear off in an instant if the vehicle is bumped. It is there only to hold the gears - the park brake is there to hold the rest of the vehicle.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
20th Jul 2021 11:33 am
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
Basically I NEVER used mine in nearly 10 years of D3 Auto ownership.
But the above points about pawl pins are definitely a considerationSteve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
20th Jul 2021 12:27 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Use mine all the time, Iirc D4 comes on automatically?
20th Jul 2021 12:51 pm
motorworks
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Usk
Posts: 401
It seems reckless or dangerous to not use the handbrake, and to save the cost of proper maintenance?
You leave your car in park (handbrake off), it gets nudged by a truck /bus/ other vehicle and rolls into an area with people or takes out the wall of a building. You have some awkward questions to answer from injured parties, insurers and police.
The inertia and damage potential from a 2.5 tonne car even at walking pace is considerable. Try pushing one on level ground.
A mother-or-two died in 2018 when her Range Rover SUV rolled back over her
There was a post on here about this, but I can't find it,
Member Since: 10 Apr 2016
Location: North-east Wales
Posts: 546
My driveway is absolutely level, there's no possibility of the D3 either rolling under its own weight or getting 'nudged' by anything, and it sometimes stays in one place for days at a time - so I don't put the EPB on when it's parked up at home. Anywhere else, and the EPB is applied when parked up.
20th Jul 2021 5:50 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8044
James W wrote:
- Stop vehicle
- Apply parkbrake
- Take foot off brake pedal
- Allow vehicle to 'sit'/roll into the brake until it stops
- Put foot back on brake pedal
- Put gearbox into park
- Release brake pedal
Stop vehicle
Undo seat belt
Job done!
Park brake comes on
Engine stops
Gear box goes into park
Drivers seat lowers
Steering column raises
Thanks to the luxury of a D4 luxury It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
20th Jul 2021 6:34 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6538
I use it every time I park.
20th Jul 2021 7:17 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23262
I’m another “use it or lose it” stalwart, especially at traffic lights. Could be that I have just been lucky over the last 15 years, but I’ve yet to have any epb problems.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
20th Jul 2021 7:39 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72742
That’s you blown it!!
20th Jul 2021 8:11 pm
sarumlight
Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Off the Plain
Posts: 1589
Used every day for the last 13 years often on a steep driveway, and no problems. The fact that the only people who’ve taken care of it during that time are well respected on here may not be a coincidence…
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