Vlad Soare
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2020
- Threads
- 65
- Messages
- 3,163
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- Location
- Bucharest, Romania
- First Name
- Vlad
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Mustang GT 6MT
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi guys,
Before Christmas I left the Mustang parked with the handbrake engaged - as I always do - and went on holiday. I returned three weeks later. The next time I wanted to drive it I released the parking brake, shifted into first and started releasing the clutch. As I approached the engagement point nothing happened, I lifted the pedal further, still nothing, until eventually the car sprang forward with a loud bang. As I started driving I noticed a rhythmic noise coming from the rear wheels, and the brakes made an awful noise when applied. Both of these noises went away after braking several times.
What happened is clear. The rear brakes had stuck due to the car having been parked outside in the winter with the handbrake engaged. Mistake. I shouldn't have done that.
I've been using the handbrake religiously in all my cars for over twenty years, all of them being parked outside all year round, and never had a problem. Whenever I heard someone saying "don't use the handbrake in the winter lest it stick" I used to scoff at them. But the Mustang seems to be an exception.
Oh well, lesson learned.
But here's the strange thing. I haven't been using the handbrake since then. I turn the engine off, shift into first, release the clutch and take my foot off the brake. There's a bit of a slope where I park, and after taking my foot off the brake the car moves forward for a fraction of a second, before stopping due to it being in gear. So I'm confident that at the time I get off the car the brakes are really released, and the only thing that keeps the car from moving is the gearbox.
And yet the rear brakes still stick while the car is parked! The next day I press the clutch pedal, and the car, despite being on a slight slope, isn't moving. I start the engine, start releasing the clutch, and it springs forward with a loud clunk.
How come?
What could cause this? And most importantly, what can I do to avoid it?
Thank you.
Before Christmas I left the Mustang parked with the handbrake engaged - as I always do - and went on holiday. I returned three weeks later. The next time I wanted to drive it I released the parking brake, shifted into first and started releasing the clutch. As I approached the engagement point nothing happened, I lifted the pedal further, still nothing, until eventually the car sprang forward with a loud bang. As I started driving I noticed a rhythmic noise coming from the rear wheels, and the brakes made an awful noise when applied. Both of these noises went away after braking several times.
What happened is clear. The rear brakes had stuck due to the car having been parked outside in the winter with the handbrake engaged. Mistake. I shouldn't have done that.
I've been using the handbrake religiously in all my cars for over twenty years, all of them being parked outside all year round, and never had a problem. Whenever I heard someone saying "don't use the handbrake in the winter lest it stick" I used to scoff at them. But the Mustang seems to be an exception.
Oh well, lesson learned.
But here's the strange thing. I haven't been using the handbrake since then. I turn the engine off, shift into first, release the clutch and take my foot off the brake. There's a bit of a slope where I park, and after taking my foot off the brake the car moves forward for a fraction of a second, before stopping due to it being in gear. So I'm confident that at the time I get off the car the brakes are really released, and the only thing that keeps the car from moving is the gearbox.
And yet the rear brakes still stick while the car is parked! The next day I press the clutch pedal, and the car, despite being on a slight slope, isn't moving. I start the engine, start releasing the clutch, and it springs forward with a loud clunk.
How come?
What could cause this? And most importantly, what can I do to avoid it?
Thank you.
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