To all the manual drivers...

[brfdrums]

This should be an easy discussion...For those driving manual transmissions, when you park, do leave in gear and pull the brake of leave in neutral with the E brake? I have driven manuals most of my like and when parking, I put the car in first and pulled the brake. Now I have seen that doing that could damage the transmission. Makes sense. Now I'm curious if I am not alone with my parking habits...if needed can I change them...that is the big question...

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[skinnyb]

In gear, brake on, when out and about. In my garage, in gear no brake on. My garage is perfectly level though so no stress on anything. I don't like the brake on when at home, I have had the brake pads stick to the rotors before, especially after washing...

 

[Johnny Rockit]

Brake on. In gear.

 

[Skye]

Ninety-nine percent of the time, in gear, brake off. The garage and most parking spaces are so level, any unnecessary pressure on the drivetrain is slight to none.

Occasionally, when on an incline, I will set the brake. My method:

- Stop car and turn off
- Set brake. Car should be stable
- Clutch in, put car in gear
- Clutch out

The above puts pressure on the parking brake first, with then little to any on the drivetrain. The engine and trans are acting as a secondary brake.

As I don't use it at every stop, to ensure the parking brake mechanism stays exercised, I've gotten into the habit of setting the brake, before I start the car. Once a drive, before I leave the garage for the day.

- Parking brake on
- Car put in neutral
- Start car

If, later on an incline, I will set the brake, using the method as described earlier.

For Winter storage, the car is put in neutral, brake off, wheels chocked.

I did notice when the car was brand new, the parking brake sucked. Very tight, little grip. I figured once the brakes were bedded and the drivetrain broken in, the condition would improve, and it did. Now, it's "normal". Regular exercise of the mechanisms ensures it continues to work as expected.

I've used these methods on all vehicles and have never experienced a parking brake or drivetrain issue.

Edit,

Some of the videos and comments on-line, mention damaged transmissions, or frequent drivetrain issues. If parking in a way where the drivetrain is bound, taking the initial load of the car on an incline, I could see that. In these examples, the engine, trans and other bits are acting as a primary brake. In the methods described in my comments above, the parking brake is primary and taking all or virtually all the stress.

 

[brfdrums]

Good to know I'm not alone...

 

[MACHtobers Very Own]

E brake on
Car in gear

been doing that for 26 years across multiple cars with no problems

I even pull e brake on my automatic rav 4 just to stay in habit.

 

[Geodudes550]

Brake on and in gear but I don’t pull the brake handle very hard. Two or three clicks and it’s good.

 

[ice445]

ebrake on and in first. Not sure how anything would get damaged even if the ebrake failed, the engine is 12:1 compression so it will do an amazing job at holding the car even on pretty steep hills.

 

[WItoTX]

Back when I drove my around town, e brake only.

Now, at the track, in gear, brake off.

 

[mookieit]

The vast majority of the time, I park on flat roads so I always use just the e brake.

When I tried to park in gear as well, I tended to start the car in gear, so I stopped putting in gear and just used ebrake.

 

[MoonFrost9]

In Gear No Ebrake.
Why? Because my E brake is disconnected plus I dont park on inclines steep enough

 

[ralph7]

The vast majority of the time, I park on flat roads so I always use just the e brake.

When I tried to park in gear as well, I tended to start the car in gear, so I stopped putting in gear and just used ebrake.

What is wrong with starting the car in gear? The clutch has to be engaged.

 

[Duece McCracken]

Neutral, Parking brake on.

Despite pretty much never parking in gear, I do always do the shifter side to side (neutral confirmation) before starting.

Have been driving manual for about 24 years now. Have owned 11 plus different manual cars(getting to the point where I keep forgetting about cars I've owned, lol) and a few motorcycles.

Besides adjusting steering angle for hills, or leaving in gear while I jack up the car(certain circumstances) I havnt felt the need to park in gear.

I maintain my cars very well, if anything feels out of place, it gets immediate attention.

Recently adjusted the parking brake on my Gladiator actually, wasn't holding on hills while offroading, lol

I'm also the guy who clutches in and stays in gear at lights, go figure!

 

[NightmareMoon]

I had to do some research because in 30 years of driving I’ve never heard that.

looks like with an automatc, you want to set the ebrake before putting it in park so the parking pawl isnt loaded too much.

for a manual, it doesnt matter.

because the manual doesnt have a ‘park’ selector and 1st doesnt stop the car from rolling 100% of the time, so I use the ebrake and 1st as I was taught. (and you should too)

Never had an issue, never heard of anyone having an issue (with a manual). Theres no difference to the transmission in a manual between being parked in 1st or driving under load, the stresses are the same theres just no wear/heat/friction when stopped.

The parking pawl on an auto is a different beast with some care required.

 

[NightmareMoon]

What is wrong with starting the car in gear? The clutch has to be engaged.

nothing at all, he just forgets for some reason.

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