Hand Brake On Or Off

[Biccylova]

My oh keeps on at me to not put the hand brake on in cold weather as he says "it will freeze on and then we would be in a muddle" now I have never heard anyone else say this nor have I heard of anyone,s hand brake freezing on, so I always leave the car in gear and put the hand brake on, our drive slopes down toward the road so I worry about not putting the brake on, is he right?

[bookbinder]

No, I don't think that he is right. After all, cars are designed to be out in all weathers, and you won't find a handbook that says 'don't apply the handbrake in cold weather.'

[Jackdaw33]

Still a good idea to leave the car in gear in case the brake slips. Happened to me once in the school car park. The kids were in stitches as I chased my car down the slope. Fortunately it came to rest in the caretaker's hedge.

[bhg481]

In which part of the country do you live and what car have you got?
In the days of drum brakes, still fitted to some smaller/lower-powered cars, it was known for the handbrake to freeze on if the temperature fell a long way below freezing. Most modern cars have disc brakes, which aren't as susceptible to the brakes freezing on so, unless you live in a very cold area, it is most unlikely that they will freeze on.

[ivor4781]

whether you do or dont leave it in 1st gear as well

[Biccylova]

I have a 3yr old Fiat Punto and live in Norfolk, I don't think we had more than half a dozen frosts all last winter and we don't tend to go out early in the morning anyway.

[bhg481]

Do you know if the rear brakes are disc or drum - discs you can usually see shining through the wheel spokes. If they are discs you'll certainly be OK in your part of the country. If there's a very hard, prolonged frost forecast then chocKing the wheels instead could be a good idea. In any case, as others have said, 1st gear is sensible as well.

[Bertrum]

If you park on the highway you are required by law to use the handbrake Parking rule 239

[woofgang]

goodness What do people in Canada and the Northern US do all winter?

[bhg481]

I suspect most people in Canada and northern US drive automatics; putting such a car in "P" locks the transmission more than a handbrake ever can.

[douglas9401]

"goodness What do people in Canada and the Northern US do all winter?"

Play hockey and hunt baaarrr. :)

[EDDIE51]

It will not freeze on unless the temperature drops to something like 20 below zero! It does happen in places like Northern Norway and Siberia.

[Hymie]

It happened once to my brother many years ago after he parked the car in his garage overnight.
After that, he took to parking in gear (with the handbrake off) on cold nights.

Back then the handbrake would have operated the rear drum brakes – and I’m suspicious that he had driven through a puddle deep enough to get the brakes wet (for it to happen).

[bhg481]

Freezing fog can trigger it Hymie - the fog condenses on the brake drum and then freezes.

[alavahalf]

Some years ago I used to work for a contractor to The Ministry of Health. We supplied a breakdown and recovery service to the users of the 3 wheled disabled vehicles which have since dissapeared from our roads. We were in Manchester where the weather was often not the best. It was quite a common call out during winter months...' I cant release my handbrake'.. it would say on the job sheet.
The reason for the problem was the handbrake cable was extra long and travelled under the car, very close to the ground. The outer covering of the cable would easily get damaged and crack. Moisture would get in via the cracks and cause the cable to freeze when it was cold enough. The solution was to fit a new cable at the roadside.
The modern car will have most of the cable running inside the vehicle, so it is less likely to happen these days.

[Hopkirk]

Vauxhalls have a habit of rear drum brakes sticking on, but not due to freezing. It is more to do with brake dust, moisture and rust forming a sort of glue.

Perhaps your OH has experience of that.

Personally I think everyone should be taught to always leave the car in gear when parked, and not rely on the handbrake. Roll aways are far too common when handbrake alone is used.

[Togo]

With Hopkirk here. I am lucky enough to be able to park on a private and flat drive. I always leave it in first with the handbrake off. In the winter when the frost and freezing weather comes the pads can freeze to the discs or if a cable freezes up the pads are stripped from the calliper leaving you with no brake pads or even worse metal on metal when you pull away.(usually accompanied with a clunk) If I am out and in town again I leave it in first or reverse if I am facing downhill on a steep road. I turn the front wheels into the kerb also and only apply the handbrake as well if it is very steep. I have had the Vauxhall experience where the handbrake released and the damn thing went through a hedge because I did not leave it in gear

[derekpara]

Togo is spot on. I've had disc brakes frozen on in very cold weather
( SE England). The rest of his post is sound advice, too.

[mikey4444]

Sounds like Rowlocks to me !

[Biccylova]

thanks everyone, in gear and hand brake on unless a sharp frost is forecast, got it.